Useful Links

The following links have been provided to assist the club members and site visitors to visit other websites that may be of interest. Inclusion of a link on this page does not mean that Saddleworth Sub-Aqua Club, or any of its members, can be held liable for any dealings with suppliers or any of the content held within the linked website. The links are split into the following categories - click the category name to go to the associated links:

 

General SCUBA Websites

Website Brief Description of site
BSAC The 'public' website of the British Sub-Aqua Club - the governing body of the sport of Sub-Aqua diving in the UK.
BSAC The members website of the British Sub-Aqua Club. Contains information on diver training and safety.
Dive Magazine The monthly BSAC members magazine
Diver Magazine An independent monthly magazine for British divers.
Maritime and Coastguard Agency Useful information on all aspects of safety at sea and also contains information on the Receiver of Wreck.
RNLI The Royal National Lifeboat Institute website contains information on the activities of the Institute plus safety advice for beach and water users.
Underwater Photography News, Views, Tips, Techniques and good photography from this quarterly on-line magazine of the British Society of Underwater Photographers.
X-Ray Magazine A free online magazine with excellent articles on worldwide dive travel, equipment reviews, and diving techniques.

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Diving Medicine Websites

Website Brief Description of site
British Hyperbaric Association Contains useful list of recompression chambers in the UK
Divers Alert Network DAN is a European diving organisation which specialises in medical research for recreational SCUBA diving. The website holds a lot of medical related information, and reports on the latest research. DAN also offers comprehensive dive travel insurance.
Diving Diseases Research Centre The DDRC is a Plymouth based research facility. The DDRC carry out various research projects into the effects of diving on the human body.
Hyperbaric Medicine Unit Very informative site on the Decompression Illness, its causes and treatment. Also contains information about the Scottish recompression facilities.
Scottish Diving Medicine Sister site to Hyperbaric Medicine Unit - contains similar information!
SCUBA Doc American site which gives comprehensive information about diving and diving medicine for the non-medical diver.
UK Sport Diving Medical Committee The website of the UK Sport Diving Medical Committee. The committee advises the British Sub-Aqua Club, Sub-Aqua Association and the Scottish Sub-Aqua Club on all aspects of diving medicine and fitness to dive. The committee is the body that produces the medical self-certification document that is used by most UK training agencies.

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Dive Planning Websites

Website Brief Description of site
BBC Weather User-friendly weather forecasts. Forecasts for up to 3 days available.
Charter Boats UK Useful listing of boats for charter around the UK - mainly a fishing charter sites, but most skippers will accommodate divers.
Dive Site Info Site created by divers giving information on a number of popular dive sites around the UK (incl. Clyde, St. Abbs, Farnes). Good links on accommodation and skippers as well as the latest weather and marine life identification.
EasyTide The tide forecasting website of the U.K. Hydrographic Office. Tide forecasts available for standard UK ports and are free for forecasts up to 7 days in advance. Forecasts more than 7 days in advance are charged at £1 a go.
MetCheck An excellent website maintained by an extremely enthusiastic and highly knowledgeable team of forecasters. Loads of different forecasts are available, plus trend synopsis and even ski-ing forecasts!! Well worth a look!
Magic Seaweed A surfers weather forecasting site. Excellent forecasts drawn up by a team of surfing weather experts who interpret data from a variety of sources. Usually extremely accurate 3-day forecast and the 7-day forecast is worth a bet. Free service which gives not only synoptic information, but wind/swell/tide info as well. Well worth a look!
Professional Boatmans Association Directory of UK charter boats
U.K. Boat Launch The site details the majority of boat launching sites within the UK. Launch facilities can be found using an interactive map. Launch site details include a description of the slip, charges and contact information - an invaluable guide for RIB divers.
U.K. Divers Very informative site dedicated to UK divers and diving.
U.K. Marine Weather The official U.K. Meteorological Office Inshore Waters forecast. Other general forecasts plus Gale Warnings are also within the site.
U.K. Recreational SCUBA Another useful site full of diving information (although getting a little dated now!)
Wind Guru Another excellent website, this time for windsurfers and Yachties so the information is basically wind speed and direction.

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Training Agency Websites

Website Brief Description of site
BSAC (General Information) This is the 'public' front of the British Sub-Aqua Club. This site contains general information on the BSAC, its organisation, branches, and learning to dive.
BSAC (Members Website) This site contains more 'in-depth' information of the British Sub-Aqua Club for use by its branches and members.
BSAC Snorkelling This site contains information useful for Snorkel Diving members of the British Sub-Aqua Club. It also contains general information on snorkelling and how to take part in snorkelling activities.
IANTD The website of the International Association of Nitrox & Technical Divers. The IANTD is an American association that offers traning in all aspects of Nitrox and technical diving. The site contains much information on Nitrox and Technical diving.
PADI The official site of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors the US training agency which is the largest in the world.
Powerboat Training A site created by the various Powerboat Training centres. The site contains much information on power boating around the UK and lists the courses and course suppliers available to become a competent powerboater.
Royal Yachting Association The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) website contains much information with regard to sailing and boating in both UK and Worldwide waters. The site also details the many RYA courses.
Scottish Sub-Aqua Club The Scottish version of the British Sub-Aqua Club!
SCUBA Schools International Another worldwide American SCUBA instruction organisation.
Sub-Aqua Association The SAA is an association of independent UK dive clubs and have their own training programmes and qualifications.
Technical Diving Inc. Another US based technical diver training agency.

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On-Line Dive Shops

Website Brief Description of site
Aberdeen Watersports Competitive dive shop prices, but the site also has an excellent section on Dive Sites (emphasis on Scotland!) and also a comprehensive Knowledge Base which contains downloads of equipment manuals etc. Well worth a look!
AquaPress Specialised retailer of Diving books
Blue Water Sports General retailer of diving equipment and apparel
Deep Blue Dive The UK's largest(?) online retailer of diving equipment
Divers Warehouse Bradford based retailer offering a large range of equipment at special web-only prices
Diving Direct Online shop for Denney Diving of Redcar - large range of equipment
Diving Niknaks Small online retailer specialising in techie diving gear
Diving Shop Poole based diving equipment retailer - good range of all equipment
Go-Dive Derby based retailer of diving equipment - usually excellent prices
Hidden Diving Midlands based retailer of diving equipment
Kent Diving Dartford based online retailer of mainstream diving equipment - usually good prices
Robin Hood Watersports Well known Yorkshire dive equipment retailer & manufacturer of diving suits
SDS Watersports Diver award winning retailer of mainstream diving equipment
Sea Chest Retailer of admiralty charts, seamanship books and chartwork tools
Simply Scuba Retailer with extensive stocks or all mainstream diving equipment
Timuna Sea Retailer of diving accessories - slates/reels/lanyards/buckles etc.
Underwater Explorers Retailer of DIR equipment

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Equipment Manufacturers

Website Brief Description of site
AP Valves British manufacturer of the indestructible Buddy BC's, Surface Marker Buoys and Lift Bags.
Apeks The only UK manufacturer of diving regulators. Based in Blackburn, they are now part of Aqua Lung International.
Aqua Lung Aqua Lung was founded by Dr. Jacques Cousteau, who with Emile Gagnan invented the Aqualung in 1943. Aqua Lung International is now the world's largest diving company and a highly successful division of the Air Liquide group.
Beaver Sports Huddersfield based manufacturer and distributor of diving equipment. Beaver Sports diving equipment is renowned for its 'value for money'.
Cressi-Sub Italian manufacturer of 'stylish' diving equipment.
Custom Divers UK based manufacturer and distributor of technical diving equipment.
Dive Rite Florida based manufacturer of technical SCUBA diving equipment for advanced, wreck and cave diving.
Mares International manufacturer and distributor of quality diving equipment
Narked at 60 Shipley based manufacturer of Modular Technical Dive Systems
Northern Diver Wigan based manufacturer of quality drysuits and distributor of diving equipment. A range of 'bargain' suits can be found at  www.z-suits.com
O3 Weymouth based manufacturer of high-quality drysuits
Oceanic California based international manufacturer and distributor of high-quality SCUBA diving and snorkelling equipment.
Otter Drysuits Leeds based manufacturer of quality membrane and neoprene drysuits and undersuits.
Poseidon Swedish manufacturer of renowned regulators
Scubapro-Uwatec Combined website detailing the varied products of Scubapro and the Uwatec dive computers
Sea and Sea Manufacturer of underwater camera housings, strobes and video lights
Seac Sub Italian manufacturer of SCUBA equipment
Seaskin Drysuits Leeds based manufacturer of keenly priced made-to-measure membrane and compressed neoprene drysuits - well worth checking out!
SMP Ltd Preston based manufacturer of Diving, Underwater and Marine equipment.
Suunto Diving Instrumentation Finnish manufacturer of highly regarded diving computers, gauges and diving instruments. Suunto are now part of Aqua Lung International.
Weezle Diving Services Yorkshire based manufacturer of highly regarded undersuits

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UK Dive Boat Operators

Website Brief Description of site
CeeKing Boat Charter Plymouth based boat charter - the boat is licensed for 12 divers and has s diver lift.
Faithful Charters Mick & Jenny will be your hosts about the M.V. Faithful, a 60 foot Scottish style converted fishing boat. The Faithful now operates out of Plymouth, diving the sites of South Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The Faithful provides comfortable live-aboard accommodation for 10. 
Flying Eagle Charters The Flying Eagle, skippered by John Teevan, plies the dark waters of the Clyde from its base in Large Yacht Haven. John has been a diver for many years and knows the waters and sites well. The Flying Eagle is licensed for 9 divers and has an 'everhot' kettle and an unlimited supply of choccie bickies!
Glad Tidings Charters Glad Tidings is a boat charter company operating out of the small harbour of Seahouses in Northumberland. The company have been taking boat trips to the nearby Farne Islands since 1918 and now operate a fleet of 7 boats.
Julie-Anne Charters Excellent diving boat with a truly laid-back skipper diving the wrecks of North Anglesey and the Irish Sea from its home port of Amlwch.
Northern Light Charters Oban based boat charter operating probably the finest live-aboard dive boats plying UK waters. The boats are at home sailing the wrecks and reefs around the Isle and Sound of Mull, and are seen throughout the summer in the St. Kilda archipelago - the most remote in the UK.
Providence Boat Charter Bridlington based 40 foot catamaran licensed for 12 divers. Diving available on over 100 sites (mostly wrecks!) and in the 15m-60m range. Good old Yorkshire hospitality comes free!
Waterline RIB Charter Waterline operates a 6.5m Tornado RIB and is able to launch from many of the slipways and ports of North Wales, although the Llyn Peninsula is its' normal ground. Paul Turkentine, the skipper, is a Marine Conservation Society SeaSearch co-ordinator so knows a thing or two about the marine life!

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Overseas Travel

Website Brief Description of site
BSAC Travel Club The BSAC's informative and dedicated travel resource
Blue Water Scuba Based at Cap d'Atrutx between Cala'n Bosch and Ciutadella in West Menorca, Blue Water Scuba was born out of Crystal Seas Scuba based in Cala'n Bosch.
Crystal Holidays A BSAC preferred travel partner. Crystal are working with the BSAC to offer a comprehensive diving programme.
Cubanacan A BSAC preferred travel partner, the Cubanacan travel agency can arrange holidays to any part of Cuba. BSAC have appointed five new training centres on Cuba and are planning to extend their coverage even more.
Cydive Based in Paphos in south western Cyprus, Cydive has been catering for divers for over 25 years.
Dive Worldwide A BSAC preferred travel partner offering BSAC members an 8% discount off all diving holidays. Special BSAC member only offers can be obtained via a link from the BSAC Travel Club website.
EcoDive Bali A first rate dive centre based in Amed on the north east coast of Bali. EcoDive offer a warm welcome and a personalised and highly professional dive experience.
Explorers Tours Diving Holidays Tour operator specialising in worldwide diving holidays
Geo-Dive Small specialised offering tailor-made diving holidays with a 'personal' touch.
Harlequin Travel Specialists in luxury holidays to the Caribbean, Europe, North Africa and the Indian Ocean.
Kuoni Large travel company offering diving and general holidays worldwide - voted as the best longhaul tour operator for the past 25 years.
Mad Divers A British owned and British staffed diving centre offering SCUBA diving around Palmanova, Magalluf and Santa Ponsa in South East Mallorca.
Oonasdivers Specialists in Red Sea diving holidays.
Reefseekers Reefseekers is a dive centre based in Labuan Bajo on the western coats of the remote island of Flores in eastern Indonesia. Labuan Bajo is known as the gateway to the Komodo National Park, famed for its Dragons and superb diving.
Regal Diving A BSAC preferred travel partner offering a 5% discount to all BSAC members. Regaldive offer specialised, package and bespoke, worldwide diving holidays.
Tony Backhurst Scuba A BSAC preferred travel partner. Tony Backhurst Scuba has been operating since 1994 and offers specialised diving holidays worldwide. Tony Backhurst Scuba has also been the winner of a Diver magazine award several times.
Touchdown Holidays Touchdown holidays offer diving holidays to Borneo and Malaysia.
XO Holidays XO holidays is the first tour operator to specialise in diving holidays to Norway.

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Marine Life Identification & Conservation

Website Brief Description of site
BDMLR Informative website for the British Divers Marine Life Rescue organisation. The organisation, set up in 1984, provides a committed 24 hour marine animal rescue service.
Encyclopaedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland Excellent online database for marine life around the UK, with excellent photographs and scientific names. Particularly good for Nudibranchs
Fish Base The biggest fish database on the web with thousands of data files on fish from around the world. Excellent site and very user friendly - highly recommended.
Fish Identification User friendly UK Fish identification page
Marine Conservation Society The UK charity dedicated to caring for our seas, shores and wildlife.
MarLIN The Marine Life Information Network for Britain & Ireland. Habitat and Species identification for marine organisms around the UK, with photographs, common and scientific names.
Sea Search Sea Search is a national UK project where volunteer divers can contribute to increase the knowledge of the UK maritime environment and contribute towards its conservation.
Sea Watch Sea Watch is a national UK national marine conservation research charity dedicated to the protection of whales, dolphins and porpoises around the U.K.
Shark Research Institute The Shark Research Institute is a multi-disciplinary, professional organisation dedicated to the promotion of public awareness of sharks and their vital role in the marine ecosystem.

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