sorry...

[Louise]

very sorry..you've probably answered this question a million times before, but I'm a PADI rescue diver considering changing to BSAC...

How on earth do I do this? and can anyone recommend a friendly, approachable dive club in preston, who won't try to take all my money off me as soon as I walk through the door!!

Many, many thanks!! :o

[Gareth]

Louise

You haven't said where you are based?

If you look at the link below, it will list the branches in your area.

http://www.bsac.com/meet/meetbranch.html

Decide what you 'want' from the branch you are going to join.

1. Do they orgainise trips - at the level you are interested in.
2. Do they provide additional training (do they have a strong, active instructor base).
3. Are they friendly & approachable.
etc.

There are a wide mixture of branches out there, some only go diving & don't do any additional training. Some do large amounts of training but very few trips. Some have boats but only dive locally. Some don't have boats but dive all over the UK. Some welcome divers from other organisations, some don't.

remember whilst you are interviewing them, they will be interviewing you!

Gareth
President, St Ives SAC (Cambridgeshire)
Branch 0833

[Ben Panter]

Hi Louise,

No apologies needed! Welcome to the forums, and hopefully to BSAC too. There are various bits of info here:

http://www.bsac.org/techserv/tecpubs1.htm#crossover

I doubt that a club that you meet with will ask for cash quickly - we tend to not be that organised! I'd expect that they would let you go on a dive or two with them as a guest and if you like them then you can join up. There are two parts to the cost - BSAC membership and Branch membership. BSAC membership is £45.50 per annum, and branches charge somewhere between nothing and about £100 p.a., depending on how much equipment they have that needs maintaining.

I would try a few branches before committing yourself - there is a great amount of variability, and if one doesn't suit you for whatever reason the one in the next town might.

Best of luck, and let us know how you get on.

Ben

[Steve Pearson]

Hi Louise

We're in your area :eek:

PM Sent

Steve

[Chris Cherrington]

We (the missus and me) joined BSAC as PADI RD. If you don't want to do any training that's fine you are accepted as a Sport Diver and can dive with the club on any dive to 35m. A quick overview of the BSAC tables and you can start the Dive Leader training (if that's your thing..)

We had a very good experience of it. Just get a club that goes diving not one that drinks tea and talks about it...

Enjoy.

Chris

[Nigel Hewitt]

very sorry..you've probably answered this question a million times before, but I'm a PADI rescue diver considering changing to BSAC...That's what I did.
They said "Good. A diver. Come diving."
Yes they did do a sales pitch for membership and ended up with my money but nobody pressured me to become part of the BSAC system until it was what I wanted to do. Sadly we are a long way from you but I expect you can find a helpful club that goes diving near at hand.

[Keith Lawrence]

very sorry..you've probably answered this question a million times before, but I'm a PADI rescue diver considering changing to BSAC...

How on earth do I do this? and can anyone recommend a friendly, approachable dive club in preston, who won't try to take all my money off me as soon as I walk through the door!!Hi Louise

We love being asked that question, you are very welcome indeed :) Others have given some brilliant advice as well, but be careful accepting offers from this lot - before you know it they will have welcomed you and dragged you off diving somewhere with their club :D

Only bit I'll add is that all clubs are different, that's great because it means there's a club out there for every diver, but make sure that it suits you as well. Any half decent club will welcome you as their guest on a club night, come and have a look around, chat to other divers in the club, I can virtually guarantee that there will be some PADI divers there. If they have space you might even be invited on a club trip, as long as you chip in for the cost with everybody else that's no problem either, our insurance covers guest visitors for a few diving trips whilst you're finding the right club.

So come on Louise, treat yourself to a few evenings out with your local BSAC clubs - you will be very welcome indeed.

Keith L

[Maria]

Hi Louise
No need to apologise. This is just what the forum is for. We are just down the road from you, and I have sent you a PM. You are very welcome to pop down for a chat. Equally, if you decide that we are a bit too far away, I can give you contact details for other branches in the area.
Maria:)

[Louise]

Thanks very much for all the replies and PM's..really appreciate all the advice...

Once i get some time off work :( I'll be able to visit a couple of clubs..will keep you posted!

Thanks again!!

:D