Club Rules

British Sub-Aqua Club – East Anglian Branch No 11 –

As a part of BSAC, we must abide by the Memorandum and Articles of Association and Rules of British Sub-Aqua Club as updated from time to time and follow the rules, guidelines and training prescribed in the Diving Manual and other BSAC publications, e.g. The online Safe Diving Guidelines

It is a condition of membership that all members abide by the rules.

As a Branch we are free to adopt any additional rules as we see fit, provided they do not contradict BSAC procedures, and they are duly approved by a majority vote at the Annual General Meeting.

The club committee will be appointed in line with the BSAC Branch Officer guidance, including the roles and responsibilities.

The following is an up to date list of Branch specific rules:

A. Membership

1. Membership is payable on 1 May each year (the CRD Common Renewal Date).
2. Members have 28 days in which to renew their membership. If membership lapses, it will be back-dated to 1 May if the member subsequently pays their fees, at the discretion of the committee.
3. No renewals will be accepted without a current BSAC self-declaration / medical certificate showing fitness to dive.
4. New members will, where appropriate, pay a training fee in addition to the Branch membership fee.
5. New members may be charged a pro-rata annual fee to take account of the date relative to the CRD at the discretion of the management committee
6. Five categories of membership are available, to which specific fees will apply:a) Social member
   b) Snorkelling member (age 8 and above)
   c) Diving member (age and above)
   d) Nitrox member (must also be a Diving member)
   e) Boat Handling and Surface Cover (must have BSAC Boat Handling or equivalent approved by the DO)Details of the current fees are recorded in the Club Fees document.Social and Boat Handling & Surface Cover, non-diving members, are allowed to speak and vote at dry club meetings on non-diving matters. The Chairperson shall rule on what constitutes “non-diving” matters.
7. Any club member who brings the club into disrepute will be subject to a disciplinary hearing by the committee.
8. The committee retains the right to refuse any application for membership or renewal.
9. Owing to the General Data Protection Regulations 2016 and its various amendments, that unless notified in writing to the Club committee to the contrary, all BSAC EAB11 members’ contact and diving related details shall be made available and listed from time to time within the Club record (both virtual and printed), on the Club’s RIB, in the Club’s hut and the Club’s website in order to facilitate Club administration and diving related matters.
10. All members will be advised of the AGM in advance by email.
11. Any member under the age of 18 must be supervised by a parent or guardian when participating in Club activities. Parent or Guardian may nominate another person to supervise the junior member at the discretion of the DO or Committee.
12. All club members are encouraged to freely give up their time and skills to support maintaining, cleaning, etc of club assets to minimise the use of club funds

B. Club Boat Dives

1. All boat dives must be supervised by a Dive Manager, who will often also be the Coxswain.
2. Club boats may only put to sea with a qualified BSAC Diver Coxwain on board. The Cox will be responsible for all aspects of safety at sea during the trip, including preparing the boat to go to sea, launch, diving, recovery, clean down and refuelling.  Any issues found with the boats must be reported immediately to the Equipment Officer to facilitate remedial action.  If two boats are going to sea in tandem, the Coxswain may agree to the second boat being driven by a member who holds a BSAC Boat Handling certificate.  This is at the sole discretion of the Coxswain of the first boat taking into account sea conditions, weather forecast, crew experience, etc.  If this option is taken, the two boats must stay together at all times.
3. With the DO’s permission and approval, any suitably qualified and experienced member of BSAC may cox club boats if it is in the best interest of the Branch.
4. Any and all incidents must be notified to the DO immediately. DO will subsequently investigate and provide a report to the Committee with any recommendations to avoid recurrence.  Where appropriate the DO will be responsible for communicating with any external agencies.
5. The Coastguard is to be notified via the radio before commencing a sea dive and upon return to shore.
6. Boats must not to be left unsupervised at sea under any circumstances.
7. Surface cover must be provided during diving by a suitably qualified/experienced person. The Coxswain of the boat will be responsible for selecting and approving suitable people for this role as required.
8. Only members of BSAC are allowed on club boats when diving is taking place. At the Committee’s discretion, suitably qualified visitors may also be permitted to dive from the Club’s boat, especially where the divers are considering joining the Club.
9. Before bringing anything back to the RIB, members should read the BSAC guidelines on artefact recovery on the BSAC website. Members must consider their own safety, safety of other divers and the potential damage to the boat, for example sharp objects that might puncture or damage the sponsons, should not be retrieved unless suitably protected prior to retrieval.

The following items must not be retrieved under any circumstances:

A) Munitions of any kind, whether judged spent or potentially live.

B) Poison bottles, these are typically small glass bottles, either green or blue and usually hexagonal in cross section.  Some poison bottles may be other colours, e.g. brown with “poison” moulded into the glass.  Even if the stoppers are missing, this type of bottle must not be retrieved to club RIBs

C. Equipment

1. Any club member who has completed their BSAC Compressor Operation course and completed the Club Compressor Familiarisation is entitled to the codes for the club hut and alarm system and to use the compressor for compressed air fills
2. Only a member who has a BSAC Compressor Operation certificate and Club Compressor Familiarisation and has undertaken a Branch run course in Compressor operation will be allowed to operate the club compressor.
3. Only members who have completed the BSAC Gas Blending Course (or BSAC recognised equivalent) and paid the additional Nitrox membership fees will be provided the codes for the blending panels and hence be able to complete nitrox mixed gas fills
4. No club equipment is to be used on private boats without prior permission and agreement of the DO or EO.
5. Members must pay for all fuel used in Club boats and a fee for the use of the boat(s).  The fee for the RIB is per person per day (excluding any non-diving cox/boat cover) subject to a minimum amount per day.  A launch fee may also be payable to the Club, where EAB11 has pre-paid for launches, otherwise to whoever is providing the launch. Details of the current fees are recorded in the Club Fees document.
6. Cylinders are filled at the sole discretion of the member operating the compressor. All cylinders must be correctly certified and hold an up to test, including O2 clean for Nitrox.
7. All club equipment must be washed down after use and left in a clean and tidy state. Any damage or malfunction must be reported to the EO.
8. The club will not be held liable for any loss or damage to members own equipment used at training sessions or other club events.
9. In addition to the Club Membership fee (CRD defined), an additional fee (to be agreed annually at the ate) will be charged for Nitrox use. Payment of these fees entitles the member to unlimited use of Nitrox. Fees will be set to ensure the Club does not subsidise oxygen purchases.  If there are insufficient funds the Committee reserves the right to raise additional nitrox fees to cover the short fall. The Nitrox facility will only be available to EAB11 Nitrox members who have completed the BSAC Gas Blending course (or equivalent) and been familiarised with the oxygen blending panels in the Club Hut.  Use of oxygen by non-EAB11 BSAC members to be at the committee’s discretion.
10. No non-member gas fills are allowed without prior consent from the DO or another committee member in his/her absence.

D. Trustees

1. The title to any real estate and/or leasehold property which may be acquired by the Branch shall be vested in Custodian Trustees of whom, for the Branch Property Trust, there shall not be less than three or more than five Trustees.
2. Trustees shall hold office until:

Death: or

Retirement with the consent of the remaining Trustees: or

Removal by resolution of the committee: or by the members at the Annual General Meeting: or

Removal by operation of the Law

But no retirement or removal shall be effective unless there will be at least 2 remaining Trustees.

3. The committee shall appoint the first Trustees for the Branch and shall by resolution respectively nominate new Trustees when deemed necessary.
4. Whenever a Trustee is appointed under Paragraph D3 hereof, or discharged under Paragraph D2 hereof, a Memorandum of such appointment or discharge shall be prepared and signed and sealed so as to comply with any statutory amendment to the lease or freehold documents.
5. In the absence of fraud or wilful default (of the Trustees) the Trustees shall be indemnified out of the Branch funds against risk and expense incurred in the exercise of their duty as Trustees.
6. The committee shall convene a meeting of the Branch within one calendar month of receiving a request for such a meeting from a majority of the Trustees of any Property Trust for the Branch provided that such a meeting is limited to matters relating to any such property and its management.

E. Property

1. The property of the Branch whether leasehold or freehold shall be applied and used solely to promote and further the aims of the Branch, and if leasehold within the terms of any lease entered into by the Trustees at the behest of the Branch or its appointed committee.
2. No part thereof shall be transferred directly or indirectly to any member of the Branch.

F. General

1. For a committee meeting to be quorate it must include
2. Members are reminded that shellfish and fish caught during dives or from the Club’s boats must conform to current size and quantity limits and any local bye-laws.