NORAD Sub Aqua Club

Branch 1212 of the British Sub Aqua Club

Background to the Club

NORAD Sub Aqua Club is affiliated to the British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC) as branch number 1212. Members dive to the recommendations and rules of BSAC, the national body for diving in England. Membership is diverse covering many backgrounds, ages, and gender. Our club has an excellent number of female divers which is a welcome change for what was once seen as a masculine sport.

The club primarily serves the Wansdyke area, that being the villages around the town of Midsomer Norton and Radstock. We also have members in more outlying locations such as Bath, Bradford on Avon, Frome, Keynsham, and Shepton Mallet. The club meets every Thursday night at 9.30pm in the MidSomer Norton branch of the United Services Club. During the months January to April we have use of the swimming pool at the South Wansdyke Sport Centre, Rackvernal Road, Midsomer Norton for a 45 minute pool session starting at 8.45pm. This is used for training and  swimming.

Diving takes place most weekends in addition to the set dive plan of monthly meets. An annual holiday in the UK is organised each Whitsun week, normally to Cornwall, as well as a foreign trip every two years. Dive training takes place each year, normally starting around mid January. Training is given towards the BSAC Ocean Diver qualification which includes pool and theory work, and is primarily for ages 17/18 plus. The Club will entertain the training of 15/16 year olds but at the discretion of our Diving Officer and the attendance of a parent. The continued training of existing members also takes place during this time with an ongoing program for advancement to Sport Diver and Dive Leader. In addition to dive training the club also provides snorkel training. This is very popular with the children in the area and we can have up to thirty  8+ year olds. It is an excellent way to both educate children and also give them a taste of diving for the future. The training of snorkelling is provided by our Club instructor whom is also a teacher by profession.

Any body interested in joining NORAD, be they new or experienced, please contact either our Diving Officer or Secretary: 
note that the email address is written out to avoid spam, as per a BSAC initiative amongst their member clubs.