Recognition of Degrees & Organizations in Greece

Now it seems very normal and natural to go diving without having to worry about illegal activity, since the coasts are open for diving and foreign organizations, along with the Greek federation, are now operating legally.

I know it sounds a bit funny, but unfortunately, at one time the reality was bleak for Greek diving.

A country that was and is a pioneer in shipping, having all coastal areas prohibited for diving sounds unacceptable. The exceptions were the second port of Vouliagmeni and Mykonos. All beaches are prohibited everywhere.

Λίγοι "τρελαμένοι" ,στα μάτια των άλλων, εραστές της κατάδυσης έχτισαν λιθαράκι αυτό που σήμερα απολαμβάνουμε. Καρτελιάς, Παπαγρηγοράκης και άλλοι σε έναν αγώνα εναντίον όλων παραθέτοντας πάθος, κόπο . υπομονή και εμμονή προχωράνε βήμα βήμα.

At a time when diving abroad is evolving into a normal basis of being allowed everywhere except for some places where it is prohibited. Such places are for example ports, organized beaches, archaeological sites, etc. In Greece it was the opposite, unfortunately everywhere it was prohibited except for two places where it was permitted.

In a similar climate, the issue of educational institutions, organizations. All banned and only the EUDAATK existed. Unacceptable. We should have been completely harmonized with the global situation or at least had a much better regime.

I cannot attribute responsibility to anyone other than those who were inextricably linked to decision-making on these issues, such as the political authorities and those involved in archaeological matters. We know very well that behind them there were certainly vested interests that kept things in the dark for their own benefit.

Let's make it clear that in the Greek federation and in the schools that existed at that time, the quality of education both in theoretical and practical terms was very high. So that there is no misunderstanding. It was the best education I have had in my long diving career, having also dealt with excellent organizations such as NAUI, TDI/SDI/, PSAI, PADI, ESDA.

This monopoly, combined with the forbidden shores, had created a situation full of pathogens where access to diving was made with great difficulty.

Fortunately, our entry and obligations towards the European Union had its own positive effects, combined with commercial pressures from organizations that wished to operate in our country. Finally, the decision was made and the coasts were liberated by law.

This resulted in the development of tourist diving, a rapid increase in the certification of new scuba divers with educational programs more accessible and friendly to the general public. Education became less "military/demanding" and much more supported by logistical material. Many diving centers were created as many organizations began to operate, organizations such as PADI, NAUI, SSI, IANTD, ANDI, EOUDA/CMAS, TDI/SDI.

Let us not forget that there were many who fought for this liberation, such as Dimis Varveris of the Greek Diver magazine, Manolis Eugenitakis of the Thalassa magazine, Loukas Bistarakis with his legal fight....and many others. Undoubtedly, we, Hellas Underwater Explorers, also played our part in bringing about significant changes for our beloved diving.

NAUI is currently not represented by anyone, and the absence of TDI/SDI in our country is also disappointing. TDI/SDI was represented for years very successfully by George Petrou/Hellas Underwater Explorers, but after the takeover by a new owner in America and the assignment to a new representative, it had no presence and has no activity in our country. There are also many organizations that could be active in our country, indicatively UTD, IDDA, GUE, PSAI and others.

Many small technical diving groups were formed and its growth was rapid with rebreathers taking their share.

Δυστυχώς κάθε πράγμα έχει και τις παθογένειές του. Θα μπορούσα να παραθέσω άπειρα προβλήματα που έχουν προκύψει καθώς η ελεύθερη πρόσβαση του αυτόνομου δύτη έχει περιοριστεί. Παραδείγματα είναι περιπτώσεις όπως κλασσικά καταδυτικά σημεία όπως τα "Λεγραινά" μετά την Ανάβυσσο έχουν κατακλυστεί με ιχθυοκαλλιέργειες, στη Στέρνα Λουτρακίου σε απίθανο μέρος ακριβώς μέσα στο δάσος πάνω στην παραλία έχει κατασκευαστεί τουριστική μονάδα και σε συνεργασία, από ότι έχουμε διαβάσει σε δημοσιεύματα στο facebook, με δημόσια υπηρεσία έχουν τοποθετήσει μπάρα και απαγορεύουν την πρόσβαση στην ελεύθερη παραλία η οποία είναι απελευθερωμένη από την Εφορεία Εναλίων Αρχαιοτήτων δια νόμου. Επίσης η τάση σιγά σιγά να επιβάλουν στον αυτοδύτη να μπορεί να κάνει κατάδυση μόνο μέσω καταδυτικού κέντρου π.χ. σε ναυάγια είναι απαράδεκτη και μας γυρνάει πίσω σε σκοτεινές εποχές.

I hope and wish that there will be developments that ensure unhindered access for every scuba diver independently to all liberated points and that there will be an increase in diving safety.