About Us

The Joint Service Sub Aqua Diving Centre (JSSADC) is located at Fort Bovisand, a listed Napoleonic era fortification on the eastern edge of Plymouth Sound. JSSADC was formed in 1974 from the Royal Navy Sports Diving Centre and the structure of the staff was changed to include representatives from all three Services.

JSSADC uses the qualifications issued by the UK National Governing Body for sub aqua diving, the British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC). Courses range from the entry level Ocean Diver course through to Advanced Instructor. Specialist courses for Sub Aqua Supervisors, mixed gas diving, boat handling and Marine Radio operators are amongst the other courses run by the Centre.

The Centre is a BSAC Centre of Excellence, one of very few to achieve this status both in the UK and worldwide, a BSAC Technical Centre for more specialist courses and a Royal Yachting Association Centre for the provision of some support courses for diving activities. JSSADC is also a recognised centre for the awarding of certain specialised qualifications for Technical Diving International (TDI) a US based technical diving agency.

JSSADC is responsible to the Royal Navy’s Fleet Headquarters through HMS TEMERAIRE, the Royal Navy’s centre for Physical training and Sport in Portsmouth.

There are nine staff at JSSADC who are responsible for all aspects of diver training carried out at the Centre as well as support functions such as course bookings, motor transport, boats, equipment maintenance, budget, health and safety and so on. The Centre also provides staff to carry out inspections of other MOD sponsored diving facilities and assists with the investigation of diving incidents. The staff consists of 6 military personnel from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Army and three MOD civilian employees.