BSAC Dive Leader and Advanced Diver: plan and lead dives
The BSAC Dive Leader and Advanced Diver grades: entry rules, logged dives and what each lets you run.
In this guide
- What it is: Dive Leader is for planning and leading club dives and managing rescues. Advanced Diver is for running dives and expeditions at sites you haven't been to before.
- What you need first: Dive Leader: Sports Diver (or equivalent), a Nitrox qualification and age 14 or over. Advanced Diver: Dive Leader (or equivalent) and age 14 or over.
- What you'll learn: Leading divers, dive management, rescue management, then search techniques, seamanship, chartwork and expedition planning.
- Cost: A guided or instructional dive is usually £65 to £120.
- What's next: Diving track: First Class Diver. Instructing: Dive Leader opens Theory and Open Water Instructor, and Advanced Diver opens Advanced Instructor (see instructor grades).
Dive Leader
- Five assessed theory modules.
- Five open-water training dives.
- Three practical lessons.
- At least 60 dives, in a variety of conditions relevant to where you dive, before you qualify.
Sports Divers aged 12 to 14 can do the parts that don't go deeper than 20m. BSAC says the grade is accredited to ISO 24801-3, "Training for Dive Leader".
Once qualified, you can dive with divers of any grade, plan and manage diving at sites your club knows, and help trainees practise skills an instructor has already taught them. You'll also need Dive Leader if you want to become a BSAC Open Water Instructor.
Advanced Diver
- Four lessons, two open-water training dives and two dry practical sessions, plus a theory exam.
- Since qualifying as Dive Leader, log 20 open-water experience dives (training dives can count) and 600 minutes underwater, in a range of conditions.
- You must have been Dive Leader on at least 10 of those 20 dives, and Dive Manager on at least five.
Training covers search techniques, diving with no clear surface above you (cavern, wreck penetration or ice), mixed gas, advanced decompression, finding and diving an unknown site, small boats and chartwork.
Medical
A BSAC self-declaration medical form, done when you join and every year after. Answer yes to anything and you'll need to see a UKDMC medical referee.
Source: Dive Leader, Advanced Diver and Diving fitness and medical forms, BSAC, checked October 2026.
Governing body: British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC). It sets the UK safety standards and training awards for scuba diving, so it's the official place to find out more. PADI and SSI run their own courses too.
Typical prices, checked October 2026. The club or coach sets and bills the price.
The club map lists some of the UK clubs for this sport. It is a starting point, so check with the club before you travel. To have a coach found for you, use the enquiry form.
