New members
Becoming a member
Anyone over 16 can join (14 if one parent is a club member who is a qualified diver).
You need to be able to swim at least 6 lengths of the pool using breaststroke. A good level of fitness is important and regrettably, certain medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, ear or heart problems may preclude you from diving. Please ask for advice.
Equipment
To begin with, you will just need your swimsuit and towel. However once you have progressed to snorkel training, you will be advised to obtain your own fins, mask, snorkel and weight belt. The club provides all other equipment for your aqua-lung training.
We have two well-equipped dive boats with trailers and we also posse our own compressors so that all our members may have FREE air. First aid supplies and oxygen administration equipment are also provided.
Your try dive
The first evening for the TRY DIVE is FREE!, providing you have remembered to bring your swim things!
After five weeks you must decide whether to join us as a member of Stevenage Sub-Aqua Club. You will be offered the membership papers to complete and bring along with three passport size photos for your logbooks. The fees can be paid through your bank account by standing order each month or as a lump sum for the year, which ever suits you best.
You cannot take any training tests until you are a club member. You cannot start your aqua-lung training until you have had a medical that meets the SAA requirements these can be arranged through your own doctor or we have access to a doctor who is willing to complete the medical. Toni has the medical form that you will require. We advise you to arrange this as soon as you become a member.
Training and testing
This it undertaken by experienced members of the club, on a one-to–one basis where possible.
Pool training
In the pool you will be taken through the basic divers swimming training, snorkel training and aqua-lung training incorporating buoyancy control.
Theory
You will be required to attend a course of lectures, which are held at the beginning of each Wednesday evening. Please arrive on time, as you must be present for the entire lecture.
Your participation in these sessions will be 'signed up' by the lecturer. There is a question paper to test your understanding at the end of each series of lectures. Should you have any problems please speak to the lecturer or Graham.
Further training
When you have completed the pool and theory training you will be qualified to continue the open-water training. The club will organize training dives for you to obtain Elementary and Club divers qualifications. Later you may want to continue training for other diver qualifications or for qualifications through national SAA course such as boat handling, oxygen administration, VHF radio, instructor and a wide range of other courses.
Diving
Once you are an Elementary diver you can join the club's diving events. We offer a wide range of activities centered around diving - wreck exploration, under water photography, marine biology, conservation and archaeology. The Expeditions Officer who considers any suggestions by club members arranges a diving program each year. Expeditions include weeks, weekends, and day visits to the coast around Britain and overseas. Local dives such as Stoney Cove, The Blue Lagoon Arlesey, Gildenburg Water also take place through out the year.