Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques
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The Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS) is the World Underwater Federation. CMAS is the international umbrella organisation for diver training organizations. It was founded in Brussels on September 28, 1958. One of the founding members was the French underwater pioneer Philippe Tailliez. As such, it is one of the world's oldest scuba diving organizations (the British Sub-Aqua Club BSAC was founded in 1953). The international office is currently in Rome.
CMAS offers an international framework for dive qualifications. Members of the CMAS Councils are recognised national dive organisations which guarantee the CMAS standards within the constraints of local dive situations. They award their own national qualification cards which has on one side has the CMAS grade and on the other the specific personal details of the person they have qualified.
Since CMAS started effectively as a volunteer organization for hobbyists, its courses tend to reflect the full range of all European and world dive situations. Compared to other dive organizations, which may be more geared towards holiday and tropical water diving, the training philosophy of CMAS members clubs obviously originates from professional or military diving situations. While organizations like PADI or SSI tend to bring divers into the water immediately in an easy and safe way, CMAS will expect more from its members. However with the growth of diving as a sport international dive organisations have started to coordinate their standards. But the difference in the philosophy for diving is still noticeble between CMAS and PADI dive education.
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[edit] History
On 28 September 1958, delegates from the following Federations: Federal Republic of Germany, Belgium, Brazil, France, Greece, Italy, Monaco, Portugal, Switzerland, the United States of America and Yugoslavia met in Brussels on the occasion of the congress of the independent International Confederation gathering all underwater disciplines.
With this aim, a meeting was held in Monaco on January 9-11, 1959 and a decision to establish the "World Confederation of Underwater Activities" in brief "C.M.A.S.", was taken.
This Confederation succeeded, specifically in regard to all functions and responsibilities, the "Comité des Sports Sous-Marins" (Underwater Sports Committee) of the International Confederation of Sport Fishing founded on 22 February 1952.
[edit] Qualifications and certifications
CMAS has a Star system for grading diver and instructor qualifications and certifications:
Scuba diving certifications
- CMAS SCUBA Diver - limited depth, etc, certification since only pool training done
- 1 Star - Competent, open water diver
- 2 Star - Can supervise a recreational diving group
- 3 Star - Supervisor of a diving project
Snorkel diving certifications
- 1 star - Snorkel Diver
- 2 star - Snorkel Diver
- 3 star - Snorkel Diver
Instructor certifications
- 1 Star - Can certify up to/including 1 star diver
- 2 Star - Can certify up to/including 1 star instructor
- 3 Star - Can certify up to/including 2 star instructor; aka Course Director
- Nitrox instructor
- Confirmed Nitrox instructor
- Photo instructor level I
- Cave diver instructor level II
- Marine Science instructor level I
- Apnea instructor
- Rebreather instructor
Speciality certifications
- Basic Nitrox diver
- Advanced Nitrox diver
- Night diving
- Search and recovery
- Photographer level III
- Cave diver level II
- Marine science level I
- Rebreather diver
- Apnea level I
- Apnea level II
- Apnea level III
[edit] Sports
CMAS organises the following sports:
- Underwater rugby
- Underwater hockey
- Finswimming
- Underwater photography
- Spearfishing
- Underwater target shooting
- Free-diving
[edit] The Steering Committee
The steering committee consists of 7 members. The current members are-
- President - Achille Ferrero (Italy)
- Secretary General - Pierre Dernier (Belgium)
- Vice President - Jurgen Warnecke (Germany)
- President Scientific Committee - Manuel Martin Bueno (Spain)
- President Sports Committee - Anna Arzhanova (Russia)
- President Technical Committee - Kevin O'Shaughnessy (Ireland)
- Treasurer - Ilias Xiarchos (Greece)
