Not really the case, you need a permission stamped from a dive centre but they're ignoring CDWS requirements as according to a court ruling CDWS has no regulatory authority (despite them claiming otherwise).
People are being let through with ANY cdws card (even 2 year old expired ones) and im some cases just asking nicely.
Although CDWS and its marketing machine claim its still in charge some court papers and decisions would suggest otherwise. I do love the way it fired its own board, then appointed a temporary board which magically had the same membership as the old one!
Well, I guess it depends who is on duty at the checkpoint. When you go south you would first run into trouble when getting the permission stamped at the harbour (which is army, not police!) if you don´t have a valid CDWS-card (the copy) attached to the permission. Then you are checked again when entering the restaurant area. The other day the policeman demanded to see the original - he was not satisfied with the attached copy. It has even happened that guides and instructors were approached during the day by police to show their card! Not lately, though.
There is also the issue of work permit. A CDWS-card confirms that you have one, since you can not get one (as a foreigner) without work permit. Lately foreigners have been rounded up by the police for working illegally. A CDWS-card is still prove (if nothing else) that you are here legally.
In the north there still is police walking around the Canyon- and Blue Hole-area to collect the permissions WITH the CDWS-card copies. I know of situations when people without permission have been taken from Blue Hole to the police station next to Coralia for questioning.
Regarding the board situation: That not only happened to the CDWS but to all tourism entities because of a technical f...-up. As a result the minister dissolved the boards (they were not fired or fired themselves) and reinstated the former board members TEMPORARILY until new elections being held (which will be in May). Who else should he have put on the board for that period? People, complete strangers, who wouldn´t have the first idea about the organisation and how to go about its daily business?
The main problem is that too many rumours are flying around these days and too many people try to take advantage of the chaotic situation to further their own agendas.
I would advise to stick with what we definitely know:
The CDWS is officially still in charge of licencing DMs and instructors until it is officially decided otherwise by the ministry. Which it is not as yet...!!!
The CDWS will transfer the licencing (inspection) of centers to the MOT - most likely the entire department with all the same people in all the same jobs and positions.
The police are still asking for valid permissions with valid CDWS-cards attached - even if you might get lucky here and there and get away without one. Don´t rely on it!
Until further notice by OFFICIAL institutions we think it is best to proceed as before and not to improvise based on unsubstantiated rumours on certain websites.
