New Members
Join the club and learn to dive!
No previous experience is required. As a member of the club you will receive expert tuition from our BSAC qualified instructors and should achieve you Open Water license within the year. As members of the club you will also have access to 2 club boats, three compressors and club kit. Still Interested...
Am I eligible to join?
Unfortunately membership of QUBSAC is not open to the general public. Members must be students at QUB, associate membership is available to student members on finishing their studies at the University and may also be offered to others dependent on ability to instruct. Acceptance of associate memberships will be at the discretion of the committee.
How the club trains
The training term begins with a 'Try Dive' session in the PEC, this gives potential trainees the chance to see if they really like the underwater experience. The following week will see the start of the lecture and pool lesson programme. Lectures commence at 6.30p.m. sharp every Thursday and usually last around an hour. Trainees will then be assigned to an instructor, usually groups of four, for the pool lesson. Following training we normally go to the bar. Come down and get to know everyone. Most students who have attended regularly will have completed all lectures and pool sessions by Christmas, some will also have their sheltered water assessment completed. Certainly by the time of the club's annual Easter Trip, all keen trainees will be ready for their first open water dives.
How much does it cost?
Students must become members of the British Sub-Aqua Club through QUBSAC and purchase some essential equipment to get started: Club membership, BSAC membership, £65 voucher for DV diving and training materials for Ocean Diver - £150
Associate membership for trained divers costs £120
Normal student membership for trained divers costs £70
This is payable after the try dive night but BEFORE training can commence. The try dive will be £10.00 (to be taken off the cost of membership if joining the club). Mask, fins and snorkel (Can be bought through the club) - approx £65
If you have your own kit please ask instructors if it is suitable. After Christmas, when you have completed your pool training it will be time to head out into the open water... To dive in the open water you will need to get hold of a dry-suit or semi-dry suit. A new dry suit will be in the region of £350+ and a semi-dry around £150. Some good second hand suits can often be picked up or alternatively suits can be hired for about £20 a day. The club owns a supply of cylinders, regulators and stab jackets which are freely available for club members.
Diving trips
Diving is organised throughout the year, favored sites include Rathlin Island, St Johns Point, Burtonport and Tory Island we also frequent Strangford Lough. These are advertised on the email list and have a minimum diver grade depending on dive site. Fuel money for compressors/ boat when they are used will be the only cost involved. Generally no more than £5.00 per dive. Shore diving will not usually involve any cost. (Unless you want to buy your instructor lunch? Diving is hungry work!)
Weekend trips
Accommodation is usually in hotels or hired cottages to keep costs low. Tents have been known to be used, weather permitting and are probably the most craic. Lifts to dive sites may be arranged through the club however petrol money should be split. It is beneficial to have a car for diving.
Is it possible to start training late on in the term?
The training program kicks off at the start of the Sept/Oct term. It is difficult to accommodate anyone wishing to join much later than this as the training is based upon a progressive series of pool lessons and theory lectures. The skills practiced in the open water dives 1-5 are tested in an assessed open water dive at max depth of 20m. Successful completion of this element is required to achieve the Ocean Diver Qualification.