Club Members Benefits
When you become a member of Bicester Sub-Aqua club you also become a member of BSAC (The British Sub-Aqua Club) if you are not already. Being a member of of both bring great benefits.
Organised Dive Trips
Club members benefit from organised trips. We aim to cater for varying experience levels and interests. This includes booking boats for trips to the best dive sites, doing the administration and taking the financial risk of organising trips.
A Source of Dive Buddies
With help from club members, you will be able to buddy up with someone while you get accustomed to local conditions at a dive site. Members have a wide variety of diving interests, including scenic diving, wrecks, technical, photography etc.
Friendly club with a busy social life
There are social events, which range from frequent pub social meetings, to the Xmas Party to Barbeques etc. You'll develop new friendships from being with a group with similar interests.
Use of Swimming Pool
Twenty-five visits to Bicester pool per year would cost you around £80. Club membership includes use of the swimming pool during term time, 9 to 10pm on Mondays. Pool access enables you to keep your diving skills fresh. Many incidents happen because key diving skills are lost over time. As well as for diving skills, the pool can be used for Keep Fit, swimming along with other club members.
Dive Equipment Hire
If you have kit in for a service for example, club kit can be hired at a nominal fee, less than that charged by a commercial operator. Additionally, club members may buy your old diving gear, or alternatively sell their old gear to you, often at low prices.
Access to Advice & Club News
As a member, you can talk to lots of different members at the Club or access club information via the clubs private "Yahoo Group" (set up January 2004). Advice is available from knowledgeable club members. There are a number of Instructors, Advanced divers etc. who can help advise you about which equipment to buy, dive sites, etc. Unlike at a dive centre, these people have no financial interest in their advice.
Diver Grades
within the club you can progress your diving skills, through a structured range of courses, from Ocean Diver, all the way to Advanced Diver. Self development like this helps build many skills useful outside of diving, also your own self-esteem. A lack of continuing training means your skills can progressively degenerate. This is dangerous to you as well as endangering your fellow divers. After paying for your initial Ocean Diver or Crossover courses, all subsequent courses carried out within the branch are free to members.
International Recognition
BSAC qualifications are recognised throughout the world and can be used as your diving ticket when you go abroad. (you should always check the destination accepts your qualification before you travel).
Ability to get involved
As a club member, you can influence the club direction, by voting at key meetings. Alternatively, joining the committee can be very rewarding.
Subscription to Dive Magazine
As a member of BSAC you automatically qualify for a subscriptions to BSACs 'Dive' magazine, one of the best monthly Scuba Diving publications in the UK.
Skill Development Courses
BSAC members are eligible to attend over 30 different specialist Skill Development Courses. These range from Boat Handling, to Nitrox Diver, to Search and Recovery etc. These are generally charged at cost, much less than commercial courses.
Third party liability insurance cover
Insurance cover includes £2,000,000 for personal injury to Third Parties or damage to their property as a result of negligence by any BSAC Member. Additionally, up to £100,000 of Criminal Defence costs as a result criminal action being taken against an insured for death or injury of a Third Party, damage or destruction to their property. As an individual, taking this out would cost you around £60 a year.
