At present we do not train divers within the branch. We are unfortunate not to have sufficient Instructors within the branch to enable this, nor, at present, do we have access to a training pool. We do, however run courses in Oxygen Administration, First Aid and Boat Handling. When we are in a position to recommence training within the branch the practical lessons are held at Maidstone Leisure Centre in Mote Park, Maidstone. All lectures and pool sessions are conducted by club members or local instructors. At this stage students must be members of the club for insurance purposes.. Once these drills have been successfully completed it is time to brave the great outdoors and try open-water diving. For these dives we generally use  Leybourne Lakes but we also use Stoney Cove  and some coastal sites for the later drills and experience dives. Sports Diver and Dive Leader drills are carried out either at inland sites such as  Leybourne Lakes or as part of dive trips to the coast or overseas. Once again the lectures are held at the clubhouse and all examinations are run through the branch. We run skill development courses within the branch and sometimes jointly with other branches which makes it convenient for our members and other clubs who support this.

INTRODUCTION TO DIVING Diving Activities There are a number of activities which are available to you depending on your interests, once you have progressed to open water diving and have gained experience, including: Wreck Diving, Night Diving, Photography,  Fitness and Swimming Scuba diving is an exciting sport with attendant risks. You do not need to be an athlete to become a diver; however a certain level of fitness is required, as your life and that of your buddy could depend on it. This applies to all divers regardless of stage of training and experience. You also need to be able to swim 8 lengths of a pool (using any stroke). You should to be fit enough to lift heavy diving equipment but don't worry, you will build up your strength and stamina during training. Try Dive Before you decide to take the plunge and start training it is worth doing a try dive. This will allow you to have an experience of diving before taking it up seriously. It will also enable you to meet club members and talk to people who have experience of diving. MSAC charges £10 for a try dive and this covers a presentation on diving, one hour in the pool using SCUBA equipment and a follow- up session on where you can learn how much it costs. Individual try dives may not include formal presentations. You will be required to sign a disclaimer before you can take part in a try dive. If you find that you have enjoyed the try dive then your next step is to take up formal training, either with a club like the MSAC or with a BS-AC diving school or PADI Instructor For details on the PADI Route CLICK HERE BASIC EQUIPMENT The most basic equipment you will need comprises of a mask, snorkel and a pair of fins. As you progress to open water diving you will need additional equipment which you can either buy or hire. This will consist of items such as a wet, semi-dry or dry suit, a regulator, a buoyancy compensator, weight belt and so on. It is recommended that you consider buying at least a suit of you own when you progress to open water diving. Masks These come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours. There are basically two types: rubber and silicone. Silicone tends to be more expensive but will last longer than a rubber mask. A mask will cost anywhere from £20 upwards. The following should be borne in mind when purchasing a mask: It should be the right size It should feel comfortable The glass MUST be toughened or tempered The nose piece MUST be separate to the glass and open to the surrounding water pressure. If you wear glasses you can buy special masks that take prescriptive lenses. The cost of special lenses can be £80+. When going away on a diving trip it is useful to carry a spare mask strap. This avoids abandoning the dive as a result of a broken strap. Try to carry your mask in a case (most masks are sold in a plastic case) to provide some protection and always rinse out in fresh water after use in the chlorinated water or the sea. Snorkel A snorkel is simply a plastic tube with a bend at one end with a crude mouth piece. If you can insert your thumb in to the tube then it is of the correct size. Anything much larger or much smaller in diameter should be avoided. You should also avoid snorkels with any kind of valve or ping-pong ball mechanism at the top. Snorkels are priced from £12 upwards. Fins - NOT Flippers !! Fins vary a lot in price depending on the ‘ features’ claimed by the manufacturer. However you will most certainly pay extra for any additional features. The most essential thing to look for is a good comfortable fit and that you are happy with the strap-release mechanism. As with the mask, get yourself a spare fin strap when going on diving trips. Like masks, fins come in all shapes, sizes and colours. However all fins can be categorised as pool fins or sea fins. Pool fins fit like a shoe, are worn on bare feet and are generally lighter than sea fins. As the name suggests they are intended for use in a pool but can be used in warm sea water. Sea fins have a half shoe arrangement with a strap around the heel and are designed to be worn with a separate diving or dry suit boot. Pool Fins Pool fins (sometimes called 'Slipper Fins') can cost anything from £20 and upwards. Sea fins start at £45. If you buy sea fins then you will need to buy or borrow a pair of diving boots (which are required with a wet or semi-dry suit) to get the correct size of fins. If you buy a dry suit at a later date you may need to buy a new pair of sea fins as the boots on a dry suit are usually much larger than separate diving boots. You will also need a weight belt and a buoyancy control device when using aqualung equipment. These will be provided during your training and are not covered here. Equipment For Open Water Diving When you have progressed to open water dives you will need the following in addition to your mask, snorkel, fins, weight belt, buoyancy control device and cylinder: A wet/semi-dry/dry suit Torch Gloves Equipment Bag Knife The above is a basic list which you will no doubt find out as you progress to open water diving. If you are in doubt about what to buy then consult your instructor or another experienced member of the club. It is also possible to buy second hand equipment from existing members when they decide to replace or sell extra equipment. However if you do buy second hand items make sure that they are fully serviced and in good working order. ADVANCED TRAINING The BSAC has accepted the use of closed-circuit rebreathers on club dives, where previously only semi-closed units had been sanctioned by the club. As of the 1st November 2000 the BS-AC have sanctioned the use of closed circuit rebreathers within BS-AC. This is as a result of the Working Group reviewing the current trends in the development of rebreather diving and training for recreational diving.  The use of semi-closed circuit rebreathers is already allowed on BS-AC dives and now the use of closed circuit rebreathers gives the members a full choice as to the type of rebreather that they can use for recreational diving. The rebreather units that are approved for use on BS-AC organised dives are those that are recognised and fully evaluated, carrying the CE marking or other governmental approval. Such units are recognised for use within the limits of the manufacturers' recommendations, Module 1 training of the recognised rebreather training agencies and BS-AC recommendations. BS-AC is putting in place a framework to support Members interested in knowing more about rebreathers and from the 1st November a presentation "Introduction to Rebreather Diving" can be arranged for a Branch or Regional meetings. Rebreather "Try It" pool sessions will also be available, from that date at BS-AC schools and branches where they have access to BS-AC registered rebreather divers/instructors. From the 1st January 2001, BS-AC are introducing a Rebreather Awareness Course, designed for Branches with theory and practical experience to integrate rebreather diving in overall Branch diving activities.  For further information on rebreathers and their use, contact the technical department at BS-AC Headquarters, Telford's Quay, South Pier Road, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, CH65 4FL or on 0151 350 6200 and technical @bsac.com. Also see - Frequently Asked Questions on Rebreather use by BSAC members. and The NDC Bulletin Feature.