BSAC Sports Diver: deeper dives, decompression and rescue skills

• What it is: BSAC's second-level grade. It takes you to 40m, adds decompression diving and teaches rescue skills.
• What you need first: Ocean Diver or Advanced Ocean Diver (or another agency's equivalent), age 12 or over, and the medical form. You need to be 14 to go deeper than 20m once qualified.
• What you'll learn: Self-rescue, recovering an unresponsive diver, basic life support, decompression stops and depth progression in 5m steps.
• Cost: A guided or instructional dive is usually £65 to £120. Diving is sold by the dive, not by the hour.
• What's next: Diving track: Dive Leader. Instructing: the Instructor Foundation Course, from age 16 (see instructor grades). Skills: 30+ Skill Development Courses.

Two routes in

From Ocean Diver

• Six theory modules.
• Two dry practical sessions.
• A sheltered-water rescue skills session.
• Six open-water dives.

From Advanced Ocean Diver

• Four theory modules.
• Two dry practical sessions.
• A sheltered-water rescue skills session.
• Three open-water dives.

Both routes end with a short theory exam, with continuous assessment along the way.

What you can do once qualified

• Dive with another Sports Diver at familiar places and in familiar conditions.
• Dive deeper or somewhere new with a Dive Leader or above, under a Dive Manager.
• Buddy an Ocean Diver or Advanced Ocean Diver, as long as you stay within conditions they've already met.
• Help a Dive Manager as a competent assistant.
• Use Nitrox up to 36%, and do dives that need in-water decompression.

Skill Development Courses

BSAC says Sports Divers can take more than 30 of these, including ice diving, underwater photography, accelerated decompression and twinset diving. The safety and rescue courses include Oxygen Administration, Practical Rescue Management, AED, Lifesaver, Advanced Lifesaver, First Aid for Divers and the RNLI Diver Sea Survival Workshop.

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: Sports Diver, Advanced Ocean Diver to Sports Diver and Safety and rescue courses, 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.