Statement of Alternative Training (SALT) Table
Anyone is welcome to join our BSAC club, however they have learned to dive. BSAC provides the following table to make sense of all the different diving qualifications, and how they are considered in the BSAC system. As the governing body for UK diving, BSAC has a responsibility to ensure that diving qualifications suit the conditions of UK diving. Where additional training is required to improve your grade this can usually be carried out within the club.
It is possible to:
- join BSAC and further your training and gain more expertise with BSAC, or
- join BSAC and not continue your training, or
- join BSAC and further your training with another agency
| Diver Training Organisation | BSAC Qualification |
| All ‘Entry Level’ qualifications (which typically do not include rescue training) such as: CMAS One Star Diver NASDS Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver NAUI Scuba Diver and Advanced Scuba Diver PADI Open Water Diver PADI Advanced Open Water Diver/AOWD Plus Royal Navy Ships Diver SAA Open Water Diver SSI Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver | Ocean Diver |
| All ‘Second Level’ qualifications (which must include rescue training) such as: CMAS Two Star Diver HSE Commercial Diver: HSE Scuba Diver/HSE Surface Supply Diver/HSE Surface Supply (Top Up) Diver/HSE Closed Bell Diver (formerly HSE Diver Part 4, 3, 1 and 2 respectively) NASDS Rescue Diver NAUI Scuba Rescue Diver PADI Rescue Diver SAA Club Diver SSAC Third Class Diver/Sports Diver SSI Advanced Open Water Diver with ‘Stress and Rescue’ Speciality Army Compressed Air Diver | Sports Diver |
| All ‘Third Level’ qualifications (which must include dive leadership training) such as: NASDS Dive Supervisor NAUI Divemaster PADI Divemaster SAA Dive Leader SSI Dive Control Specialist | Dive Leader |
| Any higher level of qualification, such as: CMAS Three Star Diver SAA Dive Supervisor SSAC Second Class Diver/ Master Diver Because of the variation allowed in training for the higher diving qualifications awarded by US diver training agencies, BSAC is unable to accept them as being of a similar standard to BSAC Advanced Diver. However, Branch Diving Officers can judge additional experience and training on a case-by-case basis. | Advanced Diver |
There is one higher level – First Class Diver – but there is no equivalent level in other organisations. There are also different instructor levels. Full details can be found in the following pages of BSAC.com
Equivalent BSAC qualifications
Information for instructors crossing over to BSAC
Considering all the benefits of our club, we think you will find the membership fees very reasonable especially when paid by direct debit.