Morpeth Dolphins believes in keeping costs to an absolute minimum. We are a ‘not for profit’ club with only the member’s interests at heart, not some commercial organisation with profits and shareholders to worry about. We provide excellent value for money at a minimum cost because of the goodwill of our members, many of whom lend a hand whenever possible.
Whilst learning to dive all lectures, training and swimming pool diving equipment are provided free of charge – all you pay is £10 per month – you do not have to pay anything to enter the Leisure Centre.) If you have not used an aqualung before then we offer a few free taster sessions to help you decide whether you wish to continue withe the full training course.
So you fancy a try…Then come along for a FREE try-dive (for an hour with all the equipment and 1-to-1 instruction)
Aqualung training with our club is open to everyone aged 12 or over who is medically fit to dive. The training is carried out by trained instructors at the individual’s own pace to build confidence, with safety as a key factor. The first BSAC diver grade is ‘Ocean Diver’* and this involves theory lectures, in-water training in the swimming pool and then progresses to open-water training in local quarries or in the sea. Theory lectures are held at regular intervals, and pool sessions are from
8pm – 9pm every Thursday evening at the Riverside Leisure Centre, Morpeth.
The course includes a theory test and practical in-water assessment to ensure that trainees have the level of knowledge essential to perform dives in open-water. Further progressive training courses are held within the branch.
Basic costs:
- FREE pool instruction max. group size = 2 students per instructor (on average it takes 8 weeks in the pool)
The ‘Club Diver Course’ comprises:
- Basic swimming test
- 9 x I hour theory sessions plus a written multiple choice examination
- 5 x 1 hour pool training sessions (depending on your ability) and an in-water assessment
- 5 open-water dives and an in-water assessment.
Before you can partake in open-water training you must complete a medical questionnaire and be a member of both Morpeth Dolphins Sub~Aqua Club (MDSAC) and the British Sub~Aqua Club (BSAC).
So what does it cost?
MDSAC Membership: £120 Membership is renewable on 1st April each year (or by standing order of £10 per month) and includes automatic membership to Morpeth & Ponteland Leisure Centres, and free diving air for your personal use.
One hour pool diving session which is members free as is members’ family swimming
BSAC Membership: Membership costs £48 per annum, which provides 12 monthly issues of a diving magazine, affiliated diving qualifications which are recognised world-wide, and £5 million third party insurance. Cohabiting members pay a reduced fee of £28 for the second member only. Each trainee must purchase an initial training pack consisting of a ‘Sport Diver’ manual and course workbook.
These prices are considerably cheaper than those of most other diver training agencies - this is because we operate as a club and rely on club members to provide training and boat maintenance thus keeping overheads to a minimum. We expect therefore that new members become involved in assisting us with this as soon as possible.
Cost of other equipment:
Diving equipment is expensive however in the early stages of training no purchase of equipment is necessary as most can be hired from the club for open-water diving for approximately £10 per week. You are advised to purchase a mask, snorkel and fins as soon as possible for your personal comfort but please ask advice of club members first. Before you can dive in open-water you will need to borrow, hire or buy a diving suit. Wetsuits are cheaper but you are well advised to use a drysuit, which keeps you much warmer. You will need a diving suit before you can commence open-water training. It is the cost of the suit, more than anything else, that holds up students’ training. Towards the end of their first year diving most divers purchase the rest of their equipment. Please seek advice from more senior members whom will be only too pleased to help and will even accompany you to the dive shop.
The following prices are for guidance only: Mask: £20 Fins: £35 Snorkel: £5
Wetsuit: £150 Drysuit: £400+
For further information see our contacts page or just turn up at Morpeth swimming pool (Riverside Leisure Centre) at 8.00pm on any Thursday evening.
- Theory training: (student training pack must be purchased at a cost of £30)
- FREE Open water training(Many providers will charge £200+ for the above course !!!)
- FREE Further courses (Oxygen administration, boat handling etc) Other commercial providers charge hundreds of pounds for these!
Requirements:
- £120 per annum Membership of Morpeth Dolphins which includes as much air as you can use (normally costs £3 per fill)
- £48 Membership of the British Sub~Aqua Club which includes 12 issues of DIVE Magazine and third party insurance
So for less than £168 you get ALL the training you will ever need up to a very high level (BSAC Advanced Diver), boat handling, oxygen administration etc. Free air and use of the club boat for a low fee of £5 per dive. Many others charge more than this without BSAC membership or free air.
Questions and answers
Q Why so cheap?
A We are a club and because we members charge nothing for our time we can provide exceptional value for money. All we ask is that having learned how to do it, you do the same for others.
Q But isn’t the diving gear expensive?
A Diving gear isn’t cheap but you can hire all the necessary stuff from the club for a very small fee making diving affordable to all.
Q Do I need to be able to swim?
A You only need to be able to do some basic swimming
Q Am I not too old?
A You’re never too old, anyone aged 14 and over can do it.
Q What about medical conditions?
A See below
Q So what do I do next?
A Contact us and come along for a try-dive ( a FREE hour with all the equipment and 1-to-1 instruction)
Medical and other conditions:
- Anyone with a medical history of diabetes, blackouts (epilepsy etc) perforated ear drum, untreated high blood pressure, any lung or respiratory disorder will not be permitted to dive
- You must never dive with a cold or ear infection
Diver training is available on the understanding that the person partaking is aged at least 12 and:
- Considers themselves fit and not suffering from any of the disqualifying conditions mentioned above
- In the interests of safety, undertakes to comply with all the instructions given to them
- Is able to swim 100 metres freestyle
- Every precaution will be taken for the safety of the persons taking part and therefore the Morpeth Dolphins Sub~Aqua Club reserve the right to refuse or terminate any instruction should there be doubt as to fitness or suitability to dive.
The initial diving course is the ‘Ocean Diver Course’ which is recognised worldwide, and comprises:
- Basic swimming test
- 9 x I hour theory sessions plus a written multiple choice examination
- 5 x 1 hour pool training sessions (depending on your ability) and an in-water assessment
- 5 open-water dives and an in-water assessment.
Before you can partake in open-water training you must complete a medical questionnaire and be a member of both Morpeth Dolphins Sub~Aqua Club (MDSAC) and the British Sub~Aqua Club (BSAC).
So what does it cost?
MDSAC Membership: £120 Membership is renewable on 1st April each year (or by standing order of £10 per month) and includes automatic membership to Morpeth & Ponteland Leisure Centres, and free diving air for your personal use.
One hour pool diving session which is members free as is members’ family swimming.
BSAC Membership: Membership costs £48 per annum, which provides 12 monthly issues of a diving magazine, affiliated diving qualifications which are recognised world-wide, and £5 million third party insurance. Cohabiting members pay a reduced fee of £28 for the second member only. Each trainee must purchase an initial training pack consisting of a ‘Sport Diver’ manual and course workbook.
These prices are considerably cheaper than those of most other diver training agencies - this is because we operate as a club and rely on club members to provide training and boat maintenance thus keeping overheads to a minimum. We expect therefore that new members become involved in assisting us with this as soon as possible.
Cost of other equipment:
Diving equipment is expensive however in the early stages of training no purchase of equipment is necessary as most can be hired from the club for open-water diving for approximately £10 per week. You are advised to purchase a mask, snorkel and fins as soon as possible for your personal comfort but please ask advice of club members first. Before you can dive in open-water you will need to borrow, hire or buy a diving suit. Wetsuits are cheaper but you are well advised to use a drysuit, which keeps you much warmer. You will need a diving suit before you can commence open-water training. It is the cost of the suit, more than anything else, that holds up students’ training. Towards the end of their first year diving most divers purchase the rest of their equipment. Please seek advice from more senior members whom will be only too pleased to help and will even accompany you to the dive shop.
The following prices are for guidance only: Mask: £20 Fins: £35 Snorkel: £5
Wetsuit: £150 Drysuit: £400+
For further information see our contacts page or just turn up at Morpeth swimming pool (Riverside Leisure Centre) at 8.00pm on any Thursday evening.
Capernwray
In recent times branch has made good use of Capernwray dive site Nr Carnforth in Lancashire. The site offers excellent training facilities and clear blue water.
Weazel Lock
A great shore diving site can be found at Weasel loch, Nr St Abbs Head, in Berwickshire, Scotland. (OS Grid ref: NT 939 650)
Access is through Eyemouth Caravan Park (a small charge is payable at the site office for vehicle parking) and an interesting climb down a wooded stairway to the water 20Metres below the headland. Weasel Loch offers a rock and sandy bottom with excellent visibility although at times there is a surge due to it’s narrow gully-like features. Depth ranges from 3 – 12M
Beadnell Point in Northumberland offers an easy and interesting shore dive with a wreck in 6M and progressively deeper reefs. Expect about 12M and a fair amount of life on the reef that runs due east from the point. Access is via a footpath situated near the Yaugt Club and a walk of 50 – 100M dependant on the tide.