BSAC TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS

STATEMENT OF ALTERNATIVE TRAINING

Briefing notes for qualified divers joining the British Sub-Aqua Club
The British Sub-Aqua Club accepts previous diver training by recognised agencies, whether recreational, commercial or military. When a diver qualified by another training agency becomes a member of the BSAC, the qualifications they already hold are recognised as a starting point for further training within the BSAC by the issue of a Statement of Alternative Training (SALT).

The Statement of Alternative Training (SALT) process recognises that the new member has a qualification that the BSAC considers to be of a similar standard to an appropriate BSAC qualification. With this SALT Certificate, the new member may take part in dives appropriate to that particular grade of BSAC diver, and may also train for the next higher BSAC qualification. The SALT process has to assume that the person has only just obtained the certificate they hold. It cannot offer any further credit for variables such as additional diving experience gained since the qualification was achieved, or training undertaken on incomplete courses.

The SALT process applies only to diving qualifications and not to diving instructor qualifications.

To obtain a SALT Certificate, the new member will be expected to present evidence of the qualifications they already hold in the form of original and authenticated certificates, training records in other agency logbooks, etc. Photocopies and / or verbal assurances will not be acceptable! If a translation of a foreign certificate is necessary, it is the responsibility of the new member applying for a SALT to provide it. The BSAC Branch that the person is joining will prepare the SALT Certificate and apply it to the appropriate page(s) of the member’s BSAC Qualification Record Book.

As soon as possible on joining the BSAC, divers who receive a Statement of Alternative Training will be expected to attend an ‘Induction to the BSAC’ lesson based on parts of the BSAC Club Diver training programme, which will:

• Describe how the Branch structure works
• Outline the aims, beliefs and function of the BSAC as the governing body.
• Outline what BSAC membership offers.
• Provide an overview of the BSAC ’88 Decompression Tables.
• Even before you embark upon training for the next higher BSAC grade, encourage further theory study and skills practice to ‘close any gaps’ which might become apparent.

To assist both the experienced diver joining BSAC, and the Branch itself in administering this system, the BSAC has issued a ‘Table of Similar Qualifications’. This Table is based on a comparison of other agency training programmes with those of BSAC, and is kept under continuous review.

Experienced divers who receive a SALT certificate should understand that a BSAC Branch Diving Officer is responsible for the safety and well being of all Branch members. In exercising this duty of care, should a Diving Officer discover that a new member, originally trained by another agency, lacks an appropriate level of basic diving knowledge and skill, the DO is at liberty to require the member to undertake relevant refresher training and / or limit their open water diving activities until a satisfactory level of knowledge and skills performance is demonstrated.

Recipients of a SALT are encouraged to continue their training and development as a diver within the BSAC, by training for higher qualification levels; by learning ‘the BSAC way’ of performing various skills; and by attending BSAC Skill Development Courses. Your Branch, or BSAC HQ, can tell you more about these.

The SALT certificate is not used to recognise speciality / special interest training, only complete diver qualification courses. Speciality / special interest training by other agencies may be recognised by the BSAC through the issue of Skill Development Course Alternative Training Certificates. Information Sheet A.5 ‘Alternative Skill Development Course Training’, available from BSAC HQ, explains how this is done.
For your information, the format and wording of the Statement of Alternative Training is reproduced below. The SALT acknowledges the fact that the member has been trained to a standard known to be similar to the appropriate BSAC qualification, but does not make the Branch or its Diving Officer responsible for that prior training.


TABLE OF SIMILAR QUALIFICATIONS
The Table lists a number of 'other agency' qualifications that are considered to be of a similar standard to the BSAC qualification shown. Trained divers joining a BSAC Branch may be issued with a SALT certificate accordingly.

Notes on the Table of Similar Qualifications

1. The Table does not attempt to be definitive, and only includes the more commonly recognised programmes. Diving qualifications are issued by numerous agencies and federations around the world and it is impossible to list them all. Cases which do not clearly fit the guidance provided by this Table may be discussed with the Technical Department at BSAC HQ.
2. 'Try a Dive' Programmes such as the BSAC 'Experience Scuba' or a Branch run 'Introduction to Diving Course', the PADI Discover Scuba Diving programme or the NAUI Passport Diver / Easy Scuba Experience, do not include sufficient instruction to warrant any credits / exemptions from a full programme of BSAC diver training.
3. BSAC will normally accept other agency Snorkelling Qualifications as directly equivalent to its own.
4. British Armed Forces Divers, other than RN Ships Diver, now receive HSE Commercial Diver certification.
5. HSE Commercial Divers and British Armed Forces (RN and Army) Divers may also be entitled to request various Skill Development Course Alternative Training Certificates in respect of underwater working skills - see BSAC Information Sheet A.5.
6. This Table may also be used to determine whether a diver trained by another agency has a level of qualification that meets the entry standard for a BSAC Skill Development Course or Instructor Training Course.
7. New members who hold professional qualifications, or who have studied certain subjects through other training courses and evening classes (e.g. navigation, boat handling, marine radio, first aid) may be entitled to claim a BSAC Skill Development Course Alternative Training Certificate which acknowledges that their qualification / training meets the aims and objectives of the appropriate Skill Development Course. See BSAC Information Sheet A.5.

TABLE OF SIMILAR QUALIFICATIONS

Other Agency Qualification	Similar to BSAC Qualification
All ‘Entry Level’ qualifications (which typically do not include rescue training) such as: CMAS One Star Diver NASDS Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver NAUI Scuba Diver and Advanced Scuba Diver PADI Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver and AOWD Plus Royal Navy Ships Diver SAA Open Water Diver SSI Open Water Diver SSI Advanced Open Water Diver	Club Diver, Ocean Diver
All ‘Second Level’ qualifications (which must include rescue training) such as: CMAS Two Star Diver HSE Commercial Diver: HSE Scuba Diver / HSE Surface Supply Diver / HSE Surface Supply (Top Up) Diver / HSE Closed Bell Diver (formerly HSE Diver Part 4, 3, 1 and 2 respectively). See also Notes 4 and 5. NASDS Rescue Diver NAUI Scuba Rescue Diver PADI Rescue Diver SAA Club Diver SSAC Third Class Diver SSI Advanced Open Water Diver with ‘Stress and Rescue’ Speciality	Sports Diver
All ‘Third Level’ qualifications (which must include dive leadership training) such as: NASDS Dive Supervisor NAUI Divemaster PADI Divemaster SAA Dive Leader SSAC Second Class Diver SSI Dive Control Specialist	Dive Leader
Any higher level of qualification, such as: CMAS Three Star Diver SAA Dive Supervisor Because of the variation allowed in training leading to higher diving qualifications awarded by US diver training agencies, BSAC is unable to accept them as being of a similar standard to BSAC Advanced Diver. However, Branch Diving Officers can judge additional experience and training pn a case by case basis.	Advanced Diver

© BSAC. 9/98. The British Sub-Aqua Club, Telford's Quay, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire CH65 4FL