Due to the non-commercial nature of the Club, including the fact that we do not provide dive masters to accompany divers, some guidelines about diving and assessing of ability are needed to before anyone is accepted to undertake a Club dive or a non-Club dive involving Club members and their boats. This is to ensure that the Club and the members are fully protected from any possible legal action should a diver have a problem on a dive.
All Dives
It is expected that a person will have a functioning octopus, a suitably sized tank considering the depth and the air consumption of the diver, a depth gauge of some sort and a timing device. It is also compulsory for a diver to have a suitable dive computer for all boat dives.
Dive Buddies
It is the responsibility of each diver to arrange a buddy before starting a dive. It is not the dive organiser’s responsibility to do this. If a person does not organise a buddy, then it is their choice to dive solo.
Shore Dives
Most shore dives only need a member to have a dive certification (Open Water or equivalent). However, some dives require a lot of experience and members may be required to do other easier dives before being permitted to come on these harder dives. Such dives would include Bare Island Deep Wall, Bare Island Isolated Reefs, Mahon Pool, The Leap and Shark Point. The organiser of the dive has the right to decide if a member can do the dive.
Night Shore Dives
Similar to shore dives but some other harder shore dives may be excluded to people who have done none or a few night dives. The organiser of the dive has the right to decide if a member can do the dive.
Boat Dives Under 26 metres
For boat dives in this depth range, the only certification required will be Open Water. However, for a diver who has just completed a dive course with less than 10 dives, they may not be permitted to come on a dive if the depth is more than 20 metres.
Generally, a new member will be required to buddy with one of the more experienced members who will assess their ability.
For all boat dives, the owner of a boat has the right to decline to take any member on their boat for whatever reason they so deem.
On all boat dives, it is compulsory to do at least a three minute safety stop at five metres. This must be complied with or it could lead a member to being excluded from further boat dives.
Boat Dives 27 – 33 metres
Generally, new members will not be permitted to do a dive in this depth unless they have already satisifed the boat owner or dive organiser of their ability by having previously done a dive with the Club and been considered capable of diving to this deeper depth. This may mean more than one dive is needed. (Advanced Open Water certification).
Boat Dives 33 – 42 metres
These dives are normally used to assess members as being suitable to do a deeper dive (42 metres plus) and for checking out their use of multiple tanks. To qualify, divers would have been expected to do a number of boat dives with the Club, possibly including at least one in the 27 to 33 metre depth range.
For dives deeper than 35 metres, it is compulsory to carry a redundant air supply unless special circumstances exist
Note that all divers are required to complete an additional five minutes safety stop after they have done all the decompression indicated by their computer. Failure to comply will likely lead to withdrawal of the ability to dive from a member’s boat
Boat Dives Over 42 metres
Members will only be taken on these dives if they have shown over a large number of dives that they are capable of diving well over 40 metres. This may include been required to do a dive in the 37 to 42 metre depth range as well as a shallower dive with the equipment that is proposed to be worn on the deeper dive.
Divers are expected to have at least PADI Deep Diver, PADI Tec Rec 45 or TDI Decompression Diver certifications.
Further Questions
If you have any questions about a dive being planned, contact the organiser who will be able to answer the question or who may refer you to the boat owner for clarification.