Schools and Training

General Information

All training offered by the club are recognized and approved by the FFESSM. The FFESSM is part of the international CMAS organization. This means your diving licence is recognized worldwide. 

For more details about CMAS and its certification see http://www.cmas.org/ and for all the FFESSM certifications see https://plongee.ffessm.fr/mft.

Niveau 1 (N1)

The CMAS 1* Star is the first level of your diving career. You learn the first steps of scuba diving and most importantly, how to enjoy it while keeping yourself and your dive buddies safe.

The course starts each year around October. It is held indoors and starts with lessons on correct swimming techniques before moving on to use of the equipment and some key safety and competence exercises. Theory courses are also included and a simple exam. The only equipment required for the pool part of the course is a mask, snorkel and fins. Once each student is ready and they have the necessary equipment (Wetsuit, gloves, boots, fins) they may progress to diving in the lake. For this we have very dedicated dive instructors. They will teach you everything necessary to keep yourself safe while you enjoy the underwater world. The N1 school ends with a traditional outing to south of France to do the last few dives in the Mediterranean Sea to achieve your first scuba diving level.

If you are curious but unsure if diving is the right thing for you: in October, before the N1 school starts we organize free trial sessions in the swimming pool in Varembe, Geneva. Feel free to contact us around this time.

With this licence you are allowed to go down to 20 m with an experienced N4 diver or a dive instructor.

For more details, see the official FFESSM document (in French): HERE.

Niveau 2 (N2)

The CMAS 2** Star is the next major step. You will learn how to navigate underwater and deepen your knowledge about safety and rescue.

With this licence and the authorisation of the directeur de plongée (on-site dive guide) you are allowed to dive autonomously with another level 2 diver down to 20 m and as deep as 40 m when accompanied by a N4 diver or a dive instructor.

The N2 training is usually organised every year.  It depends on the number of new N1 divers and availability of instructors. The theory course is followed by training dives in Lac Leman. For more details, see the official FFESSM document (in French): HERE.

Niveau 3 (N3)

With the CMAS 3*** licence you become a fully autonomous diver. Your prerogatives are: 60 m with other N3 and authorisation of the directeur de plongée (on-site dive guide), or 40 m with another N3 - autonomously, no director de plongee required.

From time to time, thanks to our most experienced instructors, the N3 training takes place. The intensive theory course is followed by dives in our nearby lakes. Underwater navigation, safety and security, organisation of a dive and more - are all part of the training. Please note, that the RIFAP course is required to finalise the N3 licence. For more details, see the official FFESSM document (in French): HERE.

Niveau 4 (N4)

Although this level cannot be obtained within the club, and takes a lot of work and training to achieve, we do recommend our best divers carry on and go for this. It is our N4 divers who allow all of the training listed above to be possible. As an N4 you are an instructor / dive guide and will hopefully participate in the training of others.

Initiateur E1 and Monitor E2

These qualifications allow you to teach other students. It requires attendance at our pool sessions diving alongside experienced instructors, and 1 or 2 days of theory course, followed at the end by a practical and theory exam. In fact these two qualifications are the same thing, the designation depends on your base qualification. If you are an N2 you gain the N2E1 Initiateur which allows you to teach N1 students up to a depth of 6m. If you are an N4 you gain the N4E2 Monitor which allows you to train N2/N3 students up to 20m. Again the club strongly encourages members taking these levels, new instructors are the lifeblood of the club.

Basic Nitrox and Advanced Nitrox

Nitrox is the common name of a gas mixture used for diving. It is “with oxygen enriched air”, so that more than 21 % of the mixture is oxygen in exchange for a reduction of nitrogen. Diving with Nitrox lowers fatigue, increases safety and minimises decompression times in case of prolonged dives. However, it also limits the maximum depth of a dive.

With the CMAS Basic Nitrox certification you are allowed to dive with a mixture of up to 40 % oxygen. And with the CMAS Advanced Nitrox you are allowed to make use of “pony” tanks with mixtures higher than 40 % oxygen.

Depending on the availability of our instructors and the demand, both courses are offered.

Other Training

Biology Niveau 1

The course of underwater biology brings insight into taxonomy of species, variety of underwater life, ecology. You can take part in theory classes only or a complete course which is finalised by a dedicated diving outing to the south of france.

First Aid for Divers (RIFAP)

Réactions et Interventions Face à un Accident de Plongée is a safety training, on how to react and intervene in case of scuba diving accident. The training is essential in order to obtain the N3 licence and consists of theory session with practical exercises including CPR, emergency procedures and use of medical oxygen. The course is organised on yearly basis.

You can find more details in this FFESSM document: HERE