Eligibility to use Club dive equipment

  • Only current paid-up members of SUSAC can use Club dive equipment.
  • When equipment is requested by a trip organiser for use by several Club members, it is the trip organiser’s responsibility to confirm that kit is only used by those with an active SUSAC membership.
  • When equipment is requested by an individual, it is the Equipment Officer’s responsibility to confirm active SUSAC membership.
  • At pool sessions, any Club member may use Club equipment but priority will be given to trainees, and those who do not have access to equipment of their own.
  • On SUSAC trips (trips organised primarily for Club members, by a Club member), any Club member may use Club equipment.
  • On non-SUSAC trips, members holding a qualification of Sports Diver or higher can request equipment directly from the Equipment Officer.
  • On non-SUSAC trips, Ocean Divers and novice members must gain approval from the Diving Officer before requesting equipment.

Responsibility for dive equipment

  • All Club dive equipment is the responsibility of the Equipment Officer whilst in the Club Kit Store or stored long-term in another location, e.g. Ponds Forge pool.
  • During pool sessions, equipment is the responsibility of the person using it, or the Committee member in charge of the pool session when not in active use.
  • On dive trips, personal dive equipment  — such as BCDs, regulators, tanks, weight belts and weight — is the responsibility of the individual that the equipment has been taken for use by.
  • On dive trips, general items — such as the tool box, oxygen analyser, oxygen administration kit and spares — are the responsibility of the trip organiser.
  • We expect all members to pay due care and attention to equipment they are responsible for.
  • You must report any damaged or malfunctioning equipment you see to the Equipment Officer immediately, whether you are responsible for it at the time or not.
  • You will not be held responsible for reasonable wear and tear on equipment.
  • You must ensure that equipment you have been responsible for is returned in a clean, and preferably dry, state.

Equipment cleaning guidelines

  • Regulators: please ensure dust caps are replaced prior to submerging in water. Rinse thoroughly but do not depress purge buttons.
  • BCDs: please flush the inside of the air bladder with fresh water, then inflate and deflate to drain of all water.  Also rinse the outside of the BCD with fresh water, and fasten in the storage position.
  • Weight belts: simply rinse with water.  Please return as they were provided, with all weight on the belt so that it is ready to use.

Lost or damaged equipment

  • Where equipment is lost or damaged the Club Committee will have the final decision over any charges incurred and will always aim to be fair and reasonable.
  • The Committee will always try to establish, without bias, how and why the loss or damage was caused.
  • Equipment lost due to an emergency situation will not be charged to any individual or trip.
  • If you are responsible for equipment that is lost through carelessness, the Committee will charge you the new-for-old replacement value of the item.
  • If you are responsible for equipment that is damaged beyond reasonable wear and tear, the Committee will charge you (at their discretion) either: a reasonable fee for repair of the item; or the new-for-old replacement value of the item.
  • If general items of equipment are lost or damaged, the Committee may (at their discretion) split charges between some or all divers on the trip.

Use of SCUBA cylinders

  • By default, cylinders will be provided with an A-clamp fitting.
  • If you remove a doughnut (or DIN insert) from a cylinder, please ensure you replace it before returning the cylinder.
  • If you request a cylinder with a DIN fitting, it will be provided without a doughnut (DIN insert).
Cylinders suitable for air only:
  • These will, wherever possible, be provided filled.
  • Please return filled unless otherwise requested by the Equipment Officer.
  • The Committee will credit members for cylinders that are provided empty and returned filled.  It is the responsibility of the member to indicate to the Equipment Officer where this has occurred.
  • The Committee will charge members £5 per cylinder that is  provided filled and returned empty.
Cylinders cleaned for nitrox use:
  • These will, in general, be provided empty.
  • Please return empty unless otherwise requested by the Equipment Officer.
  • The Committee will not reimburse members for nitrox-clean cylinders that are provided empty and returned filled.

Filling of SCUBA cylinders after pool training

  • Cylinders will regularly need filling following pool training.
  • The closest filling station to Sheffield is at SDS Watersports.
  • The Equipment Officer will co-ordinate cylinder filling trips, but it is not their sole responsibility to fill Club cylinders.  All members are expected to help with this where possible.
  • SUSAC will cover the cost of pool fills: please ask the Equipment Officer for details.
  • For each cylinder you take to be filled on behalf of SUSAC, you are entitled to a 50p SUSAC credit.  Credit can be used as payment for debts to SUSAC (e.g. trip costs, annual meals).
  • A log of cylinder filling trips will be kept on poolside.  To claim your credits, you must complete the log before leaving the pool with empty cylinders.
  • The Equipment Officer will confirm your credits with the Club Treasurer on a regular basis.
  • Please arrange use of confirmed credits with the Treasurer directly.