North Wales Sub-Aqua Club

Membership:   

How much does it cost to join the club? Annual membership cost to a qualified diver is £150. This includes membership of NWSAC, membership of the SAA, joint membership of Llandudno Sailing Club and air fills from the clubs compressor*. For new members requiring all of the initial diver training the annual cost is £200, this includes all of the above and all of the required SAA training materials. This only applies to the first year of training, after which the price is the standard £150/year.Prices are subject to change.

Is there an age limit? Yes, there is an age limit of 18 years for divers requiring training. We will accept qualified divers over the age of 16.

Are there any hidden costs? Not as such, however diving is not a cheap sport. The equipment required is very expensive but the club does have a limited supply of equipment to loan trainees during their pool sessions. Also the pool sessions themselves do incur a small fee.

Training:

What courses do we run? As an SAA club we can offer all of the main SAA recreational diver qualifications from Elementary Diver up to National Diver. We can also offer the optional specialist courses such as Diver Rescue, Nitrox Diver and Boat Handling courses to name but a few. We also offer the full range of SAA instructor courses.

Can I keep my qualification from another diving organisation? Yes, the SAA have a full cross-over chart that will enable you to see your equivalent SAA qualification. A check out dive with the club's Diving Officer may be required.

Do I have to pay for each qualification? No, the cost of training is included with our membership cost. Specialist courses however, sometimes incur further costs due to the cost of training materials.

How long does each qualification take to complete? This is dependant on you, as many of the qualifications require a certain number of dives to be completed before it can be signed off by the club's Training Office or Dive Officer. Each qualification has a certain number of lectures that a trainee must attend, this number ranges from 10 to 4 depending on the particular qualification. There is also a simple test at the end of each course to ensure the trainee has a good understanding of the topics covered. 

Facilities:

Can I use the club RHIB? Yes, the club RHIB is available for all divers to use, all we ask is that the boat is booked in advance, to avoid issues and that the designated skipper holds at least RYA Powerboat Level 2 or equivalent. Training for this qualification can be arranged by the club. 

Do we have our own pool? We wish! Unfortunately as a small non-profit club our own pool is simply not an option. We do however have a deal with the local council run pool for exclusive use during certain periods when we run our training sessions (normally Sunday evening). We can also secure use of the pool for special occasions or events.

Can I use the club compressor? No, although air from the compressor is included in our membership fees this does NOT mean you can use the clubs compressor. It is a very expensive and potentially dangerous piece of equipment, that if used incorrectly could end up with an injury or fatality, or a large repair bill for the club. There are designated members of the club who have the training and experience to use the compressor and who are willing to give up their own free time, whenever they can, to fill cylinders. Simply contact one of these people to arrange a time to meet to have your cylinders filled.

Can I leave my equipment in the club's shed? Yes you can leave some equipment in the club shed. However, please check with the Equipment Officer before hand to confirm it is OK. There may be space issues or maintenance work that may be taking place which would be hampered by more diving equipment in the shed. Also members equipment left in the shed is NOT insured under the clubs policy and also cannot be guaranteed safe. Sometimes cylinders are borrowed from the shed for training purposes. If you have any objection to your cylinders being used, do not leave them in the shed. Also please do not leave cylinders in the shed if they contain any breathing gas other than air, unless they are very clearly marked with Nitrox labels and O2 content stickers.

Can I have a key to the shed? No, for security purposes there are only a certain number of designated key holders for the shed. At least one of these people is normally available to provide access at any given time. 

Can I use the Club House for a personal social event? Yes, in order to obtain use of the Club House please contact the Club Secretary well in advance to confirm it is available. The Club House has excellent facilities including a fully kitted out commercial kitchen, a well stocked and very well priced bar and a large dance floor area. Please be aware however, that if you book the Club House it is your responsibility to arrange for it be cleaned thoroughly the next day. Also please remember that the Club House belongs to Llandudno Sailing Club, both the sailing club and North Wales Sub Aqua Club expect all areas to be left clean and tidy. There is a small administration fee of £20 for the hire of the Club House.

Other:

How do I contact the club? The easiest way to contact us is through this website, our contact details are below. Or, alternatively you can be more social and come and meet us in person. We meet every Sunday from 7:30pm at Llandudno Sailing Club, next to Venue Cymru on the promenade in Llandudno.