Who are Cotswold BSAC?
Cotswold BSAC was formed in 1969, one of the earlier sub aqua branches established within the BSAC » (British Sub-Aqua Club) organisation. The BSAC is the UK’s leading dive club and the sports National Governing Body, providing an internationally-recognised diver training and development programme via a network of clubs and centres across the country and overseas.
Take a look at the video below to get a flavour of what BSAC is all about.
The branch
We’re a scuba diving branch of BSAC, based in Cheltenham, with an active and varied year-round diving program. We enjoy a diverse membership, with new and experience members. We have plenty of active instructors, and welcome members from other organisations, such as PADI and SSI who can dive within their existing qualifications.
Weekly club nights
Cotswold BSAC meets most Fridays from mid-September to the end of May (apart from Bank Holiday weekends and school holidays) between 7.15 pm & 8.30pm at the Dean Close School swimming pool, GL51 6EP (off Hatherley Road). When you enter the site, drive underneath the arch, past the Bacon theatre on the right and then park in the large parking area on the left. There is limited parking right outside the pool, but you may wish to offload any heavy equipment first before parking.
Our Club pool is 25 metres (82 feet) long and 1.8m (approx 5.9 feet) deep. Members use the pool for training, swimming, testing equipment and to practice diving skills.
Families and partners are welcome to attend the pool on Club nights although we ask that children are supervised by a parent. There is also a small cost to members and their guests for using the pool on Club nights.
Once the main UK diving season starts in spring/early summer we go diving, so we don’t use the pool throughout this time. However if you are interested in membership and joining, or to get booked in for a try dive when the pool re-opens, just contact us. Of course when we are at the pool, you are welcome to come along to see us and have a chat then.
Where do we dive?
We have an active and varied diving programme, including quarry, beach and harbour dives, dives from our very own RIB, charter boat dives. Locations include Devon and Dorset coasts, Scilly Isles, West Wales, Orkneys, Northumberland Coast, Farne Islands, together with overseas locations such as the Egyptian Red Sea, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean to name but a few.
The branch dives can be a single day, a weekend, a week or sometimes a holiday involving a liveaboard charter boat. Some members choose to dive solely abroad, while others dive throughout the year in UK waters.
Co-operation with other local clubs
As well as our own events, the Club also runs a number of joint diving trips with our friends at other local BSAC branches. This allows us to combine and share training facilities, charter boats, dive holidays and other events for the benefit of all involved.
Social events
As well as diving, members organise a range of social events throughout the year. Club members are encouraged to get together with their families and friends at events like our Annual Dinner, BBQs, ten pin bowling, quiz nights, meals out and more. Check out the Latest News page to find out all we do!