Training
We train in the Time Capsule Coatbridge
on a Friday night. 20:15 to 21:15hrs.
We follow the training schedule of the
Scottish Sub Aqua Club (SSAC) and dont
cut corners.
We have instructors in the branch that can
presently train up to the Master Diver
Qualification.
We are able to cross divers overs from
other diving organisations following the
guidelines of the SSAC. Please ask for
details or check out the SSAC web site for
further details.
The Scottish Sub Aqua Club has a training
program with three distinct threads:
snorkeling; scuba diving and instructing.
A competent swimmer joining ScotSAC
without any diving experience or
qualifications may benefit from working first
towards the Snorkel Diver qualification. The
Snorkel Diver Award is attained by
completing the swimming assessment,
basic snorkel assessment, advanced
snorkel assessment and open water snorkel
assessment.
Most of our new members progress straight
into scuba training but first the candidate
must demonstrate competence in the water
by completing the swimming assessment
and basic snorkel assessment. Both of
these are a part of the Snorkel Diver Award
so of course a trainee with that qualification
is ready to start scuba training
Scuba training starts with the Sport Diver
Award which consists of a series of training
and assessments in the pool (or confined
open water) followed by similar activities
and assessment in the open water (usually
the sea). There is also a short theory
assessment based on the lectures which
form the backbone of this training (sport
diver lecture notes in link page). Until this
training and assessment is completed to the
satisfaction of the Branch Diving Officer
(BDO) the trainee may not dive unless
accompanied by an instructor approved by
the BDO. Just ten open water dives are
required for this award and the newly
qualified diver must build up their
experience before progressing to other
qualifications and should not normally dive
deeper than 30m.
In addition to our core diver training, there
are a series of "diver endorsements" which
are typically short stand alone courses,
sometimes taught at branch level but often
at regional or national level. These include a
number of diver welfare courses such as
Oxygen Administration, diver first aid and
heartstart and diving skills courses such as
drysuit use, deep diving and deep rescue.
The dive leader course is often included as
a part of the Master Diver program.
