British Sub-Aqua Club

British Sub-Aqua Club
Abbreviation	BSAC
Formation	15 October 1953
Type	NGO
Legal status	Limited Guarantee Company incorporated in England
Purpose	Recreational diving services, training and advocacy; National governing body
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Location	Telford's Quay, South Pier Road, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire CH65 4FL;
Region served	International
Membership	22,000 in 2022
President	The Prince of Wales
Chair	Edward Haynes
CEO	Mary Tetley
Main organ	BSAC Council
Affiliations	EUF
Staff	19
Website	www.bsac.com

The British Sub-Aqua Club or BSAC has been recognised since 1954 by UK Sport as the national governing body of recreational diving in the United Kingdom.^[3]

The club was founded in 1953 and at its peak in the mid-1990s had over 50,000 members declining to over 30,000 in 2009. It is a diver training organization that operates through its associated network of around 1,100 local, independent diving clubs and around 400 diving schools worldwide. The old logo featured the Roman god Neptune (Greek god Poseidon), god of the sea. The new logo, as of 2017, features a diver with the updated BSAC motto "Dive with us".

BSAC is unusual for a diver training agency in that most BSAC instructors are volunteers, giving up their spare time to train others, unlike many other agencies, in which instructors are paid employees, or self-employed.

Given that UK waters are relatively cold and have restricted visibility, BSAC training is regarded by its members as more comprehensive than some. Specifically it places emphasis on rescue training very early in the programme. BSAC also maintains links with other organisations, such as NACSAC.

Science writer and science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke was a famous member of BSAC.^[4]^{[full citation needed]}

The current President of BSAC is the Prince of Wales. His father Charles, and grandfather Philip also held that position and his brother Harry also trained with BSAC.^[5]

^ "BSAC Council". British Sub-Aqua Club. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
^ "BSAC HQ". British Sub-Aqua Club. Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
^ Cite error: The named reference Geraint was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Diving Officers Conference 2003
^ "HRH The Duke of Cambridge takes the lead at BSAC". British Sub-Aqua Club. Archived from the original on 19 May 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.

[1] "BSAC Council". British Sub-Aqua Club. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.

[2] "BSAC HQ". British Sub-Aqua Club. Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2014.

[Geraint-3] Cite error: The named reference Geraint was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[4] Diving Officers Conference 2003

[5] "HRH The Duke of Cambridge takes the lead at BSAC". British Sub-Aqua Club. Archived from the original on 19 May 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.

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