I run a small dive shop in Malaysia and have been a PADI instructor for 10 years. Recently we have been in contact with two divers who are coming from France. Their original plan was to take the pool and theory in France (with PADI), then do their referral dives here.
I have just had an email from them stating that they have, in fact, been certified CMAS 1* divers, but have not had any open water dives at all, and have done all their training in a shallow pool (max 4m). Their instructor told them they were really good, so issued them their cert.
After questioning whether this was possible or even a good idea, their instructor sent me the following reply :-
"I'm ******, the french diving instructor (CMAS 2* instructor and PADI instructor) of ***** and ******. I have certified them because we have in France - despite the PADI systeme - the possibility certifying divers without any open water experience. Conversely, they have to dive 4 times in open water within the next 9 months after certification to validate it. Please also note that they have a "right" to dive down to h limit in France is 20m (+5m in case of good conditions, to be decided by the local dive responsible).
As **** and ***** have successfully passed the final exam (theory and practice), There is no reason (unless security is concerned) to limit their dives : I'm sure that you will check their capabilities during a first (roughtly) 10 m max deep dive.
Hoping this helps. Anyway, please don't hesitate to contact me for further details."
Now what worries me the most is the line "Conversely, they have to dive 4 times in open water within the next 9 months after certification to validate it"...does this mean that until they have done their 4 open water dives their cert is not valid? Does their four dives have to be with an instructor, or can they just do the four dives.
Other things that worry me is their 'right' to dive to 20m plus with no open water training.
From a liability point of view this concerns me.
Are there any CMAS instructors who can clarify this for me?
Many thanks
I have just had an email from them stating that they have, in fact, been certified CMAS 1* divers, but have not had any open water dives at all, and have done all their training in a shallow pool (max 4m). Their instructor told them they were really good, so issued them their cert.
After questioning whether this was possible or even a good idea, their instructor sent me the following reply :-
"I'm ******, the french diving instructor (CMAS 2* instructor and PADI instructor) of ***** and ******. I have certified them because we have in France - despite the PADI systeme - the possibility certifying divers without any open water experience. Conversely, they have to dive 4 times in open water within the next 9 months after certification to validate it. Please also note that they have a "right" to dive down to h limit in France is 20m (+5m in case of good conditions, to be decided by the local dive responsible).
As **** and ***** have successfully passed the final exam (theory and practice), There is no reason (unless security is concerned) to limit their dives : I'm sure that you will check their capabilities during a first (roughtly) 10 m max deep dive.
Hoping this helps. Anyway, please don't hesitate to contact me for further details."
Now what worries me the most is the line "Conversely, they have to dive 4 times in open water within the next 9 months after certification to validate it"...does this mean that until they have done their 4 open water dives their cert is not valid? Does their four dives have to be with an instructor, or can they just do the four dives.
Other things that worry me is their 'right' to dive to 20m plus with no open water training.
From a liability point of view this concerns me.
Are there any CMAS instructors who can clarify this for me?
Many thanks