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License and diving
What is a license?
Is it obligatory when diving?
What is the point of being made redundant?
Presentation
A federal license materializes membership in a sports federation.
She allows to :
- participate in competitions when you practice a competitive activity (e.g. in underwater sports: freediving, fin swimming, underwater hockey, etc.);
- participate in training offered by members (clubs, centers) of the federation;
- pass patents from the federation that issued the license;
- participate in federal activities (themed events, meetings of regional or departmental committees, General Assemblies, etc.);
- become an actor within a federation by being elected to a committee or working commission;
- benefit from generally advantageous insurance contracts because they are shared with a large number of licensees.
In diving, who issues a license?
The notion of “license” is specific to federations. In France, two federations offer diving training and certificates:
- The FFESSM(French Federation of Underwater Studies and Sports), delegatee of the Ministry of Sports and member of theCMAS(World Confederation of Underwater Activities);
- The FSGT(Workplace Sports and Gymnastics Federation).
To obtain certificates from these federations, you must be licensed there. Once these patents are obtained, they remain valid whether or not you are licensed in subsequent years.
In practice, who issues the licenses of these federations? Licenses are issued, like patents, by:
- associative clubs affiliated to one of these two federations;
- the commercial structures approved by these federations.
Are there other certification bodies than the federations?
In France, the sports code recognizes diving, alongside the federations (FFESSM, FSGT), three other certifying bodies:
- ANMP(National Association of Diving Instructors);
- SNMP(National Union of Diving Instructors);
- The UCPA(Union of Outdoor Centers).
There are also, internationally, many other certification bodies such as PADI, NAUI, SSI, etc.
All these certification bodies, in France and internationally, issue patents, qualifications or diplomas without a license because the concept of “license” is specific to sports federations, which they are not.
Who, on the ground, issues patents to these organizations?These are commercial structures (diving centers) which offer the certifications of these organizations. In general, these diving centers are multi-card and offer a wide range of possible certifications.
In summary: is a license required for diving?
A license is a concept specific to sports federations (FFESSM, FSGT). To obtain certificates issued by a sports federation (via a diving club or center), you must be licensed.
Outside of sports federations, in France (ANMP, SNMP) and internationally (PADI, NAUI, SSI, etc.), the very notion of license does not exist.
What's the point of being fired?
As already said, outside of the federations (FFESSM, FSGT), the notion of license does not exist (ANMP, SNMP, PADI, NAUI, SSI, etc.).
Apart from the fact that a license is necessary to obtain patents from the federations (FFESSM, FSGT, CMAS), the main interest lies in the insurance contracts offered, with broad coverage in France and internationally, for a very competitive price.
© Extract fromPleasure Diving booksby Alain Foret at Editions GAP.
Any reproduction prohibited on any medium whatsoever without written consent of the publisher and the author.