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Scuba Forum / Scuba Locations / August 2004Recommended Dive Sites in France ?
We off to the south of France for a vacation and I'd like to get a few dives in along the way. I've been researching the issue for almost a week now and the French don't seem to be very big on internet sites explaining their dives, location, rates, etc. In fact, I'm about ready to forget the whole idea (!) Can somoene recommend a reliable outfit to dive with in the Marseilles to Monaco area ? Thanks.  SignatureMark > We off to the south of France for a vacation and I'd like to get a few > dives in along the way. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Can somoene recommend a reliable outfit to dive with in the Marseilles > to Monaco area ? That's at least a couple hundreds miles of shoreline, mate. Now where exactly will you be and what kind of diving do you like ? > > We off to the south of France for a vacation and I'd like to get a few > > dives in along the way. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > That's at least a couple hundreds miles of shoreline, mate. > Now where exactly will you be and what kind of diving do you like ? I'll be arriving in Nice and travelling on the coast all the way to Genoa -a couple of hundred kilometers of coastline ! I've only got a half-dozen dives in the log and havn't been any deeper than 70 feet. I'm keen on wreck diving (no penetration) and general marine life -large schools of fish are particularly appealing. I'm PADI certified so I'll need someone who will recognize that certification (I've heard that at least in the past, many french operators insist upon the frenc national certification body). SignatureMark >I'm PADI certified so I'll need someone who will recognize that >certification (I've heard that at least in the past, many french >operators insist upon the frenc national certification body). Marc, currently french operators agree that a Padi OW = N1 (level 1 diver). Meaning you will need to dive under the supervision of an isntructor to a maximum depth of 20 meters (with a 5 meters margin). You will need a medical certificate. Some operators may try to 'sell' you a temporary card. With your certification level you should be accepted nearly everywhere. It's more difficult for divers that are a bit more advanced (like 400 dives and AOW) to find a club/operator that will allow them to dive as they are used to... Good luck. Steven > >I'm PADI certified so I'll need someone who will recognize that > >certification (I've heard that at least in the past, many french [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Meaning you will need to dive under the supervision of an isntructor > to a maximum depth of 20 meters (with a 5 meters margin). This much I expected. My wife is not a diver so I need a 'buddy' to dive with anyhow. > You will need a medical certificate. Some operators may try to 'sell' > you a temporary card. This is more of a problem. I'm in Canada and I have no idea what kind of certificate they are looking for. I did have to get a medical in order to get PADI certified, but now that I have my card, I've never needed anything else since. Thanks SignatureMark >> You will need a medical certificate. Some operators may try to 'sell' >> you a temporary card. Mark, go to your local diveshop and ask for a padi medical certificate, they have them in both french and english. Go to your doctor and have both of them stamped. Easiest solution. steven > >> You will need a medical certificate. Some operators may try to 'sell' > >> you a temporary card. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > steven I went to my local shop last night for a refesher dive and I asked them about the medical issue. They said I shouldn't need one (at not if I was with a PADI operator) but gave me the medical form anyhow. The form is a series of 'self assessment' questions. If I answer "no" to all the questions (which is easy since I have the good fortune of being in in top shape) then I don't need a doctor. IF, however, I had diabetes -for example- that would mean I'd need a doctor to sign-off on the form. I think at this stage, I'm going to contact PADI directly and get them to confirm the situation. I really don't want to not dive in France but I certainly don't want o drag all my gear 6000 miles just to be told that I can't dive for sake of some silly piece of paper ! Thanks. SignatureMark > The form is a series of 'self assessment' questions. If I answer "no" to > all the questions (which is easy since I have the good fortune of being > in in top shape) then I don't need a doctor. IF, however, I had > diabetes -for example- that would mean I'd need a doctor to sign-off on > the form. That's the wrong form. There's another form for doctors to complete that guides them in the examination. It's several pages, but I can't find it online. Instead here's a link to SSI's medical form for dive training in Australia, in case you can convince the French that you're really Australian and not Canadian. Page 3 is for the doc's exam. Rather than admit they can't read the English, they'll probably accept it at the French dive op and let you dive. And you can fill it out yourself since it's not like the dive op will have a database of Canadian (or Australian) docs. Make up some numbers and sign it C. Dundee, M.D. http://www.ssiusa.com/pdf/as4005_medical.pdf > I really don't want to not dive in France but > I certainly don't want o drag all my gear 6000 miles just to be told > that I can't dive for sake of some silly piece of paper ! Why do you want to dive in France? You must really be hard up. It sounds like the next thing to a quarry. Why don't you just enjoy all the topless women topside instead? > > The form is a series of 'self assessment' questions. If I answer "no" to > > all the questions (which is easy since I have the good fortune of being [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > guides them in the examination. It's several pages, but I can't find it > online. There's a copy of the full PADI form at: http://www.divenassau.com/index.htm, click on "Medical Statement". (The link says it's NSC's form, but it's the PADI form). SignaturePete Becker Dinkumware, Ltd. (http://www.dinkumware.com) >>>The form is a series of 'self assessment' questions. If I answer "no" to >>>all the questions (which is easy since I have the good fortune of being [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > http://www.divenassau.com/index.htm, click on "Medical Statement". (The > link says it's NSC's form, but it's the PADI form). Now I can see why Greg had to pay extra bucks for his physical. The SSI medical form asks for audiometry, and spirometry assessments, besides the usual exam stuff. The PADI form is easier, just a check mark on the "I find no medical conditions that I consider incompatible with diving" and a sig. It doesn't look they ask for any specific assessments at all, although they do include 3 pages of "guidelines" for the doc. > Now I can see why Greg had to pay extra bucks for his physical. The SSI > medical form asks for audiometry, and spirometry assessments, besides > the usual exam stuff. I might have had to pay extra, but I hardly got audiometry or spirometry assessments or any of the usual exam stuff. The doc simply signed the form which, after all, was what I was paying him for. > The PADI form is easier, just a check mark on the "I find no medical > conditions that I consider incompatible with diving" and a sig. It > doesn't look they ask for any specific assessments at all, although they > do include 3 pages of "guidelines" for the doc. That's the form I was talking about but couldn't find to download. It worked for me. Apparently they're stricter in Australia, requiring audiometry and spirometry and all that jazz. It makes sense when you consider the average Australian. >>Now I can see why Greg had to pay extra bucks for his physical. The SSI >>medical form asks for audiometry, and spirometry assessments, besides [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > audiometry and spirometry and all that jazz. It makes sense when you > consider the average Australian. It's all that hanging upside down... > That's the form I was talking about but couldn't find to download. It > worked for me. Apparently they're stricter in Australia, requiring > audiometry and spirometry and all that jazz. It makes sense when you > consider the average Australian. Yes, they're stricter in Australia. The government has regulations for dive physicals. SignaturePete Becker Dinkumware, Ltd. (http://www.dinkumware.com) >Why do you want to dive in France? You must really be hard up. It sounds >like the next thing to a quarry. Why don't you just enjoy all the topless >women topside instead? Well, great diving to be done in France. The wrecks in the channel near Dunquerque, the invasion wrecks in Normandy, the Amoco Cadiz in Bretagne, the wrecks near Hyeres in the Med, caves in the Lot, and: - Martinique - wrecks of St Pierre - French Polynesia Topless women are just a bonus. Just like the glass of rum after the first air dive to 215 ft on a single 12 liter. steven > Topless women are just a bonus. Just like the glass of rum after the > first air dive to 215 ft on a single 12 liter. That sounds like a great hangover cure, just the thing for night out drinking lousy French wine. Maybe I'll reconsider. > > The form is a series of 'self assessment' questions. If I answer "no" to > > all the questions (which is easy since I have the good fortune of being [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > guides them in the examination. It's several pages, but I can't find it > online. My dive shop told me that the form you speak of is only necessary if I say "yes" to any of the afflictions listed on the first form. > Instead here's a link to SSI's medical form for dive training in Australia, > in case you can convince the French that you're really Australian and not [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > have a database of Canadian (or Australian) docs. Make up some numbers and > sign it C. Dundee, M.D. Don't think I haven't thought of that ! > Why do you want to dive in France? You must really be hard up. It sounds > like the next thing to a quarry. Why don't you just enjoy all the topless > women topside instead? Because I live in Alberta, Canada where quarry diving is about as good as it gets. Ironically, Alberta is supposed to have the highest percentage per capita of certified divers in the world (don't ask my why -no one has ever been able to explain it to me). So.... I get to dive only when I travel so when I travel....I dive ! I contacted PADI Europe and asked if the operator had the right to demand a medical statement from a certified diver and they said that they did, although not all operators require it. SignatureMark > My dive shop told me that the form you speak of is only necessary if I > say "yes" to any of the afflictions listed on the first form. No sh.t, in Canada. I thought you were going to France. > Don't think I haven't thought of that ! So why haven't you done it? Are you afraid that you'll get sued for fraud by a French dive op? You'll be the dead one if you lie on the form. Why would they sue? (Please note that I am not advocating breaking any French laws, or at least any advocacy that could get me extradited to France, but merely pointing out "options") > Because I live in Alberta, Canada where quarry diving is about as good > as it gets. Ironically, Alberta is supposed to have the highest > percentage per capita of certified divers in the world (don't ask my why > -no one has ever been able to explain it to me). Alberta? Why didn't ya say so. I know some Albertans and they are all way hard up for diving. But they never mention diving in France, eh? > So.... I get to dive only when I travel so when I travel....I dive ! So go somewhere that makes sense. If you can't speak English, try St. Martin (dive in Saba), St. Lucia, or Tahiti. Not that I'll change your mind as I know you Albertans can be very stubborn. > Alberta? Why didn't ya say so. I know some Albertans and they are all way > hard up for diving. But they never mention diving in France, eh? However, if we were taking a trip to France anyway and there was some opportunity to dive, we might just want to go for it. After all, I know one Californian that was seriously considering *one* dive in Minnewanka. > > So.... I get to dive only when I travel so when I travel....I dive ! > > So go somewhere that makes sense. If you can't speak English, try St. > Martin (dive in Saba), St. Lucia, or Tahiti. Belize. >Not that I'll change your mind > as I know you Albertans can be very stubborn. Takes one to know one. > However, if we were taking a trip to France anyway and there was some > opportunity to dive, we might just want to go for it. > After all, I know one Californian that was seriously considering *one* dive > in Minnewanka. And unlike stubborn Albertans, I allowed myself to be talked out of it. > Belize. Oh, yeah, lots of French in Belize. I forgot. I did have some good French fries there. But I had to order them in English. No poutine even. > Takes one to know one. Are you calling me a stubborn Albertan? > > However, if we were taking a trip to France anyway and there was some > > opportunity to dive, we might just want to go for it. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Oh, yeah, lots of French in Belize. I forgot. Oops. > I did have some good French fries there. But I had to order them in > English. No poutine even. > > > Takes one to know one. > > Are you calling me a stubborn Albertan? No, just stubborn. > No, just stubborn. In Canadian, do you still use the phrase "stubborn as a mule" or do you say "stubborn as a moose"? This question has been nagging on my mind for years now. > > No, just stubborn. > > In Canadian, do you still use the phrase "stubborn as a mule" or do you say > "stubborn as a moose"? This question has been nagging on my mind for years > now. Consider yourself a mule, with OCD. > > My dive shop told me that the form you speak of is only necessary if I > > say "yes" to any of the afflictions listed on the first form. > > No sh.t, in Canada. I thought you were going to France. I am. However, PADI is PADI -that's the idea behind a certification in a global organization. The concept breaks down if I can dive unrestricted in country X but require something else in country Y. If that's the case, why have PADI in France at all ? Why not just force everyone to be certified by the french diving authority and be done with it ? > > Don't think I haven't thought of that ! > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > Alberta? Why didn't ya say so. I know some Albertans and they are all way > hard up for diving. But they never mention diving in France, eh? I'm not sure what I said to piss you off but this was a pretty simple thread that's been hijacked all to hell (as usual). Look, I'm going to France because my wife and I want to see the south of France, Italy and visit a friend in Switzerland. THAT is why I'll be going to France. WHILE I'M THERE....I'd like to do some diving. If I wanted to go on a DIVE HOLIDAY, then I would be the first to agree that I'm headed to the wrong hemisphere. I didn't ASK for a critique of my choice of dive destination, I just asked for someone to recommend som eplaces to dive. Ordinarilly, that would require that the respondant has some kind of experience diving in France. Of course, on the diving newsgroups, that never stopped anyone from flapping their trap about things which they know little or nothing about. > > So.... I get to dive only when I travel so when I travel....I dive ! > > So go somewhere that makes sense. If you can't speak English, try St. > Martin (dive in Saba), St. Lucia, or Tahiti. Not that I'll change your mind > as I know you Albertans can be very stubborn. Uh-huh. I'm not going to be drawn into a flame-fest with you but I've got a pretty good idea of what part of the world YOU live in and I'm equally aware of how the REST of the planet feels about you, and leave it at that. FWIW (and since you chose to drag it into the discussion)I've only been in Alberta a few years (lived in Montreal all my life) and my parents are from England. Because I grew-up in Montreal, I learned French but I'm about as english as you can get. Although none of that has anything to do with my original post but that doesn't matter to you does it ? SignatureMark > I am. However, PADI is PADI -that's the idea behind a certification in a > global organization. The concept breaks down if I can dive unrestricted > in country X but require something else in country Y. If that's the > case, why have PADI in France at all ? Why not just force everyone to be > certified by the french diving authority and be done with it ? That's up to France. As I understand, it's not PADI that requires the exam, it's French law. The day when PADI law supersedes French law will be the day they finally find out the moon really is made of green cheese. But trust your local dive shop if you must. No one has even known a local dive shop to be wrong, especially where French diving is concerned. > I'm not sure what I said to piss you off but this was a pretty simple > thread that's been hijacked all to hell (as usual). Piss me off? Just because I'm not as polite as a Canuck doesn't mean I'm pissed off. You people are so sensitive. > Look, I'm going to France because my wife and I want to see the south of > France, Italy and visit a friend in Switzerland. THAT is why I'll be > going to France. WHILE I'M THERE....I'd like to do some diving. If I > wanted to go on a DIVE HOLIDAY, then I would be the first to agree that > I'm headed to the wrong hemisphere. Is your wife going to go topless there? > I didn't ASK for a critique of my choice of dive destination, I just > asked for someone to recommend som eplaces to dive. Ordinarilly, that > would require that the respondant has some kind of experience diving in > France. Of course, on the diving newsgroups, that never stopped anyone > from flapping their trap about things which they know little or nothing > about. I'm not sure what I said to piss you off but this was a pretty simple thread that's been hijacked all to hell (as usual). I supply all sorts of helpful information, forms, and the like, and look at what I get in response. And I did recommend places to dive. They're just outside of France. The only reason why I know little or nothing about diving in France is because I know all about diving in France that I care to know: it sucks. But go ahead and dive there if you want. See if I care. But don't bother posting any pictures of the diving because I'm sure they'll suck too. Instead, post pictures of your topless wife. > Uh-huh. I'm not going to be drawn into a flame-fest with you but I've > got a pretty good idea of what part of the world YOU live in and I'm > equally aware of how the REST of the planet feels about you, and leave > it at that. I don't want to leave it at that because I have no idea what you're implying. How does the rest of the planet feel about Southern Californians other than the fact that we're very cool and stylish and much better divers than midwesterners who only dive dry quarries? And more tan, of course. > FWIW (and since you chose to drag it into the discussion)I've only been > in Alberta a few years (lived in Montreal all my life) and my parents > are from England. Because I grew-up in Montreal, I learned French but > I'm about as english as you can get. Although none of that has anything > to do with my original post but that doesn't matter to you does it ? Nope. Diving in England sucks too, so it's all the same to me. Bonjour. > Bonjour. Didn't you mean to say au revoir? > > Bonjour. > > Didn't you mean to say au revoir? Non > > > Bonjour. > > > > Didn't you mean to say au revoir? > > Non Pourquoi dites-vous bonjour quand vous devriez dire au revoir ? > Pourquoi dites-vous bonjour quand vous devriez dire au revoir ? I'm disappointed in you. A real Albertan would never publicly admit to knowing that foul language. Unless it could get him (or her) laid. Oh. Never mind. I see where this is going. Carry on. Brian Edmonton, Alberta > > Pourquoi dites-vous bonjour quand vous devriez dire au revoir ? > > I'm disappointed in you. A real Albertan would never publicly admit to > knowing that foul language. Unless it could get him (or her) laid. > > Oh. Never mind. I see where this is going. Carry on. Je suis d?sol? que je ne pourrais pas accepter votre invitation au d?ner Samedi soir mais j'ai ?t? d?j? commis un autre ami. Peut-?tre vous obtiendrez chanceux la prochaine fois vous venez ? la ville. > Je suis désolé que je ne pourrais pas accepter votre invitation au dîner > Samedi soir mais j'ai été déjà commis un autre ami. > > Peut-être vous obtiendrez chanceux la prochaine fois vous venez à la ville. O-kay D'okay Brian Edmonton, Alberta > > Je suis d?sol? que je ne pourrais pas accepter votre invitation au d?ner > > Samedi soir mais j'ai ?t? d?j? commis un autre ami. > > > > Peut-?tre vous obtiendrez chanceux la prochaine fois vous venez ? la ville. > O-kay D'okay :^) > > > Pourquoi dites-vous bonjour quand vous devriez dire au revoir ? > > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Peut-être vous obtiendrez chanceux la prochaine fois vous venez à la ville. Bien. Nee hei leung gnow Ga-na-dei see fut lone. > Bien. Nee hei leung gnow Ga-na-dei see fut lone. You are knee high longing to know a Canada foot long? Well, good luck. > > > > Bonjour. > > > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Pourquoi dites-vous bonjour quand vous devriez dire au revoir ? Parce que. > > > > > Bonjour. > > > > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Parce que. R?ponse inad?quate > R?ponse inad?quate Mordez-moi. > In article <41265a53$0$104$6c56adcd@news.qnet.com>, mossman@qnet.com > > Alberta? Why didn't ya say so. I know some Albertans and they are all way > > hard up for diving. But they never mention diving in France, eh? > > I'm not sure what I said to piss you off but this was a pretty simple > thread that's been hijacked all to hell (as usual). You didn't piss him off. He just likes to tease Albertans. > Look, I'm going to France because my wife and I want to see the south of > France, Italy and visit a friend in Switzerland. THAT is why I'll be > going to France. WHILE I'M THERE....I'd like to do some diving. If I > wanted to go on a DIVE HOLIDAY, then I would be the first to agree that > I'm headed to the wrong hemisphere. Yes, I believe that this Albertan suggested that very thing to him. > I didn't ASK for a critique of my choice of dive destination, I just > asked for someone to recommend som eplaces to dive. Ordinarilly, that > would require that the respondant has some kind of experience diving in > France. Of course, on the diving newsgroups, that never stopped anyone > from flapping their trap about things which they know little or nothing > about. Did you ask on uk.rec.scuba or any of the other European boards? > > > So.... I get to dive only when I travel so when I travel....I dive ! > > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > equally aware of how the REST of the planet feels about you, and leave > it at that. See, he must be right about how stubborn Albertans can be. > FWIW (and since you chose to drag it into the discussion)I've only been > in Alberta a few years (lived in Montreal all my life) and my parents > are from England. Because I grew-up in Montreal, I learned French but > I'm about as english as you can get. Although none of that has anything > to do with my original post but that doesn't matter to you does it ? Ah, that then must be the explanation for why you are so much more sensitive to Greg's teasing than the others of us Albertans that gather here. there is off course the newsgroup fr.rec.plongee where you can get the answers from the french themselves... steven > there is off course the newsgroup fr.rec.plongee where you can get the > answers from the french themselves... Like he would trust them. >> there is off course the newsgroup fr.rec.plongee where you can get the >> answers from the french themselves... >Like he would trust them. Why wouldn't he? steven Mark <No-one@nobody.com> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in: :Because I live in Alberta, Canada where quarry diving is about as good :as it gets. Better than lake diving? Dan Bracuk If at first you don't succeed, you run the risk of failure. The Best of rec.scuba http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/RecScuba/ > Mark <No-one@nobody.com> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in: > :Because I live in Alberta, Canada where quarry diving is about as good > :as it gets. > > Better than lake diving? What quarries? I'm starting to think troll here. > > Mark <No-one@nobody.com> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in: > > :Because I live in Alberta, Canada where quarry diving is about as good [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > What quarries? I'm starting to think troll here. "There are 15 major mines and quarries in Alberta: 11 coal and oil sands mines; 4 major quarries." "Alberta has hundreds of sand and gravel pits of various sizes. Some sand and gravel is washed for placer minerals, such as gold and platinum, before being used for construction, fill and cement manufacturing." "Alberta is the cement manufacturing hub for the Prairie provinces. There are two major plants, one near Exshaw (west of Calgary) and the other in Edmonton." Source: www.energy.gov.ab.ca Now I know why they call you people "cementheads". I don't know whether the Albertan quarries are flooded, but perhaps he's been doing a lot of dry diving, which is akin to dry caving. > > > Mark <No-one@nobody.com> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in: > > > :Because I live in Alberta, Canada where quarry diving is about as good [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > I don't know whether the Albertan quarries are flooded, but perhaps he's > been doing a lot of dry diving, which is akin to dry caving. There is water here and there. I don't know how many of the quarries are flooded either, but I've not heard of divers doing quarry diving around here. While there is a body of water at the quarry near Exshaw, I've not heard of anyone diving it. I've seen windsurfers there though. There was a gravel quarry near my house when I grew up in Red Deer. Dry. Lots of fun though. There was a smaller gravel quarry on my grandparent's farm down by the border. Dry, also lots of fun though. > There was a gravel quarry near my house when I grew up in Red Deer. Dry. > Lots of fun though. > > There was a smaller gravel quarry on my grandparent's farm down by the > border. Dry, also lots of fun though. Really? Wet quarries sound boring enough, even on SCUBA. What possible entertainment value could dry quarries have, even for a really bored midwesterner? > > There was a gravel quarry near my house when I grew up in Red Deer. Dry. > > Lots of fun though. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > entertainment value could dry quarries have, even for a really bored > midwesterner? You walk around them and from the top, you can slide down them. You can pick out colorful rocks, find agates and fossils. Very fun. At least when I was a kid, it was all very fun. And to this day, I enjoy hanging out on the ridge above the gravel quarry out back of my grandparent's place. There is an awesome view from there. Panoramic . . to the west the rolling prairie folding into the foothills and mountain backdrop, to the south an unobstructed view for miles across the border into the US, to the north and the east, more rolling prairies. It's a bit reminiscent of being out on the ocean actually, only it's a sea of rolling grasslands and wheat fields for as far as the eye can see. I have told my family that when I die, they should spread my ashes there, just above the quarry. A couple of them looked at me baffled as to why I would select that spot. My cousin, for one, understood completely. This is not the exact spot, but it is somewhat representative of the west view. http://www.albertacountryvacation.com/photo-09.htm > This is not the exact spot, but it is somewhat representative of the west > view. http://www.albertacountryvacation.com/photo-09.htm Here's some more: http://www.travelwestvisual.com/TravelAlberta/Home/Pages/AlbertaSouth/LethAr/Mil kRiv/Pict/Pict152060F010.htm http://www.travelwestvisual.com/TravelAlberta/Home/Pages/AlbertaSouth/LethAr/Mil kRiv/Pict/Pict152060F050.htm http://www.travelwestvisual.com/TravelAlberta/Home/Pages/AlbertaSouth/LethAr/Mil kRiv/Pict/Pict152060F050.htm http://www.travelwestvisual.com/TravelAlberta/Home/Pages/AlbertaSouth/LethAr/Mil kRiv/Pict/Pict152060F040.htm http://www.travelwestvisual.com/TravelAlberta/Home/Pages/AlbertaSouth/LethAr/Mil kRiv/Pict/Pict152060F020.htm Though most of these pictures seem to have been taken in the spring, because everything is very green. I'm more used to seeing the hills looking like brushed suede. > Though most of these pictures seem to have been taken in the spring, because > everything is very green. Yeah, I've seen all that. Drove from Calgary south to Montana, plus lots of time in Eastern Washington and some in Eastern BC. Too lonely, and that's coming from someone who doesn't like people. > > Though most of these pictures seem to have been taken in the spring, > because [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > time in Eastern Washington and some in Eastern BC. Too lonely, and that's > coming from someone who doesn't like people. Funny. But not funny, haha kind of funny. When a person is connected to a place like that, it's not lonely, it's beautiful > Funny. But not funny, haha kind of funny. When a person is connected to a > place like that, it's not lonely, it's beautiful In a tragic way. > Because I live in Alberta, Canada where quarry diving is about as good > as it gets. We have quarries? Brian Edmonton, Alberta > I'll be arriving in Nice and travelling on the coast all the way to > Genoa -a couple of hundred kilometers of coastline ! [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > certification (I've heard that at least in the past, many french > operators insist upon the frenc national certification body). OK. Wrecks tend to be deep in the Med, generally starting at 130ft and going down from there ... Most require deco. Don't expect huge schools everywhere, as marine life has been depleted during the last 50 years. The grouper population is slowly improving, though, huge specimens may be seen. Big schools of small barracuda also exist. One of the defining characteristics of the Med - my $.02 - is excellent vis. and that striking deep blue color. Not all dive operators will take PADI but many will. Just in the Nice area, a google search revealed the following: Le Pos?idon Quai Lunel - Port de Nice - 06300 Nice T?l : 0492 004 386 - Fax : 0492 004 386 Email: tlo@poseidon-nice.com Site Web : www.poseidon-nice.com NICE DIVING 26, boulevard Stalingrad - 06300 Nice T?l.: 04.93.89.42.44 - Fax: 04.93.89.12.69 Email : esmarine@aol.com Site Web : http://nicediving.com/ WATER WORLD Port de Saint Jean Cap Ferrat 06300 - Saint Jean Cap Ferrat Mobile : 06 11 33 42 53 Fax : 04 92 26 14 46 Email : email@www.waterworld-dive.fr Site Web : www.waterworld-dive.fr Those guys may, in turn, point you to other operators as you move along the coast. > > I'll be arriving in Nice and travelling on the coast all the way to > > Genoa -a couple of hundred kilometers of coastline ! [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] > Email : email@www.waterworld-dive.fr > Site Web : www.waterworld-dive.fr Last night I managed to find a place on the PADI site that listed all the PADI operators in France. With som emore digging, I found that some had websites. I spent hours going over them and learned quite a bit. So now it would appear that there is *plenty* of diving action, but due to this crazy (in my opinion) medical requirement many french operators seem to require, I may not be able to take advantage of it ! It can easily take 2 months to get a doctor's appointment around here and I leave in less than 3 weeks ! SignatureMark > So now it would appear that there is *plenty* of diving action, but due > to this crazy (in my opinion) medical requirement many french operators > seem to require, I may not be able to take advantage of it ! > > It can easily take 2 months to get a doctor's appointment around here > and I leave in less than 3 weeks ! Simply go to one of those "walk-in clinics" They are usually no appt., work after regular doctors' hours, and are used to doing quick physicals for employment and school sports. I am sure they can hook you up with a physical exam and a letter stating you are in good health (if you are). Allow a couple days leeway for any lab work to get back to the clinic. > Simply go to one of those "walk-in clinics" They are usually no appt., > work after regular doctors' hours, and are used to doing quick physicals > for employment and school sports. I am sure they can hook you up with a > physical exam and a letter stating you are in good health (if you are). > Allow a couple days leeway for any lab work to get back to the clinic. There's an "official" medical exam report that any dive shop should be able to provide. At least I know SSI has one and I'm assuming PADI and the rest have them too. Like you said, it's akin to a sports physical and required (at least by SSI) before receiving any "professional" certifications. My doc's office declared it outside of the scope of the normal physical so I had to pay an additional $10. But that doesn't guarantee it will be accepted by the French dive op. The best bet is to coordinate an exam with the dive op if they can recommend a local doc that can do the exam the day before the OP dives. Or simply boycott diving in France like I do. > So now it would appear that there is *plenty* of diving action, but due > to this crazy (in my opinion) medical requirement many french operators > seem to require, I may not be able to take advantage of it ! > > It can easily take 2 months to get a doctor's appointment around here > and I leave in less than 3 weeks ! Australis is also strict about medical certificates (Federal law). As a result, most dive shops in OZ can send you to a dive physician who can get you in and out pretty quickly. For my OW class the doctor came to the dive facility, brought two technicians, and did exams for fifteen people in an hour or so. That's not as superficial as it sounds -- the technicians checked height and weight, as well as vital capacity and eardrum mobility. The doctor checked pulse and blood pressure, listened to the heart and lungs, did a balance test, and discussed any specific issues (in my case mild high blood pressure). From a diving perspective it was more thorough than my annual physical. SignaturePete Becker Dinkumware, Ltd. (http://www.dinkumware.com) The 'French national certification body' is actually part of the worlds largest official Diving body, CMAS, of which many of the worlds national clubs are affiliated to. Notice I said Clubs, not 'professional' (business / profit based) training companies, such as PADI; I mean The BSAC, SAA, SSAC, Spanish, French, German, Finnish, Danish, Dutch, Swedish and Norwegian dive clubs (and many others outside of Europe that I don't know enough about). A PADI Advanced Open-Water diver with some rescue skills is roughly equivalent to a BSAC Sports Diver or Sub-Aqua Association Club Diver, also the same as a CMAS 3 star diver. A PADI DiveMaster, with rescue, is equivalent to a BSAC or SAA Dive Leader, (cunningly, still a 3 star CMAS qualification). I don't know what is the next PADI qualification (I also can't remember all of the scout badges), but in the BSAC / SAA its Advanced Diver or CMAS 2 star diver. > > > We off to the south of France for a vacation and I'd like to get a few > > > dives in along the way. [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > certification (I've heard that at least in the past, many french > operators insist upon the frenc national certification body). > We off to the south of France for a vacation and I'd like to get a few > dives in along the way. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Thanks. Here is a little information from when I was there 11 years ago, in early August, so I do not know how much still applies. From my experience the French dive deep and deeper so make sure your experience level is appropriate. Diving in France is / was called plungeing. You plunge into the water. I think the French spelling was more like Plonge, but, don't quote me on that. I am giving you this information so that you have a better chance of finding the operators in the phone book. I dove with Poseidon out of Nice. We embarked out of the harbor at Nice, but, our diving was off the coast of Cannes. There were a couple of reasons that I dove with them, one being, at the time the other operator had not heard of NAUI yet and so did not recognize my c-card. The water temps were 75 at the surface and 62 at depth with the air temperature being in the low 90s. The diving was kind of like California diving with no kelp. There is no coral. There seemed to be quite a few octopus and large schools of small fish. The rental gear was acceptable except it did not have a depth gauge. I know, I know, I don't do that anymore, actually that was the only time. If I did it again I would take my own computer. I was paired up with an older French lady that kept me out of trouble. Also the rental gear was nothing close to high performance which translates to I had to suck hard when we were at depth. They were using yoke fittings at 300 bar although some did dive with DIN. It was a two tank dive that basically took all day. After the first dive they pulled out the food, octopus salad, and liquor ( yeah the hard stuff ) fortunately they did not drink much, although I am of the opinion that any is too much while diving, especially at those depths ( around 125ft ). On the way back to the dock it got cloudy and we went through a cold hard rain. Overall I would say it was an O.K. trip. The number at the time when dialed from the states was 011 33 9355 0995. The stamp in my log book is beautiful although it is almost smudged beyond recognition now. It says something like CATHAY SALESSES. Good luck if you go. Douglas Kaip Hi Mark and all, Here's a link to my recent web page about "my" club in Cannes, France: www.chez.com/eponcelet/cannes-jeunesse-plongee/index_eng.htm You may also visit the official site of the city of Cannes (www.cannes.fr) and google for (with quotes): - "iles de lerins" - "lerins islands" - "ile sainte-marguerite" - "ile ste-marguerite" - "sainte-marguerite island" - "ste-marguerite island" Finally, I came across this set of nice pictures from my region : http://www.worldisround.com/articles/62886/index.html Hope this helps... See you maybe soon underwater... -- Eric P. Mark a écrit dans le message ... >We off to the south of France for a vacation and I'd like to get a few >dives in along the way. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > >Mark |
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