Can anyone relate an experience where, in the recent past, a non-PADI card was rejected due to it not being recognized (other than France etc.). I don't want hearsay, just your personal experience that you were rejected.
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spiderman:Can anyone relate an experience where, in the recent past, a non-PADI card was rejected due to it not being recognized (other than France etc.). I don't want hearsay, just your personal experience that you were rejected.
spiderman:Can anyone relate an experience where, in the recent past, a non-PADI card was rejected due to it not being recognized (other than France etc.). I don't want hearsay, just your personal experience that you were rejected.
FatCat:Nope! And in France they reject out of bigotry, not because they don't recognize the card.
Just for fun, about 3 years ago I tried to use my Japanese drivers license (all kanji, no english other than my name, but does look official and has my photo) on a couple boats in Florida. It was rejected by one, but the accepted by the other. :banana:spiderman:Can anyone relate an experience where, in the recent past, a non-PADI card was rejected due to it not being recognized (other than France etc.). I don't want hearsay, just your personal experience that you were rejected.
voop:When diving within any structure (comercial or club) in France, a diver MUST possess a certificate from one of these agencies -- or rather, a diver MUST possess a level recognized by these agencies.
Marek K:Wow, when did this come into effect?? Napoleonic Code, indeed. Guess they're not eager to get all the foreign tourists they can, at least in the dive industry. And not very "play-nicely-with-others," European Union-wise.
My wife and I are both PADI AOWD certified. We dived in Hyeres, Southern France, in about 1991. Didn't experience any hassle at all.
Of course, it was a German-owned and -operated dive operation; that might have had something to do with it.
--Marek
voop:Interrestingly, the new European Norms (Standards) for scuba diving, which the European Union has just issued (and which member-countries must follow), is meeting great resistance in France since it does not favor French-trained divers. There's talks about a permanent exception to that standard for the benefit of the French....
voop:As for you getting cert'ed and dive PADI in France,