New To Diving?
Horsing Around In Capernwray
We take on up to 50 people completely new to diving every year. The training we give will take you to the level of BSAC Sports Diver, a qualification that you can use anywhere in the world to dive to 35m.
It all begins with your Try Dive, at the Leeds International Pool. We will provide free transport from university to the pool, all you have to do is come along to the Introductory Meeting, or contact us at ku.oc.casuul@ofni.
Your training will include theory lectures, two theory tests, pool training and open water training. At least some of your training will take place in Capernwray, a purpose built inland quarry filled to the brim with things to look at and discover: boats, two helicopters, a Cessna plane, a diving bell, and more... You can choose whether you want to complete the rest of your open water training in the UK, or you can complete your practical training abroad.
Training in Malta 2005
For the last two years the club has taken 50 people to Turkey to complete their open water training. It has always been a fabulous week of diving and social events.
Once you're qualified, you can then join in on the many pleasure trips organised by other club members throughout the year. We run trips in the North, South, East and West of the United Kingdom, and there are usually several holidays abroad a year too. Have a look at some of the recent Trip Reports to see where we go and what we get up to.
Costs
A Starfish In Portland
As a university club we are used to doing things on a budget and try to keep the costs as low as possible. Anything we charge you for will be charged at the price that we pay; we do not make any profit. This is partly made possible by the instructors teaching you free of charge, both in the classroom and in the water - in fact they pay for the privilege of teaching you!
The club owns more than 20 full sets of SCUBA equipment. This means that you can learn to dive without spending a fortune on kit. There are some basic items you will need to buy (mask, fins and snorkel), and if you are enrolling on a course, you will also need to buy training materials from BSAC. In addition you will need to pay the LUUSAC and BSAC annual membership.
Some of the costs may seem high, but unfortunately diving is not a cheap sport. However, this is one of the cheapest ways to learn to dive on the planet. As a comparison to become a Dive Leader (or equivalent), in LUUSAC it could cost you less than £470, however in a commercial diving school it could be more than £1200.
All Members
| LUUSAC Annual Membership | £30 | Covers some of our overheads, e.g. equipment servicing costs |
| BSAC Annual Student Membership | £18 | This includes public liability insurance. This may be different if you are not a current student |
New Divers
| Basic Equipment | ~£70 | Mask, fins, snorkel, booties. This is all the kit you have to buy yourself. | |
| Training materials | £42 | Includes all manuals and lecture notes up to and including Sports Diver, as well as your qualification book and a log book | |
| Pool Training | £10 | Cost price for the hire of the pool for the first part of the practical training | |
| Ocean Diver Practical | £80 | Cost price for travel, accommodation, equipment, entry, air fills and food for a weekend diving in Open Water | |
| Sports Diver Practical | either abroad for a week | ~£370 | Includes all your open water training, flights, accommodation, and transport for the week. 2-3 days training, then 3-4 days pleasure diving |
| or UK training | ~£80 | Cost price for travel, accommodation, equipment, entry, air fills and food for a weekend diving in Open Water | |