At this point we would like to explain some things, which are asked for
very often and which cause a lot of uncertainty and trouble again and
again.
the Level of PADI Open Water Divers, CMAS One Star or BSAC One
Star.
In our daily work and in a
lot of inqiries very often appears the question
about the medical, signed
by a physician. Many divers complain, are
pissed and/or unbelieving, if we
stubbornly insist on the valid medical.
Some divers prefer not to dive,
instead of leaving about 25 Euros at the
doctor.
On this matter two points:
1. a medical should always
be in a divers logbook. And this not to do us
or any other divecenter a favour, but to make sure for yourself
that
you fullfill all the requirements of your/our
sport.
2. in Spain it is required
by law that every sport diver has to have a
medical, not older than two years, signed by a dive-doctor.
Whereas
until now nobody really checked, if the issuing doctor really has
knowledge in hyperbaric or submarine medicine or not....
translated
excerpt of the spanish dive law
klick
here to see the close-up
But there always has to be a boat in the water, to be able to help in case of an emergency. (Chapter II, Art.15, paragraph 4)
your choice works legally.
Make them show you all relevant documents and make sure that the
requirements of law are fulfilled.
¿Proof of insurance of the divecenter?
¿Legal working contracts of the employees?
¿Member/owner of a recompression chamber?
¿Do the boats have a registernumber, means, are they checked on a
regular base?
¿Boat attendance at all dives?
¿Qualificated diveguides (check the dive instructor licence)?
¿Does the crew insist on a medical?
¿Is the equipment in a perfect condition?
But if these points are in order, you can be somewhat sure, that you
landed in a legally working divecenter.
Legally
required is an access to a recompression chamber.
For this reason we and five other divecenters on Fuerteventura
founded a recompression chamber community and run our own
and the only recompression chamber on the island.
Obviously, access has to be provided to anybody in case of an
accident. But we and the other members of the community think,
that it is extremely unsocial, to let others pay all the charges for
the chamber and the maintainance, whereas the other divecenters
retain themselves decently and only in case
of emergency they use
a perfectly maintained recompression chamber without any further
obligation.
Form yourself an opinion on that....