Comhairle Fo-Thuinn


Comhairle Fo-Thuinn, also known as Irish Underwater Council, is the national governing body for recreational diving and underwater sports in Ireland.

Organisation

CFT organises and promotes recreational scuba diving and snorkelling via a club system. It is administered by an executive committee is supported by the following four commissions: a Technical Commission which sets standards and tests for diving courses offered by its member clubs; a Medical Commission which advises on diving medical standards, treatment of diving medical conditions and monitors developments in hyperbaric medicine; a Sporting Commission which organises underwater sports, photography and an event known as the national gala; and a Scientific Commission which promotes underwater biology and archaeology. Its membership consists of both clubs and individuals which as of 2004 respectively totalled 3,000 and 84. While the majority of its activities are in the Republic of Ireland, a small number of members and clubs are located in Northern Ireland. It is incorporated as a Guarantee Company Without Share Capital under the name 'Comhairle Fo-Thuinn – Irish Underwater Council'.

Recognition

CFT is recognised by the Irish Sports Council as the national governing body for recreational diving and underwater sports in the Republic of Ireland.
It is the Irish representative to Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques with affiliations to the Sports, Technical and Scientific Committees.
It is also a member of CMAS Europe and the European Underwater Federation. CFT is both a supporter and a member of the National Steering Group of the Marine Conservation Society-co-ordinated Seasearch program which seeks to 'gather information on seabed habitats and associated marine wildlife in Britain and Ireland through the participation of volunteer recreational divers'.

Underwater sports

As of October 2013, underwater hockey is the only underwater sport supported by CFT with competition based in Dublin and Cork.

Qualifications

The CFT training program which is delivered by instructors based within its member clubs was structured as follows as of January 2013.

Snorkel grades

The following equivalencies were those in place as of January 2013.
CMASCFT
CMAS 1 Star DiverCFT Trainee Diver
CMAS 2 Star DiverCFT Club Diver
CMAS 3 Star DiverCFT Leading Diver
CMAS 4 Star DiverCFT National Diver
CMAS 1 Star InstructorCFT Instructor
CMAS 2 Star InstructorCFT Examiner
CMAS 3 Star InstructorCFT Leading Instructor
CMAS 4 Star InstructorCFT National Instructor

EUF Certification

The CFT obtained CEN certification from the EUF certification body in 2006.