This page contains all the information you need to run your own club diving trip. If there's anything you don't understand, or just need more information on, feel free to contact the expeditions officer .

Planning

You don't need to be an experienced diver to run a club trip, but you will need a friendly one along to handle certain aspects, such as marshalling and you will need at least one qualified cox if you plan to take one of the club boats.

Once you have advertised your trip and got a group of victims together (and got it put in the diary), you'll need to book any accommodation and places on hard boats that you need. These are often snapped up fairly early on, so you may want to ask the club to put down a deposit, which you can pay back at the end of the trip, or when deposits have been collected.

If you are booking B&B or hotel places, its worth mentioning that the group are divers to avoid any horrified surprise later.

Once you have your list of divers, you (or your tame marshal) should show it to the club DO, to check any issues with qualifications, medicals, etc. People from outside the club can attend, as long as they are qualified members of BSAC, PADI, SAA.

If you want to use the club bus or one of the boats, contact the relevant club officer to make sure they are free. There are pages for each of them on the site.

On The Trip

You (or your marshal) will need to keep records of all the dives on the trip. Marshalling sheets can be printed off from this site. You will need to keep records of what people spend on group things, such as bus parking and restaurant bills, to avoid fights later. If you take a club boat, make sure that a VAT receipt is collected and kept somewhere safe - the club can claim the Petroleum Duty back later. This is so important that people using the boat will be charged extra if it isn't produced.

N.B. A normal petrol station receipt is not enough - you must ask for a VAT receipt

After The Trip

The marshalling sheets (or an electronic copy) need to be sent to diving officer .

Work out the costs and share them out fairly (there are some club rules). It can help to prepare a spreadsheet (or do lots of complicated sums) of money in and out for the trip.

It is very much appreciated if the organiser (or a volunteer) collects the money and hands payment into the treasurer. Please make it clear what the payment is for by including the spreadsheet or a simple summary of boat, bus and other fees. Do not forget to include the VAT receipt for the boat fuel.

As well as the treasurer and ExO also let the MBO and BO and know what happened if the bus or boat was used.

Finally, lie down in a darkened room!