 Like so many great organisations, the BSAC started small. A few enthusiasts got together and decided that divers needed a club... and the rest is history. In fact, it is the history of diving in the UK.
A summary of the key points in more than 50 years of continuous development in diver safety. The fascinating story of the evolution of the world's biggest diving club.
The British Sub Aqua Club is by any measure a quite extraordinary organisation. Formed and run throughout its existence by enthusiastic and dedicated members, the club has successfully competed with commercially orientated bodies and has thrived in the process. From its beginnings the club has received world-wide recognition as a leader, standard-setter and innovator in the field of sport diving.
BSAC is one of the 27 National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) in the UK licensed to award Clubmark.
| 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.
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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.
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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.
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1959 |
During 1959 the BSAC became a founding member of CMAS, the World Underwater Federation.
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1976 |
In 1976 the Club responded to a growing demand for commercial training of sports divers by establishing the BSAC School system. 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.
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1979 |
To keep pace with this growth. the Club was reorganised as a Company Limited by Guarantee in 1979.
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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.
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1990 |
The Club moved from its London Sports Council home in 1990 to its own new office complex in the North West of England.
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1995 |
BSAC approved the use of Nitrox by BSAC members, heralding the beginning of the development of mixed gas diving in the club.Through the '90s the BSAC carefully tracks the development of new technologies involving the use of mixed gases and rebreathers, introducing them into diver training as programmes are developed.
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1995 |
The Learn to Dive (in '95) campaign was launched. The first in a now established series of annual promotions (re-named "Come & Dive) to introduce people to diving with try-dive sessions at local branches.
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1997 |
A new qualification, Ocean Diver, was introduced, initially to be offered only by BSAC Schools. This was backed up by a completely new set of training material, including a dedicated video and a CD-Rom for instructors. BSAC Schools now had a programme which was the equal of any on offer, and ahead in many areas. This material was to be developed later for the new Branch qualification.
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Today |
The BSAC has some 45,000 members which makes it the largest single diving Club in the world.
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There's nothing like experience
BSAC was born as a club for divers, and remains so today - in fact, it's the biggest diving club in the world.
From its earliest days it started to grow, as groups of divers around the UK and overseas came together to form diving clubs. These clubs were formed within BSAC and were known as Branches.
This structure allowed a diver to become a member of BSAC by joining a Branch. The number of Branches grew steadily over the years and remains in excess of a thousand.
The local nature of Branches gave divers accessible meeting points that provided all they needed to get into diving. Their local Branch could offer diving instruction toward internationally-recognised BSAC qualifications, together with a path to gaining further experience through branch-organised diving trips. Most members will also rate the social character of a BSAC Branch as a major advantage over other ways of taking up diving since it provided a means of making steady progress in good company.
BSAC Branches are the foundation on which it has built its reputation. By making diving accessible and affordable the Club has helped many thousands of people each year to take up diving, many of them making it a continuing passion.
Many BSAC Branches are well equipped, with a stock of equipment for training and even their own powerful boats, giving them access to interesting and adventurous diving. They are also able to offer advanced training to the higher diving grades and advanced diving skills via Skill Development Courses organised either locally or regionally.
Branch diving trips may be to an inland site for the day, coastal sites for a weekend, and increasingly to overseas venues for diving holidays. All of these offer excellent opportunities for gaining wider experience and confidence and adapting skills to the type of diving available.
Like any club, a BSAC Branch depends on its membership for its management and this allows members to participate in many different ways. Those with an aptitude for teaching will find the opportunities to gain instructional experience and qualifications which can eventually involve them in a wider regional or national role.
The Council Members and Officers of BSAC are elected from Branch members who have gained experience at local and regional level. This is what makes BSAC the club for divers... not for profit. |
