View Full Version : A few (odd?) questions....
Martyn Ward
07-01-2006, 22:18
They may seem odd :confused: and I've no doubt that someone will ask why :rolleyes: , but here goes:
1. Can I join the BSAC as an "independent" member or do I have to join a branch?
2. Assuming I can, (and I subsequently do!), would I still be covered by third-party insurance and would it cover me on non-BSAC dives?
3. Assuming "independence", (once again!), can I obtain a crossover from my PADI qualifications or is this an in-branch thing?
Much thanks, Martyn.
Keith Lawrence
07-01-2006, 22:40
They may seem odd :confused: and I've no doubt that someone will ask why :rolleyes: , but here goes:
1. Can I join the BSAC as an "independent" member or do I have to join a branch?You can join BSAC Direct, but why not a branch? At least look at the branches in your area.
2. Assuming I can, (and I subsequently do!), would I still be covered by third-party insurance and would it cover me on non-BSAC dives?As long as you are diving within your qualifications and within the recommendations of the BSAC SDP - then yes, all BSAC members are covered by the BSAC 3rd party insurance when they dive.
3. Assuming "independence", (once again!), can I obtain a crossover from my PADI qualifications or is this an in-branch thing?There is no need to do the cross-over, especially if you're a member of Direct. But again there is an advantage of being a branch member, not only will you cross over you will have access to futher training within the branch as well.
HTH
Keith L
Alan Ewart
07-01-2006, 23:48
They may seem odd :confused: and I've no doubt that someone will ask why :rolleyes: , but here goes:
1. Can I join the BSAC as an "independent" member or do I have to join a branch?
2. Assuming I can, (and I subsequently do!), would I still be covered by third-party insurance and would it cover me on non-BSAC dives?
3. Assuming "independence", (once again!), can I obtain a crossover from my PADI qualifications or is this an in-branch thing?
Much thanks, Martyn.
Martyn, answers are yes, yes and yes.
I'm not sure why you prefer direct to a branch, but here is an offer. My branch is over in Poole a few minutes away from you. Our branch fees are only £10 a year so cost is the same as BSAC direct (£53). Why dont you come and have a few dives with us. If you like us stay, if you don't you still have your BSAC membership at the same cost and you can just not dive with us.
The benefit to you being in a branch is that it will be easierfor you to cross over& furtheryour training if you want to.
Regards
Alan
David Walker
08-01-2006, 01:13
As a bit of a question that just occurred to me, what is the point in BSAC Direct? ie, what benefits do you get being a BSAC member who isn't in a branch? The 3rd party insurance isn't all that useful to be honest if you're not "looking after" people, you don't get the training, just a copy of Dive every month?
David
BSAC Direct is usefull to members who are based in an area where there are no branches, or members that have had a dispute with thier local branch.
Some clubs have fees that are expesive if one is not making use of them, however the example above of £10/year is attractive. My own branch does not charge a membership fee.
Fred
You can join BSAC Direct, but why not a branch? At least look at the branches in your area.
HTH
Keith L
I used to be in a local club, but left a couple of years ago. I had looked at a couple of other clubs but didn't want to be involved in a club anymore.
All my diving is done with friends I have met through YD, so the only reason to be in a club is to take avantange of on-going training, I have done 95% of what I want to do. I am a member of a club which doesn't have branch fees but I don't dive with them.
Only reason I joined was to retain the BSAC benefits.
John Williams
08-01-2006, 11:10
As a bit of a question that just occurred to me, what is the point in BSAC Direct? ie, what benefits do you get being a BSAC member who isn't in a branch? The 3rd party insurance isn't all that useful to be honest if you're not "looking after" people, you don't get the training, just a copy of Dive every month?
David
...Insurance (and you ARE looking after people if you organise diving or even just go underwater with them!)
...DIVE (I quite like getting it...but would not pay for it separately!)
... a recognised training programme.
... National representation on several important issues (Wreck diving, conservation, boating regulations - for club and charter vessels, etc, etc)
... Coaching support (BSAC Direct members are welcome on Regional SDCs)
... Technical Support (any member can call HQ for help and advice on almost any issue)
... bigger, better Avatars on this forum (what more could you need!):)
... access to all the members forums (not just the public ones) ...now we are really talking!:D
... it's good to "belong" - and it's better to "belong" with friends (in a branch)
;) There's an AWFUL lot more to BSAC membership than insurance and a mag!
John
I wouldn't normally have conveyed this point, but the club politics (possibly the wrong word) thing can be a bit irritating at times, and certain teaching practices seem to change rather frequently which can be equally annoying.
Anyway, im not thread hijacking, but that may be a reason why people dont want to join clubs. Sometimes it is simpler to just join the organisation and forego the stress of being in a club, and besides that, the website/forum is more than adequate in my opinion for making new contacts.
David Walker
08-01-2006, 18:27
I wouldn't normally have conveyed this point, but the club politics (possibly the wrong word) thing can be a bit irritating at times, and certain teaching practices seem to change rather frequently which can be equally annoying.
Yeah, does seem to be becoming more common that one... or maybe people are just more sensitive to it? My old club at home (i'm not a member mainly because i'm not generally there anymore) is going that way - no one wants to be on the committee anymore, we haven't had a DO for over a year, and there's definitely a lot of "I don't like him, she doesn't like me, he doesn't like him" kind of things going on. And with most of the experienced boat handlers preferring deeper diving (or just not taking SDs etc with them) that leaves many people stuck for diving, and those who have done BH generally aren't allowed to take the boat out themselves because they don't have the experience, but the few times they are out they generally don't get the chance to build up any experience... Stuck in a rut really! The main reason most people remain members is that its only £50/year, and we've got 2 compressors located more than 45mins from the nearest shop (as far as i'm aware) so if nothing else its a cheap and convenient source of fills. Most other things, people don't bother with. I started to just book myself onto charter boats on my own instead... So much potential, its a shame really.
David
I think a club can probably live without a dive officer for the most part. As long as someone is capable of standing up on a dive session and saying they will do the duties that the DO would normally do for that day, then i see no problem. If you share the responsibility out (and maybe roster things), its less likely that one person will feel like everyone is placing to much on his/her shoulders. Support your fellow divers, and share out the jobs that no one wants to do.
But as it is, that person may slowly be getting somewhat stressed, and in the end you either lose that person from the club or he resigns his position. The situation is avoidable of course. Eventually i may run for DO, possibly next year or the year after, but i actually enjoy safety stuff, and reading through tons of information, stuff that may be torturous to a normal individual. :P
The whole 'people hate/dislike me' subject is probably unavoidable for the most part. Different people like different things, and no one likes everyone. The best idea is just to agree to disagree or avoid the situations that might cause friction (unless your really adventurous and decide to try and sort out your differences).
Wish our club had a compressor, at present its £2 an air fill, but i have no way to judge whether thats a good price or not, because my last club had its own compressor and we didnt pay a penny for air. :)
Adrian Kelland
08-01-2006, 20:28
£2 a fill is good.
I'm not sure where a club stands without a DO. It strikes me that if someone is not likely to take responsibility for a year, they are not likely to take it for a couple of dives. Who OKs the dive and so on...
Adrian
Ed Howarth
08-01-2006, 20:40
...Insurance (and you ARE looking after people if you organise diving or even just go underwater with them!)
...DIVE (I quite like getting it...but would not pay for it separately!)
... a recognised training programme.
... National representation on several important issues (Wreck diving, conservation, boating regulations - for club and charter vessels, etc, etc)
... Coaching support (BSAC Direct members are welcome on Regional SDCs)
... Technical Support (any member can call HQ for help and advice on almost any issue)
... bigger, better Avatars on this forum (what more could you need!):)
... access to all the members forums (not just the public ones) ...now we are really talking!:D
... it's good to "belong" - and it's better to "belong" with friends (in a branch)
;) There's an AWFUL lot more to BSAC membership than insurance and a mag!
John
OK, fair enough, Reg, but apart from the insurance, Dive magazine, the training programme, the national representation, coaching, technical support, the avatars and the roman forums, what have BSAC ever done for us?
Ed
If no one is DO, then i doubt anyone ok's dives.
For my own clarification, if i plan a dive externally from the club, do i still need to talk to the DO, or is it no longer club business when it is done externally?
Adrian Kelland
08-01-2006, 20:44
OK, fair enough, Reg, but apart from the insurance, Dive magazine, the training programme, the national representation, coaching, technical support, the avatars and the roman forums, what have BSAC ever done for us?
Ed
The SAA - splitters :D :D :D
(with apologies to the SAA)
Adrian
Adrian Kelland
08-01-2006, 20:46
If no one is DO, then i doubt anyone ok's dives.
For my own clarification, if i plan a dive externally from the club, do i still need to talk to the DO, or is it no longer club business when it is done externally?
If you are interested in 3rd party cover, then you should follow BSAC SDPs. Otherwise its none of their business.
If it is other training, then be polite and let them know.
Adrian
It actually is other training, of the PADI variety. But its not due to happen for a few months, until its warmer.
I'll let them know when the time comes.
David Walker
08-01-2006, 21:56
Don't think PADI training really counts as your BSAC club's business... Of course again it comes back to "if you get on well with your club" then of course talk to them, but then you probably would anyway. I wouldn't make a special attempt to go and report to someone that I was going to do a PADI course or whatever though...
David
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