Ensham Dive Club

Learning to Dive

Most people join Ensham because they want to learn how to Scuba dive safely and economically. There are three elements to the training; pool training, theory and open water.

Most new members join Ensham in the Autumn which normally allows them to complete their basic pool training and theory ready for the dive season the following spring.

During the winter months Pool training is held on Thursday evenings from 9.15 to 10.30 at the Tooting Leisure Centre, Greaves Place, SW17. These sessions comprise practical sessions in the water as well as a series of short lectures followed by an examination.

After initial training in the pool new members are able to start diving outdoors in open water. The first dive trips of the year are designed to complete open water skill assessments.

While we will endeavour to help new members achieve their qualifications as quickly as possible, you should be aware that all club diving and training is conducted in club members’ spare time. In addition to the Thursday evening sessions, the open water assessments will mean spending a weekend or two away with the club. As well as offering to a full dive program, these weekends are very sociable occasions.

When you start to train you will receive the necessary BSAC training manuals to help with your theory studies and examinations.

Qualifications

There are a number of different ‘grades’ of diver under the BSAC system.
The first diving grade is Ocean Diver and the BSAC definition is a diver who can dive:

• in open water in controlled conditions
• to a maximum depth 20m
• within their previous experience under the supervision of a Dive Marshall

The next grade is Sports Diver; a more experienced diver who:

• can undertake dives including planned decompression
• can dive with others of equal status within the limits of their previous experience
• can dive with Ocean Divers within the limits of the Ocean Diver's experience
• has resuscitation skills

At Ensham we encourage all our members to reach at least Sports Diver level, as by this stage you will have a good grounding in rescue skills, a reasonable number of dives under your belt and you will generally be recognised, both at home and abroad, as a competent diver. Some people find that being a Sports Diver is enough to allow them to enjoy most types of diving that interest them, whilst others will progress to the higher levels which allow them to dive in tougher conditions and even train new divers.