So You Want To Be A BSAC Recognised School?
Here is some useful information to help you decide...
What is a BSAC School?
A BSAC School is a diver training facility which provides diving instruction on a regular basis, being one of a range of activities provided by a business dedicated to serving the needs of sports divers. 'On a regular basis' means providing courses of diving instruction at times convenient to members of the public i.e. during normal working hours.
Who can gain recognition?
School recognition is granted to established businesses which already have a full-time commitment to the sports diving industry, such as a diving equipment retail shop or a diving/water sports or Resort Centre. Recognition is not granted against plans to set up such a business: neither is it granted to individual diving instructors or those with other careers who wish to teach diving as a part-time activity. Such instructors are advised to pursue their plans in conjunction with an existing business, which is already catering for the needs of sports divers.
Where to set up a School?
Those interested in BSAC recognition should consider the existing competition in the locality. While recognition of a school carries no offer of a defined territory, the BSAC reserves the right to decline an application for recognition which might be prejudicial to the continued success of any existing BSAC Schools in the same area. All relevant factors will be considered when dealing with such cases: the distance between the intended school and existing ones; population densities; significance of tourism in the area, and above all, the level of support currently given by existing schools in the area.
Conditions for Recognition
The Conditions for Recognition of a BSAC School include these main points:
- The Chief Instructor of a BSAC School must hold at least a BSAC
Advanced Instructor qualification and should be a full-time staff
member of the business. All Instructors involved in teaching students
on any BSAC diver training course must be BSAC qualified instructors.
In the UK, Instructors must also meet the requirements of the HSE
Diving Operations at Work Regulations, including an HSE medical. The
school must have at least one dedicated classroom equipped with appropriate
teaching aids and must demonstrate that they have regular access to
suitable water for initial training and progressive open water diving
experience.
- BSAC Schools must own a stock of at least six complete sets of up-to-date
diving equipment, have access to air filling facilities and to boats
for open water diving and safety cover purposes.
- Schools should be insured against third party / public liability and associated risks.
- When teaching courses leading to BSAC qualifications, the appropriate BSAC training programme must be followed.
- BSAC Schools are expected to run Snorkelling, Ocean Diver and Sports Diver training courses on a regular basis and such courses should constitute a significant part of all teaching given by the school. Schools are also encouraged to run BSAC Skill Development Courses.
- New schools pay an initial registration fee (currently £450) and an annual
registration fee (currently £150). Fees are subject to VAT in all
EU countries.
- Businesses wishing to establish a second school will pay an initial registration fee (currently £160) and an annual registration fee (currently £100), for this new establishment fees are subject to VAT in all EU countries.
- UK Schools will be expected to carry out their diving activities
in accordance with the HSE Diving Operations at Work Regulations.
BSAC Schools overseas will be expected to comply with local laws and
regulations.
- In the process of granting recognition to a new school, BSAC will
carry out a preliminary inspection of the facilities and equipment
to be used by the school. Any costs incurred in making this inspection,
whatever its result, will be charged to the business.
The next step
For further information contact Schools
at BSAC HQ.
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