FRENCH DIVING SCHOOL
The Levels
LEVEL 1 : PE20
ESCAPADE offers you the benefit of years of experience, based on FFESSM/CMAS training courses.
Our Dive Center’s mission can be summarized in two words: pleasure and safety.
You have already done a Discovery Dive and you want more? Level 1 is for you.
The Level 1 course will allow you to acquire the basic knowledge and skills of underwater diving. At the end of five practical lessons at sea and theoretical courses at the club, you will validate your Level 1.
It will allow you to dive alone or in a group under the supervision of an instructor up to a depth of 20 meters.
You will have a wider vision of this new world.
Nothing on earth can compare to these new sensations!
After validating your Level 1, you’ll get a logbook and an international FFESSM/CMAS card that will allow you to dive all over the world, opening your underwater horizons.
LEVEL 2 : PE40 + PA20
The passion wins you over… more freedom attracts you… The Level 2 reaches out to you.
With 20 to 30 dives under your belt as a Level 1 diver, you want to improve your skills and dive without an instructor or maybe dive deeper?
The FFESSM/CMAS Level 2 is the first level of diving allowing you to reach a relative autonomy, under certain conditions… In France, the Level 2 diver must dive at a Dive Center, under the responsibility of a Diving
Director (DP).
At the end of 10 practical courses at sea and theoretical courses at the club, you will be able to dive up to 20 meters maximum, accompanied by a dive buddy without an instructor. With an instructor, you will be able to reach a maximum of 40 meters.
At the end of the course, you will receive a new international card certifying your level.
Level 2 technical training content can be found on the FFESSM website.
Theoretical courses at Escapade Plongée Level 2 are included during the training.
RIFAP : REACTIONS AND INTERVENTIONS IN CASE OF DIVING ACCIDENTS
A First aid certificate is required for the qualifications of divers starting from Level 3, but the RIFAP is a useful addition for any autonomous diver, and is accessible from Level 2.
In addition to basic first aid, you will learn diving-specific first aide, such as towing the victim on the surface, managing accidents and incidents underwater and on the boat, and calling for help.
LEVEL 3: PE60 + PA40
You feel ready to go to the next level and wish to reach complete autonomy?
You are an autonomous diver at 0-20m and have a number of deep dives with your favorite instructor under your weight belt…
The FFESSM Level 3 will allow you to access autonomy up to 60 meters maximum. In addition to having access to these exceptional underwater depths, it will also bring you a whole set of knowledge and skills, as well as the rigor and discipline necessary for all serious divers.
This training is organized and adapted to your capacities. As it is a very technical level, we often conduct the training via private lessons. At the end of 10 technical sessions at sea in the 40m zone and theoretical courses at the club, you will finally have access to this autonomy up to 60 meters maximum, accompanied by a dive buddy!
The Level 3 training is accessible from 18 years old and requires a patented first aid course
(RIFAP) given during the training. Eventually, a new international card will be issued to you so that you can enjoy your new prerogatives, for life, all over the world!
LEVEL 4: DIVE GUIDE
GENERAL OBJECTIVE
Become a Dive Guide!
During the Level 4, or Dive Guide course, you will learn aquatic mastery in both theoretical knowledge and underwater skills. At the end of your Level 4 training, you will take a 2-day exam and will be graded by a jury of experienced dive Instructors. The criteria for the exam and the grades follow a national standard that requires excellence in 3 disciplines; physical fitness, theoretical knowledge, and underwater skill. This level is for the most passionate and dedicated of divers!
After becoming a Level 4 diver, you have many options to go even further in your diving career:
– The decree of June 22, 1998, modified in 2000, recognizes that the Level 4 diver has the skills and knowledge to be a Dive Guide and even a Level 2 teacher, if he/she is an Initiator (E1) or has been declared as a supervisor.
– Another option is to take the Level 5 course and become a Dive Director for exploration
dives.
– The Level 4 FFESSM/CMAS*** is also the first step towards becoming a Dive Instructor in
France. It is a prerequisite to the MF1 or BEES 1 Instructor training courses.
FRENCH DIVING SCHOOL
Qualifications
BASIC NITROX DIVER
Basic Nitrox Divers may use the most appropriate Nitrox mix for their dive with a maximum of 40% oxygen.
Access to Nitrox Training requires perfect buoyancy and is open to Level 1 divers and above.
To be qualified as a Nitrox Diver, you must do at least 2 Nitrox dives, validated by a confirmed FFESSM Nitrox instructor.
CONFIRMED NITROX DIVER
Advanced Nitrox Divers are able to utilize all commonly used Nitrox mixes as well as pure oxygen for decompression. Advanced Nitrox Divers have the same prerogatives as those defined in the Code du Sport, corresponding to their dive Level.
The Advanced Nitrox Diver qualification is not a certificate. It is obtained at the end of a training course given and validated by a confirmed FFESSM Nitrox instructor. The training is carried out exclusively at sea.
AUTONOMOUS DIVER 20 M : PA20
A PA20 Diver is capable of exploring between 0-20m as part of an autonomous group, (with 1-2 buddies of at least the same level and no instructor) under the responsibility of a Dive Director (DP).
This diver:
─ Can equip himself, immerse himself, orient himself underwater, and has perfect buoyancy.
─ Knows how to prevent diving incidents for himself.
─ Knows how to intervene with a dive buddy in distress.
─ Knows how to apply individually and collectively all the directives and procedures defined by the Diving Director.
SUPERVISED DIVER 40 M : PE40
The diver holding the PE40 qualification is able to explore in the 0-40m space within a group of divers, under the supervision of a Dive Guide (GP).
This diver:
─ Can equip herself, immerse herself, orient herself underwater, and has perfect buoyancy.
─ Knows how to prevent diving incidents for herself.
─ Knows how to help a team member while waiting for the intervention of the Dive Guide.
─ Knows how to receive help from the Dive Guide or a dive buddy if necessary.
─ Knows how to apply, as far as he/she is concerned, all the directives and procedures implemented by the PM. Progressive habituation to deep diving is an important element of safety.
AUTONOMOUS DIVER 40 M : PA40
The diver holding the PA40 qualification is capable of exploring between 0 – 40 meters as part of an autonomous group, with one or more dive buddies with equivalent skills, (without an instructor) according to the instructions relating to the course of the dive defined by a Dive Director (DP).
This diver:
─ Can equip himself, immerse himself, orient himself underwater, and has perfect buoyancy
─ Knows how to prevent diving incidents for himself.
─ Knows how to intervene with a dive buddy in distress.
─ Knows how to apply individually and collectively all the directives and procedures defined by the Diving Director. Progressive habituation to deep diving is an important element of safety.
SUPERVISED DIVER 60 M : PE60
The diver holding the PE60 qualification is capable of exploring in the 0 – 60 m range as part of a group under the supervision of a Dive Guide (Level 4).
This diver:
─ Can equip herself, immerse herself, orient herself underwater, and has perfect buoyancy.
─ Knows how to prevent diving incidents for herself.
─ Knows how to help a dive buddy while waiting for the intervention of the Dive Guide (Level 4).
─ Knows how to receive, if necessary, assistance from the Dive Guide.
─ Knows how to apply, as far as he/she is concerned, all the directives and procedures implemented by the Dive Director (N5).
THE FIRST LESSONS
The Initiator
THE E1 INITIATOR
Defined in the Code du Sport, (Art A322-71 to A322-101 and its annexes).
An E1 Initiator can:
─ supervise and organize pool sessions, from 0 – 6 meters.
─ teach in the pool, from 0 – 6 meters. (Diving Director).
─ conduct courses from Discovery Dives to Level 2 in the 0 – 6 meters zone. If the teaching is done in the open water, the Dive Director must be at least a 1st degree Instructor (E3).
─ validate Level 1 skills in the pool.
─ can skip the UC4 part of the MF1 course.
THE E2 INITIATOR
PREROGATIVES OF THE FEDERAL E2 (Initiator + Diving Guide – Level 4 FFESSM)
If you are an Initiator (E1) and FFESSM Level 4, you become an Initiator (E2). E2 Instructors can, unless otherwise advised by the Club President, teach diving within a club, from 0 – 20 meters (up to Level 4), under the direction of a licensed 1st degree instructor (E3).
They validate the skills of Level 1 and Level 2 divers; the delivery of these certificates is done under the signature of the club president for Level 1, and the club president and an E3 instructor for Level 2.
They can also validate the exploration dives they lead in the ocean.
Content of the technical training for the E2 Initiator can be found on the FFESSM website
Contactez Nous
Port de Saint Gilles les Bains
Local 3A (Proche école de voile)
97434 Saint Gilles les Bains
Du lundi au dimanche - 7j/7
7:00 à 17:00
