- are operators becoming more strict?
There's been no policy change or noticeable trend towards that. However, there will be variations between individual operator policy - which is a unique business decision made by the business operators themselves.
The decision to refuse, or accept, a customer for diving is likely to be based upon one, or more of the following factors:
1. A strict policy linking dive certification level/experience against set periods of lay-offs, beyond which refresher training is necessary.
2. A professional evaluation of the individuals training and experience, balanced against the instructors/operators risk assessment of the dive.
Either way, an operator is well within their rights to refuse diving, if they feel you are potentially not competent to safely conduct the dives they have scheduled, and if allowing you to participate on those dives would put yourself, your dive buddies and/or their staff at risk.
- where is this 12 month requirement from?
It is an interpretation of a common theme presented in the 'Safe Diving Practices' (or equivalent) issued by most diving agencies.
Such agencies do not specify exact time limits, but do recommend that 'safe diving' requires refreshed and current skills. The exact specification of timescale is set by individual operators, as a business policy... and typically links experience (logged dives) and/or training level against a reasonable period of abstinence from scuba.
In doing so, they recognize that skills can fade... the amount of that deterioration being determined by how ingrained the skills were likely to have been before the lay-off.
For an open-water level diver, without substantial experience, a 12 month absence from scuba diving is likely to have caused a significant skill-fade from their performance level upon graduation. It could be reasonably expected that they may have forgotten critical skill attributes from essential emergency procedures, or have otherwise degraded in ability to safely conduct the dive (as per graduation standards and the definition of 'mastery').
You may argue that such deterioration has not occurred - but they are well within their rights to demand evidence of that, through the vehicle of a check-out dive or refresher course (Scuba Review).
Is it really Mexican Law and where else has this restriction?
No ideal about Mexico, but it seems unlikely. I've never heard of such a policy being extrapolated into national, or regional, legislation before.
- is there a less time consuming/expensive way to "refresher" without spending a whole day doing a beginner dive? (because my family does not dive, it is hard enough for me to get one dive to myself)
I'm not sure which agency you trained with (your profile is incomplete)... but certainly with PADI, the requirement to ensure mastery of skills before engaging in diving activities is clearly explained, and reviewed, during open water theory training.
It pays to remember theory elements such as this, because doing so might have suggested you completed a pool-based refresher at home,
before embarking on your holiday. THAT is the best method to ensure that you don't waste vacation time doing refreshers/reviews/check-outs.
The 'refresher dive'... or 'Scuba Review'... shouldn't take a whole day. Most operations run this as a short program, covered in a single dive or pool session. A divemaster or instructor will guide you through the basic open-water skills, re-mediating any loss of mastery as you present it. If your skills ARE still good...and at graduation level... then the entire process shouldn't take more than 30 minutes. If you've lost skill mastery, then it still shouldn't take more than an hour... or two at most. Either way... not a whole day... and there should be plenty of chance for subsequent dives.
A few years ago, I went on holiday to the Maldives. Upon arrival, I was informed that the center had a strict policy requiring an assessment 'check out' dive, before engaging in regular dive trips. It didn't matter that I had dived for 16 years or was a certified instructor with several scuba agencies. I did the assessment and it was obviously very easy. After 10 minutes I'd whisked through all of the core open-water skills and satisfied the working instructor of my competence. No skin off my nose... and I enjoyed my subsequent diving in the knowledge that all my fellow divers/customers had demonstrated (or been recently re-mediated) on effective dive skills. It was a nice experience.
Plan ahead.
Appreciate the inevitability of skill fade and be realistic about your ability.
Appreciate the necessity of possessing good quality skills if you wish to dive safely.
Get a refresher in anticipation of going diving, if you've had a lay-off.
