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But we do agree that if any country's association is to award a CMAS cert, it has to adhere to the agency's minimum standards, right?course syllabus and standards are applied and accepted by each country.
CMAS:Competencies of a certified CMAS One Star Diver
A CMAS One Star Diver shall be trained such that when assessed by a CMAS Instructor, he shall be deemed to have sufficient knowledge, skill and experience to procure air, equipment, and other diving services and to plan, conduct, and log open-water dives that do not require mandatory inwater decompression stops, without the supervision of a CMAS Instructor or CMAS Dive Leader, when properly equipped and accompanied by another certified diver of at least the same level, provided the diving activities undertaken, the diving conditions and the diving area are similar, equal or better to those in which training was received
A CMAS One Star Diver is qualified to dive within the following parameters:
- To use air as a breathing gas;
- To make dives which do not require mandatory in-water decompression stops;
- To make dives during normal daylight hours;
- To dive in environments where direct vertical access to the surface is possible;
- To dive only when appropriate support is available at the surface; and
- To dive under conditions that are equal or better than the conditions in which he was trained.
CMAS:Competencies of a certified CMAS Two Star Diver
A CMAS Two Star Diver is qualified to dive within the following parameters unless he has
received additional training or is accompanied by a Dive Leader on any open water dive:
- To dive to a maximum recommended depth of forty (40) metres with other SCUBA divers of the same level;
- To only use air as a breathing gas, unless he is certified to use other breathing gas mixtures;
- To make dives which do not require mandatory in-water decompression stops;
- To participate in night diving activities;
- To dive in environments where direct vertical access to the surface is possible.
- To dive only when appropriate support is available at the surface;
- To dive under conditions that are equal or better than the conditions in which he was trained.
CMAS:CMAS Two Stars Diver Training Programme
Minimum Training Programme Content
[...]
Diver rescue procedures
The participant shall have an appropriate knowledge concerning the following diver rescue procedures:
[...]
- Accident prevention
- Rescuer safety
- Buddy rescue techniques including lifting, towing and landing a diving casualty
- Rescue breathing and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation
- Oxygen first-aid
Advanced diving activities
The participant shall have knowledge concerning the following advanced diving activities (further speciality courses can be taken to specialise in the following areas):
- Deeper diving (dives to a recommended maximum depth of 40 metres)
- Boat diving
- Underwater navigation dives
- Night diving
- Limited visibility diving
- Fresh water diving
- Sea water diving
- Altitude diving
- Computer assisted diving
CMAS:CMAS Three Stars Diver
This training programme aims at introducing the fundamentals of dive leadership to experienced certified CMAS Two Star Divers, which will enable them to plan, organise and conduct their dives and lead other sport divers in open water, to a maximum recommended depth of PpO2=1,4b + deep national regulation, meters in a safe and competent manner.
[...]
The CMAS Three Star Sport Diver Training Programme is classified as an entry-level leadership diver training programme.
[...]
A CMAS Three Star Diver is qualified:
- To carry out a risk assessment on a suggested dive location and conditions and to determine its safety:
- To conduct any sport diving activities including Stage Stop decompression diving;
- To conduct any specialised sport diving activities for which he has received appropriate training;
- To plan and execute emergency procedures appropriate for the diving environment and activities;
- To act as an instructional assistant to a CMAS Instructor by controlling students and improving safety. The CMAS Three Star Diver is however not qualified to assess or teach any skills or knowledge to any participant on a CMAS Diver Training Programme.
CMAS:CMAS Three Stars Diver Training Programme
Minimum Training Programme Content
Advanced Diving Knowledge
The participant shall have mastered a professional level of knowledge of diving theory equal to that of a CMAS Instructor with regard to the following topics:
- Diving Equipment
- The physics of diving
- Medical and psychological issues related to diving
- The use of diving tables and dive computers
- Dive planning
- Diver rescue procedures
- Underwater navigation
- The diving environment
[...]
The participant shall have a professional level of knowledge and understanding of the following dive leadership topics that will allow him to plan, execute and lead other divers on open water dives in all typical conditions encountered in the local environment, to plan for and respond to possible emergencies during such dives and to serve as an instructional assistant to a CMAS Instructor during diver training programmes:
- The role of the CMAS Dive Leader
- Diving related legislation and requirements
- Dive planning duties and responsibilities
- Dive management and control
- Rescue management
- Working with a CMAS Instructor as an Instructional Assistant
[...]
Open water skills
- All skills mastered during Diver One Star and Diver Two Star courses need to be perfected and may be examined during the assessment dives
- Surface marker buoy skills
- Deep diving skills
- Underwater navigation skills
- Rescue skills
- The participant shall demonstrate diver rescue skills by completing at least one open water
rescue. The rescue exercise shall include in the following:
- Recognition of emergency situations (e.g. loss of breathing gas supply, lack of response)
- Basic underwater search techniques
- Controlled casualty recovery from depth
- Effective emergency surface actions
- Casualty recovery from the water
- Emergency situation management including co-ordination with emergency services
- First-Aid treatment and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
- Oxygen Administration
- Dive leadership skills
As for the case in Norway where they wanted club divers to be certified by CMAS, it doesn't make sense (and glad that didn't go through)
Not really. You have to separate the issues.it makes some sense that if they were CMAS clubs, divers should be somehow affiliated to CMAS even if via the Norwegian Diving Association.
for instance I was a BSAC member because I belonged to a BSAC club, although without having a BSAC qualification. There was a BSAC membership that came with a few privileges (magazine, insurance, etc...) and it didn't require a BSAC cert. Any diver could join.
You can't provide a cite for your unsubstantiated and AFAIK completely wrong claims about CMAS syllabi and standards...
OK, that's a recommendation I can understand and support. Not as a requirement, but as a recommendation. It makes sense, safety-wise.As P1 was considered to be a novice diver rating, it was recommended that a P1 diver be required to dive with someone with more experience (P2+).
I'm PADI certified, and since I now have the required plastic to dive within my personal boundaries, even on babysitting-prone resorts who may not be familiar with every agency, I'm planning to take any further certs in the CMAS system. From my experience with PADI syllabi and practices, and from my research on CMAS syllabi and standards. Just for the sake of my own competence and quality of training.I have always felt that CMAS has held some of the highest standards in the industry
Isn't it ironic that this thread that is about how dangerous it is not skip training while nearly half the threads on ScubaBoard are about how poor today's training is.
Most people want quick and cheap and it is out there there to be had. There are more comprehensive courses too. Usually at a cost. The best value courses seem to be offered through Universities, Government agencies or Clubs. Of course in those cases the full cost is usually not being paid for by the students.
...I have a major problem accepting, without a proper cite, claims that a CMAS* diver is/was required to dive under supervision.
Also, while apologizing for my harsh and aggressive wording in my later posts...
I'm PADI certified, and since I now have the required plastic to dive within my personal boundaries, even on babysitting-prone resorts who may not be familiar with every agency, I'm planning to take any further certs in the CMAS system. From my experience with PADI syllabi and practices, and from my research on CMAS syllabi and standards. Just for the sake of my own competence and quality of training.