- Messages
- 16,437
- Reaction score
- 5,237
- # of dives
- 1000 - 2499
I don't think I'd have a problem with the Quebec license unless there was a charge for it. If you don't have 10 logged dives within 3 years to get it renewed what do you do?
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
I don't think I'd have a problem with the Quebec license unless there was a charge for it. If you don't have 10 logged dives within 3 years to get it renewed what do you do?
I just had a pleasant evening turn into a rather annoying disagreement with a PADI DM who has dove and worked in several Latin American countries and New Zealand. At home, he DMs in Canada.
Basically - he told me that as an AOW it wasn't "legal" for me to dive without DM supervision and that many places would refuse to rent me gear without either supervision or a DM cert.
Yes - he used the term "legal". I was further told that other qualifications are useless (I don't see myself progressing much further in PADI but I want to take courses elsewhere).
Oh. Also - apparently AOW certifies you for overhead (he talked about a guy freaking out in a "cave" in Nicaragua) because of the wreck dive.
So I'm a bit annoyed and slightly tipsy and I'm wondering if anything - anything at all - is true. I suspect he's a DM with a bit of a god complex (there was some bragging involved) but who knows. Maybe I'm being obstinate.
So, ScubaBoard.... Educate me.
Of course there's a fee ; ) But really for divers it's pocket change compared to other fees, not sure for instructors, it's 15$ every 3 years. The check dive is a bit more expensive, mostly the same price as hiring a DM/instructor for a dive (cost me 60$ including the short boat ride to the site in 2008).
If you don't have the 10 dives, you either fake it with a false log book or redo the check dive with a dm/instructor.
Last time I got it renewed, they accepted the 2 sets of double 130s and the 6 stages I was bringing to the fill station as proof : ).
The "legal" thing is wrong in respect of France. The system there is restricted by the insurance that is generally bought through the governing body. There is no actual state law as such. So anyone can dive there, the issue only comes up when dealing with a dive centre (most are affiliated to the governing body so have it's insurance).
France has some excellent diving - the WW2 wrecks in Normandy for example. Of great historic importance to our US friends (who will all receive a very warm welcome there). Also some of the best cave diving in Europe. The Med. isn't so great, but has some good wreck dives in the 130-160 foot range for those suitably qualified.
Was the DM picking up chicks.
. In case I ever get to France and want to dive they will let me do my thing.
I just had a pleasant evening turn into a rather annoying disagreement with a PADI DM who has dove and worked in several Latin American countries and New Zealand. At home, he DMs in Canada.
Basically - he told me that as an AOW it wasn't "legal" for me to dive without DM supervision and that many places would refuse to rent me gear without either supervision or a DM cert.
Yes - he used the term "legal". I was further told that other qualifications are useless (I don't see myself progressing much further in PADI but I want to take courses elsewhere).
Oh. Also - apparently AOW certifies you for overhead (he talked about a guy freaking out in a "cave" in Nicaragua) because of the wreck dive.
So I'm a bit annoyed and slightly tipsy and I'm wondering if anything - anything at all - is true. I suspect he's a DM with a bit of a god complex (there was some bragging involved) but who knows. Maybe I'm being obstinate.
So, ScubaBoard.... Educate me.
OTOH anybody from a CMAS (or similar, e.g. BSAC) background would be treated very well....
HTH, and any questions about diving here in France can be answered...
Jon