Air One
Contributor
Yes, but only by night when the cops are asleep...recreationally divable?
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Yes, but only by night when the cops are asleep...recreationally divable?
It is CMASWho is the main cert agency in France? Is it Padi or some local organisation?
Plongeurs, attention aux contrles de la gendarmerie ! - France - LCI
Wow... they do take cert cards seriously over there! ; )
For those who don't speak french, basically they do spot checks on divers (in the water!!), ask for they name, cert level and issue fines if they're diving outside their cert. The amount of divers controlled is probably really really small. They also check boats for safety equipments and instructors certs.
Anchor: Having a cop ask for your papers is nothing surprising, except if you're underwater. Still, underwater controls are part of the job for the Var cops, especially during the summer vacation period. Nathalie Pelerin & Jean-Pierre Roland spent the day with those underwater cops near "Les Issandres".
Reporter: Like bikers cops, but over water, these cops on jetskis just spotted a boat going over the speed limit. The boat is contacted by the cops.
Cop: It doing 30 knots, the limit is 20 knots.
Reporter: Very often, pleasure boat owners are taking risks without knowing about it. They have poor knowledge of boating laws.
Boat owner: I thought the speed limit was 25, so I thought I was ok,.
Cop: The fine can be very steep. It's set according to the speed, like on the road. In this case it can vary between 1500 & 3000 euros. And maybe eventually a suspension of the boat driving license.
Reporter: In the end, it's the district attorney (note: not sure if it's the correct term) in conjunction with the marine administrators who set the exact amount of the fine.
<cop diver jumping in water>
Reporter: This time it's not about exceeding speed limits, but pay attention, this is really a police control. And it can really surprise people, controlled divers must write their identities on a slate. This is the first contact between the cop and the divers.
Scuba Cop: We didn't bother them for too long, because it's delicate to handle for the instructor.
Women on dive boat: Well, you don't expect to encounter cops underwater, nearly asking for your papers, well we have to deal with it, that's the way it is.
Reporter: Last summer, cops witnessed around 30 infractions committed by divers. Most of time for an excessive depth with regards to the students level.
Scuba cop: Essentially, you'll have people going for something like a Morray Eel that is a bit deeper, 22, 24, 30 meters when they're limited to 20 meters
Reporter: The control continues on the boat. Instructor certifications, student certifications, gear, safety equipment. Everything is checked. In case of severe infraction to safety rules, the school can be administratively closed within 24 hours.