DIVEUK2024
Kit inspection time !
4 You ’ ll develop a heightened appreciation of your kit
Dive kit was at its coolest in the late sixties , when our forebears wore sleek wetsuits and shiny twin hose regulators . Then the Adjusted Buoyancy Life Jacket made its ungainly appearance , ruining the clean lines of the classic diver with an ungainly ( if safety enhancing ) orange horse collar .
These days we ’ re looking a lot better , with low profile tinted masks , drysuits that look like futuristic battle dress and the clutterfree efficiency of the wing and harness combo . Standard BCDs mostly perform beautifully and if you can ’ t make up your mind there are hybrids that offer elements of both .
All the same , our kit isn ’ t for show . Whether you ’ re rocking a rebreather or still on your first regulator , it forms an integral part of your diving experience . You and you only are responsible for its care and maintenance .
After a while , we all come to appreciate that our dive kit is our best friend . Just don ’ t let anyone catch you talking to it ...
5 You ’ ll learn how to dive independently
Note – this does not mean solo diving . British divers work together – we need each other , so what ’ s the point of haring off on your own .
By ‘ independently ’ we mean selfsufficiency , the ability to problem-solve and , if necessary , rescue . We support our new divers , and the learning process never really ends , but we are trained to be able to handle ourselves , so that if someone needs our help we can effect a rescue . I ’ ve
Exploring a coral wall in the Farne Islands interviewed loads of BSAC divers over the years , and when it comes to rescue stories they all have a moment when the training kicks in and it becomes an almost instinctive act . This wouldn ’ t be possible if our divers weren ’ t trained to think and act for themselves .
The same spirit of self-sufficiency extends to our boats . BSAC ’ s culture of RIB diving enables us to explore the shore quickly and efficiently ; boat handling courses are common currency . Most clubs have their own compressors to fill cylinders and put on a schedule of trips , acting as their own de facto dive centres for the UK and often further afield .
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