For just under 30 years Desert Sports Diving Club (“DSDC” to most of us) has been a focal point of recreational sports diving in the UAE. A 140 strong members only scuba diving club for those living in
the UAE, the clubs activities spread across the whole spectrum of scuba diving in the UAE.
The recent double page spread in the ‘National’ Newspaper, on the deep technical diving activities of DSDC (diving to 120 metres to the wreck of U533 on trimix and rebreathers), has caught the eye of many divers who are thinking to extend their diving capabilities. The additional DSDC articles appearing in the Emirates Diving Association quarterly magazine on wreck diving in Dubai are also catching the imagination of divers who would like to take the next step in that direction. All of which is possible at DSDC. Todays question is – “is this for you”?
DSDC is branch 1339 of the British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC) and approximately half of the members are BSAC trained and certified. BSAC members can take advantage of the courses that are put on at the club by the member instructors. The other half of DSDC members are typically PADI, NAUI and CMAS trained and depending on their personal preferences continue their training with commercial outfits or undertake the relevant BSAC cross over course.
DSDC is a sports club owned by its members, operating on a not-for-profit basis. Each year the Members appoint a small committee from within to administer its affairs, there are no Employees. DSDC strengths are numerous, its access to low cost resources, boats, compressors, gas mixing facilities, safety equipment, instructors, club house and class room are all complemented by a very strong social element and constant diving throughout the year. Because DSDC has no employees membership also entails everyone helping to run the club, be that boat and equipment maintenance, administration, dive trips and the social events. There are numerous jobs to do and pairs of hands are always needed.
DSDC members gather at the club house on Monday and Wednesday evenings to arrange the next diving trip(s), fill gas cylinders, undertake class room training, socialise and look at the photo and video efforts of members on the big screen at the club. DSDC operates two boats on the west coast (Dubai based) and one on the east coast (Fujeriah) as well as hiring boats and dhows on the Musandam on 3 weekends out of 4. Members also organise club holidays, long-weekend trips and expeditions. The only thing that stops DSDC diving is the wind and rough seas.
With the breadth of diving at DSDC and in the UAE there is something for everyone with informal interest groups on nearly every aspect of scuba diving. Within DSDC there are Photographers, Videographers, Experts on the Marine Environment . DSDC has divers skilled in Wrecks, Fast Currents, use of Rebreathers, Open Circuit Trimix, Nitrox, DPV’s. Among the members there are qualified (diving) Boat Handlers, Emergency O2 administrators, Gas Blenders and Diving Instructors – all the way up to Instructor-Instructors.
One of the most common questions asked by new members is “what can I do at DSDC”. As you will see from the above the answer is probably ‘everything’. With new members DSDC is very quick to assess where your current skill set is and guide you towards the most applicable area of club diving and from where you can develop further. Due to safety considerations, the benefits of time underwater and that it is free for members, 95% of members are Nitrox qualified. New members will quickly find themselves guided towards getting this qualification.
Due to the quality of the DSDC diving activities there are many members from Abu Dhabi and other Emirates, however, DSDC does not advertise its presence instead relying on word of mouth and reputation. While members may bring their own guests diving with them the club is too busy with it’s own activities to cater for non members and holiday makers. If you would like to know more
about DSDC and diving in the UAE why not visit the club website where there is a huge amount of interesting information. www.desertsportsdivingclub.net .
And finally, what about you, could you, should you come scuba diving in the UAE. We acknowledge that for some scuba diving is just not right and you will know in your own mind that it is not for you before you even put a toe in the water.
For others, it is simply a case of a diving instructor getting you to put you head below the surface, with a regulator in your mouth and a whole new world opens up in front of you. A world that you can explore and you don’t need to wait for delightful pictures a magazine to show you what its like. Once you are trained its then up to you, for some scuba diving remains firmly in the holiday pastime or occasional weekend category, while for others, well you can’t get them out of the water! In the UAE it is worth noting how convenient it is to undertake scuba diving, with the warm seas of the Gulf on our door step and variety of marine life there is to see. It’s Whale Shark Season on the Musandam at the moment and weekly we are encountering these huge giants of the seas – why don’t you?
We look forward to seeing you underwater.
