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THE BRITISH SUB-AQUA CLUB established 1953 - DIVING FOR DIVERS (LINK CHECK 21/8/2008)
CONTACT MARINE DIVERS: info@marinedivers.com Tel: (852) 2656 9399 / 9194 0221, Fax: (852) 2656 9399 |
| 1953 | The BSAC was formed in London in the autumn of 1953 by a number of "persons interested in underwater activities" whose aim was "to promote underwater exploration, science and safety in these activities". The club's founder was Oscar Gugen. assisted by Peter Small, a keen diver who tragically died a few years later in the world's first dive to the depth of 1,000 feet. |
| 1954 |  The
BSAC quickly became a significant force in sports diving and
by the end of 1954 it had been recognised in Britain as the
governing body for the new sport of underwater swimming, a responsibility
which it still retains. |
| 1955 | The growth of the British Sub-Aqua Club has been phenomenal. At the time of its first Annual General Meeting in December 1953. the Club had approximately 100 members. By January 1955. the membership had grown to over 1,100. |
| 1959 | During 1959 the BSAC became a founding member of CMAS, the World Underwater Federation. |
| 1976 |
BSAC Schools are independent businesses which are authorised to train and award a number of BSAC diving qualifications. There are currently over 200 BSAC Schools world-wide. |
| 1979 | To keep pace with this growth. the Club was reorganised as a Company Limited by Guarantee in 1979. |
| 1987 | From the outset the Club has been active internationally and by 1987 had established a network of branches throughout the world with over 14 per cent of its membership located outside the UK. During 1987 the BSAC formed a wholly owned subsidiary, BSAC International. BSAC International soon expanded and by the end of 1987 had entered into an agreement with a Japanese Company and BSAC Japan was formed. |
| 1990 | The Club moved from its London Sports Council home in 1990 to its own new office complex in the North West of England. |
| Today | The BSAC has some 45,000 members which makes it the largest single diving Club in the world. |
In
1976 the Club responded to a growing demand for commercial training
of sports divers by establishing the BSAC School system. BSAC STRUCTURE
An explanation of the
many facets of the BSAC and its place in the underwater world.
BSAC
President
HRH The Prince of Wales has been President of The
British Sub Aqua Club since 1974 when he succeeded his father, Prince
Philip, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
In 1993 he attended the BSAC
40th anniversary banquet in the Guildhall, London.
Prince Charles is a trained diver who has taken an active part in BSAC diving.
BSAC
Officers
The Officers are responsible for the day to day
running of the BSAC. BSAC Officers consist of the Chairman, the
Vice Chairman, the National Diving Officer, The Honorary Secretary
and the Treasurer.
The Officers are elected every three years, for a maximum term of six consecutive years, by the BSAC membership.
BSAC
Council
The BSAC is a democratic organisation, all members
having a vote at the annual election of the officers and council
members.
Nine BSAC Council members are elected every three years, for a maximum term of nine years, by the BSAC membership.
Whilst Council normally meets about four times each year, Council Members usually have specific areas of responsibility in assisting the Officers in the running of the Club.
National
Diving Committee
This is a technical group appointed by the current
National Diving Officer to assist and advise on specific technical
areas, such as diving medicine, incident analysis, decompression
etc.
Posts include Chief Examiners for the various levels within the Instructor Training Scheme.
BSAC
HQ
The Headquarters of the BSAC are located in Ellesmere
Port, in the North West of England.
Headquarters staff deal with membership administration, finances, communications, first line technical queries and the administration of many of our courses and examinations.
The BSAC Mailshop handles the sales and distribution of BSAC publications and products to both members, the dive trade and direct public sales.
BSAC
Coaching Scheme
Within the United Kingdom the BSAC has a number
of Regional Coaches who are responsible for first line support of
our branches and the organisation of courses and events at regional
level.
Overseas this work is often carried out by regional Overseas Liaison Officers.
BSAC International
BSAC International is a wholly owned subsidiary
of BSAC and as such pays its profits into BSAC for the development
of the Club.
It is run by a Board of Directors appointed by the Officers and Council and is responsible for development and management of BSAC commercial activities, particularly overseas.
This includes supervision and expansion of the BSAC Schools system and franchises such as BSAC Japan and BSAC Korea.
BSAC
Schools
These are independent commercial diver training
schools, inspected and authorised by BSAC to use the BSAC diver
training scheme and issue BSAC qualifications.
Fully qualified BSAC instructors are employed to deliver this training.
Schools often have their own attached BSAC branch, or work in close conjunction with other local BSAC branches.
DIVE
magazine
DIVE magazine is an independently edited and published
world class full colour diving magazine contracted to BSAC to be
its journal. Besides a much appreciated broad spectrum of regular
departments, DIVE articles cover all aspects of diving with regular
equipment, travel and technical reviews.
Members receive the magazine monthly as part of the membership package, keeping them up to date with BSAC developments and happenings in the diving world in general.
BSAC
Membership
BSAC membership provides internationally recognised
qualifications through instruction by highly qualified instructors,
following one of the worlds's most respected training programmes.
As a member of a branch you have the opportunity of pursuing diving with similarly-minded friends, often using shared equipment such as branch owned boats, compressors, etc.
Members enjoy third party liability insurance worldwide and receive monthly copies of DIVE magazine to keep them up to date with all that's new in diving.
HOW TO JOIN
How to become a member of the world's biggest diving club, the benefits offered, the advantages to be gained.
BSAC welcomes all divers whatever their previous experience or affiliations, and all divers who join us automatically enjoy the same membership benefits:
- Beginners can choose from over 1,600 Branches and 400 Schools and Resort Centres world-wide, giving access to the largest Club network for diver training and recreational diving using modern techniques and methods
- If you are already certified you can join the BSAC through one
of our branches , or join directly
through BSAC Direct . Our subscriptions
are priced to offer true value-for-money to all our members.
We will recognise your previous diving experience and, through specially tailored courses at very reasonable cost for individuals or groups, we will help you to join the BSAC.
- Sport Diver and Instructor Training using an internationally recognised and admired system based on over 50 years of experience as the UK Governing Body for the Sport
- A vast selection of specialist skill development courses , available at members' prices
- The most comprehensive public third party liability insurance cover available, as part of your subscription
- Monthly copies of the best-selling BSAC Journal, 'DIVE' - as an automatic part of your subscription. This saves you an annual total price of £30.
- A copy of ' Sport Diving ', the BSAC's premier diving manual, plus members' rates for the complete range of BSAC publications - 'Seamanship for Divers', Safety & Rescue for Divers', 'Advanced Sport Diving' , the BSAC CD-ROM 'Go Diving' , Nitrox and other advanced technical courses.....
- Quality service and back-up from the Diving Technical Department at BSAC Headquarters
- Support, advice and specialist training from the BSAC Regional Coaching Teams
- A range of organised BSAC Expeditions that each year explore new dive locations across the world
- Branch promotion - professional advice, assistance, free videos.. - are you fundraising? new members?...
- The BSAC Visa card , offering competitive rates exclusively to members (subject to status)
- Highly competitive full equipment and travel insurance
cover , exclusively tailored for BSAC divers' needs
- There's more! - and each month the reasons to be a part of the BSAC increase!
- In addition, as members of the Governing Body for the Sport, any BSAC Branch is able to apply to the UK Lottery Fund for grants and awards in order to enable their Branch to develop further.
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MARINE DIVERS CALENDAR 2008 / 2009