We have a limited number of spaces for people to learn to dive in 2015. If you aren’t sure if scuba diving is for you we offer a try-dive session in a heated indoor pool. If you subsequently join we will reduce the cost of your membership by the cost of the try-dive (£15).
Congratulations to the 10 students who travelled from as far a field as Scotland to qualify as Snorkel Instructors at this years Snorkel Instructor Training Course and Assessment hosted by Oxford BSAC.
A special congratulations to Chris Watkins on becoming Oxford BSAC’s newest snorkel instructor.
What is it ? : This year we hope to get everyone who’s currently taking the ocean diver course qualified to dive as early as possible – this way everyone then gets a whole year’s dive season to enjoy the water. We’re planning to spend the whole of the Easter bank holiday working everyone who can make it through their open water exercises and signing them off with a few experience dives to boot.
Where is it ? : The short answer is Weymouth. We’ll use the clubs amazing new boat and run shuttle dives out of Castletown harbour. This is a convenient location next to the aqua sports hotel, its cafe and the scimitar diving air station. Some dives may be run off the beach at Chesil cove but this is weather dependent and not essential.
What will happen ? : The plan is for everyone to assemble there each day and for Endeavour to pick up groups of instructors and their trainees to head out to the classic training dives of the area including the wrecks of the countess of Erne, the Old Dredger and the Blackhawk. If conditions allow we’ll keep diving all day and maybe even try for a night dive a few times. We’ll try to make sure everyone knows what is happening each day , who’s diving with who and what they’re doing, which boat wave they’re on and what they will need.
Where will we stay ? : Weymouth and Portland are holiday destinations and really very well provided with accommodation indeed. I’m going to be caravaning in the east fleet farm campsite. If you want a more luxurious accommodation there are many bed and breakfast places, hotels or at the other end of the spectrum there are a couple of bunk houses. Come see me if you’re wanting to know more or check out the ‘Oxford guide to Weymouth’ on the website.
Want to know more ?
Ask Chris ([email protected]) or Anjali ([email protected])
Longer, safer bottom times and optimum decompression using rich mixes
Building on the foundation of Nitrox knowledge contained within Ocean Diver and Sports Diver training, the course develops this knowledge and in particular highlights the benefits that can be gained from using high oxygen mixtures to improve the efficiency of off gassing during decompression stops. This course takes your diving to a higher level.
Entry level is BSAC Sports Diver who has completed the 2007 syllabus (with nitrox content) and has been endorsed as a Nitrox Diver, plus 20 additional dives including depth experience to 30 metres.
Alternatively, applicants must hold an acceptable diving and nitrox qualification with another agency which equates to the above standards. All students must hold gold standard buoyancy from the Buoyancy and Trim BSAC workshop.
The Accelerated Decompression Procedures course has a mix of classroom-based and practical lessons, teaching you:
• Knowledge of safe diving using Nitrox and accelerated decompression techniques
• Use of gas mixes up to 80% oxygen
• New concepts and skills
• Dive planning
Your course pack includes all the learning materials you need for the course. The pack includes: ‘Ox-Stop decompression tables’ (plus ‘Nitrox tables’ unless already BSAC Advanced Nitrox Diver), the ADP course manual and a Qualification Card application.
As the first stage to qualification for skippering the club boats the BSAC Boat Handler course is now being taught at Oxford BSAC. This equips trainees with the skills necessary to safely take charge of a vessel in open water. An additional 20 hours experience is required before then moving onto the Diver Cox’n (diver coxswain) course which then qualifies us to pick up divers and snorkelers. A bit of a palava, but it then means we are insured, which with an adventurous sport is a bit of a must.
On June 18th Chris Stevens and I started our 6 hour trip down to St Keverne for a semi closed circuit rebreather course using the Drager Rays we had recently purchased. Most of the first day involved getting to know the kit, i.e. how to assemble, check, test and maintain.
Its time for another diver training day in open water.
Fifteen members attended the O2 Administration Award skill development course on Saturday 7th November 2009 held at the clubhouse. The day was led by area coach Stephen Armitage with team comprising Chis Stevens (Oxford Branch) Mark Giddins from Wantage and Piotr Lukasik from the university club. Theory presentations covered Basic life support and 02 equipment with other sessions being very much hands on practising basic life support and oxygen administration.
All attendees were successful in attaining certification thus advancing their dive leader qualification and giving the club additional members qualified to assist in an emergency situation
Many thanks to John Beer for all his efforts in organizing this course