 | |
| Abbreviation | BSAC |
|---|---|
| Formation | 15 October 1953 |
| Type | NGO |
| Legal status | Limited Guarantee Company incorporated in England |
| Purpose | Recreational diving services, training and advocacy National governing body |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Location |
|
Region served | International |
Membership | 22,000 in 2022 |
President | The Prince of Wales |
Chair | Edward Haynes[1] |
CEO | Mary Tetley[2] |
Main organ | BSAC Council |
| Affiliations | EUF |
| Staff | 19 |
| Website | www |
The British Sub-Aqua Club or BSAC has been recognised since 1954 by UK Sport as the national governing body of recreational diving in the United Kingdom.[3]
The club was founded in 1953 and at its peak in the mid-1990s had over 50,000 members declining to over 30,000 in 2009. It is a diver training organization that operates through its associated network of around 1,100 local, independent diving clubs and around 400 diving schools worldwide. The old logo featured the Roman god Neptune (Greek god Poseidon), god of the sea. The new logo, as of 2017, features a diver with the updated BSAC motto "Dive with us".
BSAC is unusual for a diver training agency in that most BSAC instructors are volunteers, giving up their spare time to train others, unlike many other agencies, in which instructors are paid employees, or self-employed.
Given that UK waters are relatively cold and have restricted visibility, BSAC training is regarded by its members as more comprehensive than some. Specifically it places emphasis on rescue training very early in the programme. BSAC also maintains links with other organisations, such as NACSAC.
Science writer and science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke was a famous member of BSAC.[4][full citation needed]
The current President of BSAC is William, Prince of Wales. His father Charles III, and grandfather Philip also held that position and his brother Harry, Duke of Sussex also trained with BSAC.[5]
- ^ "BSAC Council". British Sub-Aqua Club. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- ^ "BSAC HQ". British Sub-Aqua Club. Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Geraintwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Diving Officers Conference 2003
- ^ "HRH The Duke of Cambridge takes the lead at BSAC". British Sub-Aqua Club. Archived from the original on 19 May 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.