Certification Recognition

[susanamart]

I'd like to direct your inquiry to our local office... we are aware of the developing situation, but it makes sense for you to deal direct if you don't mind

Portugal (Madera & Azores)
Submate LDA
Rua Coronel Bento Roma
Lote 920, LJ Esq
1700-122 LISBOA
Portugal
Contact: Joao Neves
Phone: 351-21-874-1269
Mob: 351 919990349
Fax: 351-21-840-3729
E-mail: jneves@submate.pt
Web: Submate - TDI - SDI - ERDI - Portugal

Sent an email on the 15th July and got no answer.... :depressed:

 

[Rhone Man]

Speaking as a lawyer, there is only ever one good reason for Government regulation: if the relevant practice clearly needs regulation. There is one very common bad reason for regulation - Governments love regulating things.

I have never seen any evidence that diving needs regulation. On the other hand God forbid some sort of EU directive follows as a result of Portugal's lead, and next thing you know we dozens of irrelevant directives written by some ignorant beaurocrat to comply with in order to buy a snorkel.

 

[Steve SDI/TDI HQ]

Sent an email on the 15th July and got no answer.... :depressed:

PM me your email address please

 

[muddiver]

Speaking as a lawyer, there is only ever one good reason for Government regulation: if the relevant practice clearly needs regulation. There is one very common bad reason for regulation - Governments love regulating things.

I have never seen any evidence that diving needs regulation. On the other hand God forbid some sort of EU directive follows as a result of Portugal's lead, and next thing you know we dozens of irrelevant directives written by some ignorant beaurocrat to comply with in order to buy a snorkel.

I was under the impression that Europe was the bastion of socialism and the Nanny Government? Over here in the U.S. we are just trying to play catch-up and expand our government beyond our means of financial support.

On a serious note. Presenting the RSTC and the self regulation of the sport diving industry in the rest of the world might be educational to the Portugues goverment, or it might be a waste of time.

 

[Rhone Man]

I was under the impression that Europe was the bastion of socialism and the Nanny Government?

Yep, pretty much.

Over here in the U.S. we are just trying to play catch-up and expand our government beyond our means of financial support.

You guys are way behind. In Europe they mastered this decades ago! I think the Italian national debt was at something like 104% of GDP in 2007, before the economic crisis hit.

List of National Debt by Country | Economics Blog

Sorry, back to the main subject now...

 

[KrisB]

We hear of problems occasionally... an operator in an out of the way spot refusing to honor the agreement, but this is becoming extremely rare among the major agencies.

Hi Steve,

I think there might be some misunderstanding here. No operator is ever obliged to accept any certification card -- they were not party to any agreement. If someone wants to insist on a PADI cert, that's within their right.

I'd like to add that if an SDI-certified diver shows up and wants to dive with me, they'll be diving with a computer... or treated like an uncertified diver if a computer is either not available to them, or they don't own one. While we're not talking about an outright refusal, we are talking about diving within one's training.

 

[susanamart]

Speaking as a lawyer, there is only ever one good reason for Government regulation: if the relevant practice clearly needs regulation. There is one very common bad reason for regulation - Governments love regulating things.

I have never seen any evidence that diving needs regulation. On the other hand God forbid some sort of EU directive follows as a result of Portugal's lead, and next thing you know we dozens of irrelevant directives written by some ignorant beaurocrat to comply with in order to buy a snorkel.

I don't think god will have a word to say on this matter... as for the diving comunity, it's being hard to gather people to fight against this stupid law!