Diver had to take 14-week course

A BRITISH diving instructor had to take a 14-week course and pay €2,000 to teach in France but says it was a worthwhile investment.

Alex Diamond (pictured - far right), 35, gained the international PADI teaching qualification before heading to France.

When he got here, however, he found that he could not legally teach without a French qualification.

Although he was already trained and experienced, he had to start from square one if he was going to do it legally in France. Despite the considerable outlay in time and money, he feels he is now a much better instructor for the experience.

He now runs training and adventure dives along the French Mediterranean coast (www.diamonddiving.net)

He said: “It was a pain, and there were elements of repetition and it took a long time. If I hadn’t been obliged to do it I probably wouldn’t have bothered but it has definitely made me a better instructor.

“I have a complete understanding of the French diving culture and also the laws that surround the sport.

“I now know it inside out and back to front.

“The French system requires much more knowledge and unlike the PADI system, which is quite rigid, it taught me to be flexible and to think on my feet. It was definitely worth it.”

To work legally as a professional diver in a non-teaching capacity there are further scaphandrier professionnel courses that must be taken.