12 December 1968

A letter was received from the British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC) explaining the procedure for establishing a BSAC branch. 

At this time, people interested in diving met at Bishop Auckland Pool on a Monday evening at 21:15hrs and received diving instruction and training. All professional testing was carried out by the Army – Special Sub Aqua unit based at Catterick.

24 July 1970

A meeting was held at the Aclet Hotel (Bishop Auckland), it was decided that there was enough interested members to make an application to form a branch of the BSAC.  The branch was registered as number 0399, the prefix zero was used as the BSAC believed that local branches would not exceed 1000 in total (current records indicate 3500 branches – BSAC records).  The prefix is still carried by Bishop Auckland Sub Aqua Club (BASAC) in all of the official branch communication.

March 1971

A 7.9cfm compressor was purchased with a council grant of £568 and repaid at a rate of £120/year.  The first annual general meeting of branch 0399 was held at the Aclet Hotel.

April 1971

The branch were successful in receiving another grant to obtain a 25HP Johnson outboard engine and a 14’6” Avon inflatable.

October 1971

The first Christmas Dinner dance was held at the Queens head, the cost per ticket was 1 pound & 16shillings (£1.75p).

May 1972

The branch moves from the Aclet to the Mitre Hotel for social purposes.

May 1975

The branch moves from the Mitre Hotel to the first club premises at George Street – Bishop Auckland.

January 1981

The branch moves to shared accommodation with Bishop Auckland Rugby Club at Peel Street as the premises at George Street are required as part of a new building project.

1992

Bishop Auckland Sub Aqua Club and Bishop Auckland Rugby Club move into new purpose built premises at the Riverside near Newton Cap Bank.

1997

Club compressor made operational with donation of control equipment by local factory.

Twin 40 HP engines donated to the club by one of the members for use on the large club RIB until funds available. The member was paid within 6 months through fundraising activities, including a bed push for a local hospital.

1998

Twin 30 HP engines fitted to the small club RIB with funds of £2700 and two new twin 40

HP engines bought due to engine failure on large RIB with funds of £2000

1999

Large RIB sold with remaining 40 HP engine and replaced with a 5.25m Northcraft with funds of £4000, twin 40HP engines fitted from old boat together with electronics, the costs minimised by rigging the boat in house with qualified members’ skills

Monthly experience scuba sessions launched & offered to the local community

2000

Raised funds and sponsorship to purchase a new Bauer compressor at a cost of £6900

Experience scuba sessions offered to the local community - over 120 people have participated to date

Successful UK dive expeditions to Scapa Flow, Luing & Mull – Scotland

Club Website Launched

2001

More pool training equipment purchased, the website has grown into popular site with over 8500 visits this year

2002

Raised funds and sponsorship to purchase another new Bauer compressor at a cost of £7400

Over 1200 individual dives made by active members of the club

59 Experience scuba sessions offered to the local community - over 233 people have participated to date.

March 2003

Both club boats stolen on the 15 March - the lifeblood of club diving, built up over 5 years to the provide service to club members.  Work is now concentrated on how the dive season will be planned.

December 2003

The branch wins the highly coveted Heinke Trophy, awarded by BSAC to the club who has done the most to promote their members and branch.  Mark Knox received the award at the Dive Officer conference alongside with Mark Blewitt, Anne Dixon and Roxanne Jackson.

At the Annual Dinner - George Brookes the Senior Adjudicator of the Heinke Trophy and past Chairman of the BSAC awarded Andy Anderson our Chairman with a winners plaque and certificate and a cheque for £1000.

March 2004

Auckland Diver 399, the new club RIB is officially launched at Beadnell Bay, the club goes from strength to strength. Club website gets an overhaul latest readings show that we have 22500 hits since our counter was reset last year.

May 2004

15th May - Bishop Auckland Sub Aqua Club host the Annual General Meeting for our core body the British Sub Aqua Club, and enter the history books as the first North East Sub Aqua Club not only to ever win the coveted Heinke Trophy, but to host the AGM. Guests included the National Diving Committee, Innes McArtney, Graeme Bruce and Northumbria Police Underwater Search Unit.