About CPA

If you're just curious about us, or are thinking about taking up SCUBA diving, this is the place to start. There are general headings above, but here is a potted summary of the main points from it all.

CPA was founded in April 1972, and entered the 21st century with around 60 members. It is affiliated to the UK's Sub Aqua Association, which in turn is part of the World Underwater Federation CMAS. The club's culture is very social - it is not a fanatical or extreme diving club. The attitude is more one of a having a fun day out with some diving thrown in. The diving standards are taken very seriously though, and we do have a good safety record.

We meet in Reading on Tuesday nights, 7pm for lectures at Crossfileds School Hall, then 8pm at the school swimming pool for training, and then afterwards, around 9.30pm at The Bell and Bottle pub, Shinfield. Trainees also meet up on other evenings for lectures.

Membership of the club is £180 per annum (£15 pcm). This includes free training to various SAA levels, lectures and weekly use of the pool. In year one, you will be asked to pay your Sub Aqua Association (SAA) annual membership which is currently £43.00*, including insurance. In subsiquent years this fee is renewed for you by the club. You will also benefit from use of the club's SCUBA equipment during pool training and cheap use of club dive boats within your club membership.
*There are discounts available from time to time, and students in full time education can join the SAA at a cheaper rate. Please enquire for full details.

More information on joining CPA and the SAA are available here

The Club owns two RIBs (with electronics and full safety equipment), and several full sets of SCUBA equipment for use by trainees.

Most of our diving is on the south coast, typically between Bognor Regis and Lyme Regis. We occasionally go further afield (Cornwall, Scotland, Red Sea and more...) for longer breaks. We run fairly frequent tropical holidays, and are quite active in the local community.

New joiners can usually start training immediately. The basic SAA fitness test is rarely any difficulty, but there is a medical certification requirement too. Training can take anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months depending on the student. From there, we work hard to try and keep ongoing diving costs down for members.

If you are already a qualified diver, you can start diving with us as soon as we have checked your qualifications and done an assessment dive. You will be able to dive at levels appropriate to the equivalent SAA standard as defined in a recognised crossover table.

If you have further questions please feel free to e-mail info@cpanet.co.uk and we will make every effort to get back to you with help.

If you like what you've read, take a look at how easy it is to come and meet the members and see if it's the sort of club you'd like to join.