As a branch of the British Sub-Aqua Club, and our affiliation with Tudor Sailing club, we are in a great position to offer training courses in in clubhouse in Portsmouth, as well as at a variety of different diving locations. Depending on the requirements of the members, a course may be run more frequently than others. Details of courses being run are posted on the club's noticeboard in the clubhouse. They may also be mentioned in the club's year planner or calendar.
An up-to-date list of course we are about to run can be downloaded here - Latest training.
Some of our members are also members of other groups related to diving, such as the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) and we have been able to host their training courses too at the clubhouse.
During the past few years, our club's Instructors have been busy teaching members, old and new, more skills. The video below includes much of both the club's diving activity and training.
The articles below give a flavour of some of the courses we have run or hosted.
BSAC Advanced Ocean Diver
- Details
- Category: Training News
This month, February 2022, BSAC has launched a new diver qualification grade, Advanced Ocean Diver.
This new course sits neatly between the Ocean Diver and Sports Diver qualifications and takes some of the lectures and practical sessions from the Sports Diver course.
The result is a diver who can potentially dive on more club dives which are a little more adventurous to greater depths than the Ocean Diver, and someone who can make better use of Nitrox and a diving gas.
The course includes 4 lectures, a theory test, an optional refresher dive and three open water lessons, of which one can be combined into one of the other two. Upon completion of these, the diver can progress with two Depth Progression dives to 25m and then 30m.
For dives where the depth is deeper than 20m, the qualified Advanced Ocean Diver should be buddied with someone who is a qualified Sports Dive, equivalent or above.
For those who complete this course, they don’t have to repeat the lessons which match in the Sports Diver course.
For details of this course, please see the BSAC Website
Drysuit Workshop Training Day
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- Category: Training News
On an uncharacteristically warm day in late October of 2021, five members of the Southsea Sub Aqua Club ventured to the furthest reaches of Somerset to complete their Drysuit training.
Having already completed their theory session, Nicky, Steve and Dylon arrived at Vobster Quay, perhaps a little apprehensively, ready to dive using a Drysuit for the first time. After a short briefing, the three students started their preparation for their first dive and the watchful eyes of Instructors Robyn Peel and Jim Fuller. Despite the usual unexpected problems(1), we were all soon ready to venture into the sheltered water pen. The students quickly realised that drysuits, unlike, say T-shirts and shorts, considerably restrict your movements.
The first session involved getting weighting correct, and this is completely different to wetsuit weighting as we all know. This important step out of the way we then moved on to the stuck inflator and inversion drills, both on the surface and on the very convenient two-meter platform. Having completed those important skills we moved onto the all-important CBLs, first in the pen, and then from the six-meter platform.
The morning dives completed, we took stock (and tea/coffee and a burger), ready for the afternoon's experience dive. By then the fair and warm weather had given way to duller, and wetter weather. Some of us then enjoyed an hour exploring Vobster, including the top of the crushing works and a very scenic wall dive.
This involved an exploratory experience dive, where we were able to visit some of the attractions that Vobster Quay has to offer. After a bimble around the ledge at twelve meters, taking in the car and plane, we returned to our exit point, a new walkway adjoined to the pergola was our kitting bench and base for the day.
The diving complete, we packed up and set off for the long trek home, battling the traffic off the afternoon rush hour.
Overall a successful day, with three club members now trained and experienced in operating what is often an under-rated piece of active diving equipment, and now ready to dive year-round in the less than tropical South coat.
(1) Oxymoron intended.
Brune Park Community School Swimming Pool - Location
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- Category: Training News
Brune Park Community School is located off Military Road, Gosport.
Brune Park Community School
Military Road
Gosport
Hampshire
PO12 3BU
Swimmers & people doing a Try Dive
The building in which the swimming pool is located has a main entrance that is suitable for normal access. The changing rooms are to the right, then down the corridor and on the left, beside the viewing gallery to the swimming pool.
To get to the swimming pool, enter through the main gate and turn right after the island and right again. The entrance to the large car park is here. From here you can walk to the main entrance (see map below).
© OpenStreetMap Contributers
People with Scuba Gear
For those with Scuba gear, we are allowed to use the side entrance, which will be opened in time for us to get it all poolside. Please do not wear outdoor footwear on the poolside.
To get to the swimming pool, enter through the main gate and turn right after the island. Drive along the road, passing the large car park to your right. The side entrance to the pool is beside the gravel sports ground. See map above.
Please unload your heavy dive gear here and park your car in the main car park.
First Aid Training
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- Category: Training News
21 March 2013
It's spring 2013 and SSAC's clubhouse is hosting first aid training for divers. On Thursday, there is a practical rescue and first aid refresher for club members with a talk by a British Heart Foundation instructor. On Monday a rescue skills refresher takes place in the club training pool.
Saturday sees the Oxygen Administration course for the Southern Region. After a day packed with essential theory and hands-on practical sessions, eleven divers successfully demonstrated the skills required and are now able to administer oxygen to divers suffering from decompression illness (DCI). A team of SSAC instructors comprised of Dave Purvis, Dave Sawdon, Jenny and Rob Watkins were joined by BSAC Southern Region Coach Clive Puddifoot to deliver the course to students from across the Southern Region and beyond.
Well done to all those who passed the course!
British Divers Marine Life Rescue Training Day
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- Category: Training News
17 March 2013
Southsea Sub Aqua Club hosted nineteen enthusiastic people who spent a chilly day learning how to rescue a seal, a dolphin and a pilot whale that had beached themselves on top of Portsdown Hill! As part of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), trainee Marine Mammal Medics learnt how to 'jump' a seal, move a dolphin and inflate a pontoon to support a whale.
SSAC diving instructors Jenny and Rob Watkins are also trained instructors in the skills and techniques required to deal with a marine mammal in distress. For more information visit the BDMLR website.
Training Bonanza: Gas Blending and Trimix Facilities
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- Category: Training News
3 April 2012
This month has been very busy with lots of training taking place in preparation for the 2012 summer dive season. Courses have been run every weekend this month covering oxygen administration for divers, compressor operation and gas blending skill development courses in addition to the normal pool training sessions.
The main focus was to give SSAC members training in compressor operation and supplementary bespoke training on the new air, nitrox and mixed gas (trimix) facilities which have been installed/updated in recent months. Thanks to all the instructors who gave up their weekends and in particular to Marg Baldwin and Jim Mills from the Midlands Instructor Team for running the gas blending course.
