RYA Introduces new Powerboat Level II Certification and Central Registration System

Now available at Riviera Sea School to all our Powerboat Level II Students are the new improved RYA Powerboat Level II Certificates. Along with an innovative Central Registration System you will enjoy added credibility to your certification, easy verification should you lose your certificate and greater security minimizing fraud.

If you have any questions regarding the new certificates or if you require information on your current (old style) certificate please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you have not yet obtained your Powerboat Level II certificate and would like to do so, please visit our course pages on our website for further information or please feel free to contact us to make a booking or have a chat with one of our team.

We look forward to hearing from you!

By: Riviera Sea School & Diamond Diving

We are pleased to announce an exclusive partnership with our neighbors in Golfe-Juan, award winning PADI recreational facility, Diamond Diving. Open between the months of April and November, Alex and Noemie, owners of Diamond Diving and both experienced PADI instructors, strive to offer a service second to none to all of their customers, not to mention receiving the “Best Newcomer of 2009″ award from PADI Europe last year!

Diamond Diving Facilities Include:

• 6.15 m Valiant DR620 RIB powered by 135hp Mercury Verado (new in 2009)
• Air conditioned facilities such as showers and toilets
• High quality SCUBAPRO rental equipment (new in 2009)

Location:

Their location in Golfe-Juan is a super spot providing quick access to dive zones off Cap d’Antibes, the bay of Golfe-Juan (including the lighthouse “La Fourmigue” that marks at least five excellent dive sights), and Les Iles de Lerins. Teaching exclusively  in the PADI system, the largest diver training organization in the world, a range of courses from Discover Scuba Diving to Instructor they have something for everyone. Also available are refresher courses for those of you wishing to brush up your current skills, such as the Emergency First Response course and organized fun dives.

A typical day’s Diving at Diamond Diving:

• Meet at 8.45 for your early morning dive
• At Midday you will take a two hour break and enjoy a good lunch at “Snack Napoleon” and take in the view over the marina.
• Meet again at 1400 for you afternoon dive
• After your afternoon dive you will be invited along to have a relaxing drink at the “Saint Pierre” to log your dives, perhaps do a bit of theory and to your diving stories of the day!

What to expect from diving with Diamond Diving:

• Frequently excellent visibility (15-35 meters)
• Rich and dense marine life
• Awesome dive site topography (pinnacles, swim throughs, vertical deep drop offs, canyons and caverns)
• Water temperatures between 15-27 degrees
• A wide range of sites to accommodate your diving preferences and experience
• Superb conditions for underwater photography
• Small numbers, experienced professionals and an emphasis on safety

What our partnership means to you:

All Riviera Sea School customers will receive a 10% discount  on Diamond Diving’s complete price list, to see Diamond Diving’s price list click here. If you would like to know more about Diamond Diving check out their website, www.diamonddiving.net, give them a call, +33 (0) 615 305 223, drop them an e:mail, info@diamonddiving.net or even become a fan of their facebook page “Diamond Diving”.

You may or may not have heard of the above but the likely hood is that if you are currently working or plan to embark on a career in the Yachting Industry you will come across what is referred to as the ENG1 Medical certificate or even the ML5. Confused? You are not alone, the motivation for writing this blog has been a long string of individuals who have come to us slightly miffed as to what they are all about. All however will be made clear, so keep reading…

The most common need for an ENG-1 or ML5 from a training perspective is if you intend on commercially endorsing your RYA certification. You will be expected to commercially endorse your RYA certification if you take up to 12 paying passengers, i.e charter guests, to sea on a boat up tp 24 meters. If you intend on taking more than 12 paying passengers and/or a vessel greater that 24 meters to sea you may require other qualifications issued by the MCA, for further details, visit their website,  www.mcga.gov.uk.

Now, it is important to note that although the ENG-1 and the ML5 are both medical certificates indicating the state of your current health there are key differences between the two that may affect your limitations whilst at sea:

ENG1

The ENG1 is know as the Seafarer Medical Certificate and is issued by the Government of the UK. This certificate can only be conducted and issued by MCA approved doctors following a full medical exam. For a full list of approved MCA doctors visit the MCA website, www.mcga.gov.uk.

Following the medical exam, if successful, you will be issued with your ENG 1 certificate. This certificate is valid for a maximum of two years. If however you are between the ages of 16-18 you will be expected to renew is annually until you reach the age of 18. Details of what to expect during the exam can be found in the MSN 1765(M) form on the MCA website. This certificate will allow you to commercially endorse certification that permits you to navigate further than 60 miles offshore, for example, the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore and the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean certificates of competence.

In the South of France you can expect to pay in the region of €120 to obtain your ENG1.

ML5

ML5 certificate is acceptable evidence of medical fitness for all of those who work on coded vessels up to 60 miles offshore, crew of seagoing local passenger vessels and boatmasters on non seagoing passenger vessels. This certificate can be conducted by any registered medical practitioner in the UK. There are however RYA/MCA accredited doctors overseas who can issue ML5 medical certificates. You will find that the price of this certificate will vary according to the individual doctor you decide to visit.

This license is valid up to five years, if however you are over the age of 65 you will be expected to renew it annually.

The ML5 medical is accepted as an alternative to the ENG1 certificate for skippers on small commercial vessels, up to 24 meters with a maximum of 12 paying passengers, whilst navigating in waters no further than 60 miles from a safe haven.

If you have any experiences to share regarding this issue please do not hesitate to leave a comment below.

Announcing the opening of Antibes’ newest professional Crew Residence

The Crew Grapevine

Easy crawling distance to the Hop Store. Quality Bedding, en suite bathrooms, fabulous lounge area, laundry facilities, free wi-fi & printing, free advice, quiet location, complimentary tea & coffee, and free pets. All in the bustling heart of Antibes. Rest and relax here while you work, job seek or study.

Come and see for your self. Visit our website today, post jobs, resumes, CVs, and classifieds.

www.crewgrapevine.com

info@crewgrapevine.com

+33(0)628 685 719 or +33(0)616 662 843

]]> http://www.rivieraseaschool.com/blog/index.php/crew-zone/brand-new-crew-house-in-antibes/feed/ 0 http://www.rivieraseaschool.com/blog/index.php/riviera-sea-school-news/rss-on-board-with-rya-personal-watercraft-scheme/ http://www.rivieraseaschool.com/blog/index.php/riviera-sea-school-news/rss-on-board-with-rya-personal-watercraft-scheme/#comments Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:44:42 +0000 admin http://www.rivieraseaschool.com/blog/?p=222

PR by: Riviera Sea School, Your Sea School in the South of France

Riviera Sea School are pleased to announce a welcomed addition to their range of RYA Powerboat and Shorebased courses run from their school in the South of France. The RYA Personal Watercraft (PW) scheme has been designed to ensure safe and responsible use of PW/Jet Skis in both inland and coastal waters. RSS are delighted to be taking on the scheme and are excited about bringing a greater awareness of safe PW use to the Mediterranean.

Ranging from the 1 day PW Proficiency course to the 3 day PW Instructor course, RSS are well equipped to create a far safer and more enjoyable environment not only for PW users themselves but other water users that may be affected by the use of Jet-skis in their area.

The PW Proficiency course has been designed by the RYA for both experienced PW users and beginners alike. It aims to teach students how to use their PW safely, responsibly and with confidence. Most courses will take one day and can be carried out on your own craft or on the schools craft. For those who wish to be PW instructors and teach the PW Proficiency course themselves, they will be thoroughly trained and assessed by experienced RYA PW trainers.

PW are often subject to strict limitations in terms of their use in many areas and certainly in most Coastal waters in the Mediterranean where a license is absolutely necessary if you wish to take your PW afloat. The RYA PW Proficiency course will allow PW users to use their Jet-skis within the realms of the law both in the UK and many countries abroad and is currently the only authority issuing PW licenses.

With summer truly underway and the charter season making a move RSS are committed to ensuring that all your PW training needs are catered for providing tuition for pleasure boaters, crew members, charter guests and yacht owners alike. Located a stones through away from Antibes we offer these courses not only here in the South of France but Worldwide, happy to provide own boat tuition wherever you may be.

Contact us for further information on course fees and availability. Alternatively click here to visit the PW course section of our website.