Cmas 4 *

[Dave1w]

I am kind of puzzled at the CMAS Americas thing. Is it a dive club organisation or is it a commercial organisation? Are the course contents / standards published anywhere Just been looking at the description for CMAS Americas 4 * diver. It seems almost identical to a PADI Assistant Instructor, which is totally at odds with the equivalent 4 Star everywhere else.

Dave

 

[CMAS One]

CMAS AMERICAS is the recognized technical (training) federation of CMAS courses in the US. That means that we are responsible for developing Instructors and dive schools in the US and non represented areas of the Caribbean. What do you mean everywhere else? It is not used very much outside the US. As with all CMAS courses there is no "equivalent" PADI program. CMAS training is more detailed and requires more experience to gain each level. That is why their are only four diver levels in CMAS and we do not have scores of specialty courses. Where exactly are you getting your information from?

Regards,
CMAS One

 

[Dave1w]

I was getting my information from your web page, and the CMAS web page.

CMAS WW is an umbrella of national federations, so they have a presence, erm, world wide. So in the UK, you have SAA (used to be BSAC until they got thrown out for starting dive schools in other countries), France you have FFESM, Germany, well you have German folks, China, you have CUA, Ireland you have CFT..... all club based organisations, whose programs line up to the CMAS guidelines. I see there is mention of the Underwater Society of America on their web page, which I guess fits in with the WW model.

My note on the PADI equivalncy was that the way it is described on your web page, the 4* sounds just like a Assistant instructor, while where CMAS is used (and it is used) in the rest of the world, the 4* diver isn't something that is generally taught on a course.


Do you publish more specifics on your programs?

 

[Edward3c]

My note on the PADI equivalncy was that the way it is described on your web page, the 4* sounds just like a Assistant instructor, while where CMAS is used (and it is used) in the rest of the world, the 4* diver isn't something that is generally taught on a course.


Do you publish more specifics on your programs?

Hi Dave,

Have a look, at First Class Diver information - British Sub Aqua Club BSAC's First Class Diver a CMAS 4* equivalent (please note the word equivalent).

Regards

Edward

 

[Dave1w]

Hi Dave,

Have a look, at First Class Diver information - British Sub Aqua Club BSAC's First Class Diver a CMAS 4* equivalent (please not the word equivalent).

Regards

Edward

Which is a world away from the 4* described on the CMAS Americas site.....

 

[Satyre]

As with all CMAS courses there is no "equivalent" PADI program.

Indeed true and also wrong. There is no equivalency at the CMAS level but some of the federations that are part of CMAS do have crossover with and from PADI.

CMAS training is more detailed and requires more experience to gain each level.

This is false. My best advice to CMAS US would be not to play that card. The ****ing French Federation has been doing so and while they are maintaining themselves they have no progress and are seen by many including myself as a bunch of dinosaurus.
The two agencies aim to train good and safe divers but I would say that PADI is very convenient for recreational diving and people that may not be able to spend a lot of time on training dives or being members of clubs whereas the CMAS structure is based on clubs with members diving often and with regular training by benevoles. For the club members scuba diving is more like a sport activity.
CMAS is nowhere above PADI and the opposite is true.
If I wanted to start any controversy, I would point out that the CMAS * seen as an OWD can be certified without any open water dives but just pool sessions.

That is why their are only four diver levels in CMAS and we do not have scores of specialty courses.

In CMAS, the CMAS 4* is more an honorifique certification. In France, you have level 4 divers but the CMAS side of the card says CMAS ***.

I am kind of puzzled at the CMAS Americas thing. Is it a dive club organisation or is it a commercial organisation?

I am curious to know the answer.

Are the course contents / standards published anywhere

I would love having a peak.

Just been looking at the description for CMAS Americas 4 * diver. It seems almost identical to a PADI Assistant Instructor, which is totally at odds with the equivalent 4 Star everywhere else.

This is indeed a little bit more complex. In CMAS you don't have really AI. So (at least in France) the level 4 diver is a DM who is allow to enroll later in an instructor course (intership is more appropriate)
As far as I recall, the CMAS Instructor * can teach ((s)he teaches not under supervision) but only a CMAS Instructor ** can issue the certification after assesing the diver (usually very quickly as he has been trained by someone he knows and they have chat before)

This contribution is done based on my own experience.
I am a PADI OWSI and a CMAS *** diver (French FFESSM Level 3) undertaking soon the CMAS *** diver (French FFESSM Level 4) exam and the CMAS Instructor * training.

 

[Red Sea Shadow]

As far as I recall, the CMAS Instructor * can teach ((s)he teaches not under supervision) but only a CMAS Instructor ** can issue the certification after assesing the diver (usually very quickly as he has been trained by someone he knows and they have chat before)

CMAS standards (and the majority of federations) allow the CMAS 1* instructor to train and certify only CMAS 1* divers. CMAS 2* instructors train and certify all diver levels. Some federations allow the 2* instructor to assist in Instructor Training Courses aiming at certifying new 1* instructors.

 

[Red Sea Shadow]

CMAS training is more detailed and requires more experience to gain each level. That is why their are only four diver levels in CMAS and we do not have scores of specialty courses.

CMAS has several specialty courses including Night Diving, Search & Recovery, and Underwater Navigation.

 

[Satyre]

CMAS has several specialty courses including Night Diving, Search & Recovery, and Underwater Navigation.

+ drysuit, Underwater Naturalist, nitrox
OK. I have not seen a boat diving speciality yet but who knows

 

[Dave1w]

+ drysuit, Underwater Naturalist, nitrox
OK. I have not seen a boat diving speciality yet but who knows

But I think local CMAS orgs like CFT (Ireland) and SAA have Boat Handling courses.....