CMAS Dry suit course for "PADI diver"

[tamas970]

I am certified by PADI but the local diving club I want to join is associated to a CMAS school. They offer a drysuit class - in which I am interested because I have practically no dry-diving experience.

I know "normal" PADI and CMAS certifications are not everywhere compatible (AOW is at some places accepted only as * instead of **). Am I inviting bureocratic trouble if I do the drysuit class with CMAS? I guess no one will check my logbook for a dedicated course if I dive dry anyway...

 

[Pullmyfinger]

I wouldn't worry about it. Once you learn to dive dry, you will not be concerned with what is on your card. From what I have seen, the drysuit "card" is only required if you are going to rent a suit.

I would take whatever training was available locally.

Cheers,
Mitch

 

[tamas970]

Thanks for reassuring Most of my drysuit dives will be with them anyway.

 

[AfterDark]

This was my dry suit course.

 

[DevonDiver]

Drysuit qualification isn't a PADI prerequisite for any subsequent courses, so the only time you 'might' be asked to provide evidence of that qualification would be (1) to rent a drysuit or (2) if you wanted to use a drysuit on a future course. Both of those scenarios would be at the discretion of the instructor and/or dive operation concerned (i.e. not a PADI/agency issue). Any such decision would likely be very motivated by liability considerations.

If the CMAS dry suit course resulted in a certification card, which provided 'proof of training', then I think it'd be more than sufficient to satisfy the factors listed above.

 

[DCBC]

The PADI / CMAS Agreement states that a PADI Diver wanting to move to CMAS Certification:

PADI OW with a minimum of 5 logged dives + PADI AOW may enroll in CMAS ** (2 Star) program

PADI OW + AOW diver + PADI Rescue Diver (with a minimum of 25 logged dives) may enroll in CMAS *** (3 Star) program

There are no other equivalencies that are recognized by CMAS/PADI for certification.

That said, any training program in equipment is great. Once completed, you will have a certification from the World Underwater Federation that is accepted World-wide. Hopefully you will enjoy and benefit from your association with the local diving Club and its affiliation with CMAS. Personally I think that Club training is the only way to go. Good luck!

 

[gypsyjim]

Take whatever training you feel you will benefit from.

My original Y also entitled me to a CMAS card. No idea how many **!?
I also have a few PADI certs, and have done training with GUE. If I see a class offered that interests me, taught by someone I have reason to expect good training from, I am not going to care which name is on the card.

I really do not give a damn what agency name is on someone else's card either, as long as whomever I am diving with is safe and has the skills and experience to be a good dive partner.

 

[tamas970]

Thanks! I'll go for it. Might also take the ** course at member's price. If I dive in french waters that may be required for certain dives (especially if the operators haven't seen anything else than CMAS cards before...)

The PADI / CMAS Agreement states that a PADI Diver wanting to move to CMAS Certification:

PADI OW with a minimum of 5 logged dives + PADI AOW may enroll in CMAS ** (2 Star) program

PADI OW + AOW diver + PADI Rescue Diver (with a minimum of 25 logged dives) may enroll in CMAS *** (3 Star) program

There are no other equivalencies that are recognized by CMAS/PADI for certification.

That said, any training program in equipment is great. Once completed, you will have a certification from the World Underwater Federation that is accepted World-wide. Hopefully you will enjoy and benefit from your association with the local diving Club and its affiliation with CMAS. Personally I think that Club training is the only way to go. Good luck!