We offer the full range of BSAC courses to members. We have a significant number of nationally qualified instructors in the membership, so instructor:student ratios are always favourable and quality is very high.
New to diving?
Training starts with the Ocean Diver course which through a combination of theory lessons, pool sessions and open water experience, lets you learn your new diving skills progressively and at your own pace. You will develop your skills in the safe confines of a swimming pool before progressing to your first open water dives and your Ocean Diver qualification.
As an Ocean Diver you’ll be able to dive in the UK and abroad at depths up to 20m.
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More experienced?
If you are a qualified Ocean Diver, you can move on to the Sports Diver certificate – this excellent course consolidates and builds on the knowledge and skills learnt in the Ocean Diver course and prepares you for diving in more challenging conditions.
As a Sports Diver your depth limit is increased to 35m. “Recreational diving” is taken to be diving to a maximum of 30m, so you will find that the Sports Diver qualification matches nicely to the type of diving offered by Dive Shops in holiday locations around the world.
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Within this club the DO (if qualified) is responsible for further progression to the Dive Leader and Advanced Diver grades should you wish to extend your skills. Progression to BSAC’s highest level qualification of First Class Diver is conducted nationally.
If you have qualifications from another dive agency
Depending on what your qualification is, divers who have completed courses with other agencies can be transferred over to an equivalent BSAC grade. Please contact the Training Officer for further information train@sunstar.org.uk
Extending your knowledge
BSAC have a comprehensive range of Skill Development Courses (SDCs) which provide detailed training in a variety of specific areas. We have the resources to run many of these programmes in-house. All SDCs fall into one of the following categories
- Safety and Rescue (eg. Oxygen Administration, First Aid for Divers)
- Extending the Range (Advanced Decompression Procedures, Mixed Gas, Rebreather diving)
- Seamanship SDCs (Chart work and position fixing, Boat Handling)
- Special Interest (Underwater Photography, Marine life appreciation)
Organisation and Responsibilities
The Diving Officer has the delegated authority from the BSAC National Diving Officer to award Ocean Diver, Sports Diver, Dive Leader and Advanced Diver qualifications to members. He is ultimately responsible for the quality of the training within the branch.
The Sunstar Training Officer has the responsibility for the organisation of Ocean Diver and Sports Diver training. Primarily this covers the setting of the dates for the theory lessons and the confined water (pool) sessions and coordinating the availability of Instructors and Trainees.
The training itself is carried out by Nationally Qualified Instructors and Assistant Instructors.
The Training Officer can be contacted at train@sunstar.org.uk
Timing
Sunstar membership membership runs on a calendar year basis from Mar-Mar. We normally run try-dive sessions around October-December to recruit new members for the coming year. Ocean Diver training takes place from the end of January or February through to April, after which Sport Diver and Dive Leader training runs depending on demand.This allows club members and students to go diving during the summer months. However if you wish to learn to div outside of these schedule then we will be glad to welcome you at any time of the year.
Locations
Confined Water Training: Pool training takes place at Fore Street Pool during normal pool sessions from 07.30pm-08:30pm.
Theory Training: All lectures take place at the Fore Street Pool classroom after the pool training from 8.50pm.
Open Water Training: Open water training takes place at various sites including Gildenburgh and Stoney Cove.