You already have an IANTD AOWD. So this means you have a 30m cert already. And this is followed by a 40m deep dier specialty normally.
I would do just a deep diver cert from any available agency, it doesn't matter if it is padi, ssi, iantd or whatever. Then you also have the same.
CMAS 2* is a 40m cert, but some countries write about limits to 30m. In my country it is 30m, but if you go abroad it is a 40m cert, cmas doesn't offer here deep diver certs.
But cmas also changes every couple of years. And the limits are most times not written on the cert. You must know as owner of the cert what the limits are when you did it. So the 3* was a 63m on air single tank cert, then it was 60m. I did my 3* in that time. Then it was a PO2 of 1.4 cert, so 57m. This was also a time the limit of the 2*. And now they write about 40m in the international standards.
But the older certs won't change of course. So mines is still that 60m single tank on air cert. I know that and I will remember that in case a discussion will come (but I have also other certs from other agencies, so don't have any limit anymore).
Here you can find the latest cmas standards which overwrite all the regional cmas agencies as you become an international recognised cert:
The CMAS has established standards which form the basis of a system of International Divers Certificates, which are recognised by all national federations and other bodies which are member of the CMAS Technical Committee. The standards describe four grades of divers.
archives.cmas.org
And there is written if you download it, and I must say I did not see the last changes before:
A CMAS Two-Star Diver is qualified to dive within these parameters:• Dive to a maximum depth of 30 m if accompanied by a diver with same levelor equivalent, according to the national and local legal requirements.• If he has received advanced additional training that includes decompressiondiving, the risks of deep diving and the organization of specific safety, they thenmay dive to a recommended maximum depth of forty (40) meters, accordingto the regulation and standards of the national federation.• To dive only when appropriate support is available at the surface.
If I read this, I see they changed it again in a too restricted way in my opinion. So people who get this cert now are not allowed to dive on their own without surface support, not allowed to dive to 40m without decompression diving cert (and that can only be done in my country after 3* if you stick to cmas), and also they don't talk about the solo allowance anymore and have a buddy requirement now (but I know some cmas agencies still teach solo diving).
I am happy I have the old cert without these strange things, and I can dive solo with other certs. I also am happy with my 60m on air single tank cert.
After reading this, I can only advice you to do a deep diver cert somewhere and then no questions are asked anymore if you do a dive with a divecenter that requires it.
OR do a cmas 3*, then you get the 40m level (and PO2 of 1.4 after some extra training). But I think the deep diver will help you enough.
COMPETENCIES OF A CERTIFIED CMAS THREE-STAR DIVER• A CMAS Three-Star Diver shall be trained such that, when assessed by a CMASInstructor, he shall be deemed to have a professional level knowledge ofdiving theory, solid rescue skills, dive management and supervision abilities,exemplary diving skills and sufficient diving experience to plan, organize andconduct open water diving activities and lead other recreational sport diversin open water on both guided and organized dives in a safe and competentmanner.• A CMAS Three-Star Diver is qualified to dive within the following parameters:• Dive to a maximum depth of 40 meters if accompanied by a diver with samelevel or equivalent according to the national and local legal requirements.• To lead night dives for all diver levels.• To conduct any specialized sport diving activities for which he has receivedappropriate training.• To plan and execute emergency procedures appropriately for the divingenvironment and activities
If he has received advanced additional training that includes decompressiondiving, the risks of deep diving and the organization of specific safety he candive to a maximum PpO2 1.4 bar according to the regulation and standardsof the national federation.• DECO diving to a maximum PpO2 1.4 bar according to the regulation andstandards of the national federation.• To act as a safety diver to a CMAS Instructor by controlling students andimproving safety.• The CMAS Three-Star Diver is, however, not qualified to assess or teach anyskills or knowledge to any candidate on during CMAS Diver Training Program.• Follow theoretical and practical pedagogy training with minimum instructorTwo-Star according to the requirement of the national federation.
Anyway, nowodays it is not easy to find centres affiliated with CMAS as everyone aims to maximise profits and avoid bureaucracy. I am also trying to reach out to the centres based in Canary Islands run by the French but again almost all schools moved from CMAS to SSI or PADI. It appears that Rescue plus Deep with good instructor might be an interesting alternate for CMAS ** regardless of federation.
