The basics As a branch of the Scottish Sub-Aqua Club we offer internationally recognised qualifications of SSAC Sport Diver and SSAC Master Diver as well as the opportunity to take part in SSAC organised courses. Once qualified and suitably experienced club members are actively encouraged to go on to become Branch Instructors and pass on their knowledge to the next generation of our members. Unless you are already qualified as a diver with another organisation (in which case check out crossovers below) your training will start with a swimming assessment followed by snorkel training. It is not necessary to be a particularly strong swimmer to complete these stages and our qualified Branch Instructors and Training Personnel will be on hand to offer you assistance and advice. The skills you learn in these sessions will be vital all through your diving life and are the basis upon which aqua-lung training is built.
Sport Diver This is the next stage of your training and builds upon the basics already covered. It is also the primary qualification offered by SSAC and upon completion you will be able to dive safely anywhere in the world. The practical side of the training starts out in the safety of our pool where you will master buoyancy control, mask and d.v. clearing, air sharing and diver rescue. As your confidence grows the training moves into the lakes or the sea where you will refine and add to your scuba skills under the supervision of our qualified Branch Instructors. The theory covers the physics and physiology of diving and is completed in a series of lectures; the notes for which are available on this site.	Crossovers If you are already a diver you can convert your existing qualification to SSAC Sport Diver or Master Diver depending upon your current level. We offer crossovers from PADI Open Water Diver and Rescue Diver; BSAC Ocean Diver, Sport Diver, Advanced Diver and Dive Leader; and also SAA Elementary Diver, Club Diver, Dive Leader, Dive Supervisor and Dive Master. For each crossover various aspects of the SSAC training schedule are deleted leaving only those portions not covered by the existing qualification. However those aspects of the schedule not assessed individually will be the subject of a check dive.	Lectures To qualify as a Sport Diver you will have to pass the written exam on diving theory. There are twelve lectures the first four of which must be completed prior to aqua-lung training starting.The remaining eight will be covered during your training. You will receive a copy of the Sport Diver manual when you join SSAC and in addition a set of lecture notes are available. Lectures 1 to 4 are the core knowledge required to dive and cover basic equipment, the effects of pressure, aqua-lung use, buoyancy control and emergency proceedures. Lectures 5 to 12 cover the remainder of the syllabus. I want the lecture notes
Next steps Once you are a qualified Sport Diver you will be keen to add to your experience by joining us on some of the many trips we organise or by arranging your own. Eventually you will have gained sufficient experience to want to move into new areas, within the Branch we offer advanced levels of diver training through the Master Diver and Branch Instructor qualifications. As a Branch Instructor you will be passing your knowledge onto new members of our club which is one of the most satisfying aspects of diving. You will also have access to all the courses that are run at national level by SSAC such as first aid certification, nitrox diver, oxygen administration, boat handling and First Class Diver to name but a few.