Frank:
Clear up a point for me. I would hope that CMAS does recognize the CMAS cards that were given to YMCA divers and Instructors when there was an equivalency program and CMAS was issuing the cards? I would hope so.
I simpathize with your problem of having people who were not fully qualified trying to achieve a CMAS Instructors card towards the end of the program. PADI had the same problem when we had an equivalency program without any additional training. Both CMAS and PADI solved the problem in the same way and for a long time there has been no Instructor card being given to an instructor from any other diving organization without additional training.
I presently live in Melbourne, Florida. The card is in blue and white and it has the CMAS crest within a white circle on the left upper side. Next to that to the right is the usual (I assume) CMAS wording which is: BREVET DE MONITEUR
INTERNATIONAL DE PLONGEE
Troisieme Degre
***
Stephen G. Metcalf
USA, 9-8-77
M3-USP 006
There is no instructors signature on the card, either front or back. I would give you the information off of the diploma but as you can see it has been 32 years since I received it and I can't seem to locate it.
If you are going to question whether or not I actually am a CMAS 3 Star Instructor, I would hope you would do me the courtesy of letting me know what you find out because you are obviously going to try to research me.