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The Complete Guide to the CMAS P2** (Two-Star Diver) Course
This course matters because it represents a significant leap in both practical skill and theoretical knowledge, allowing you to explore more challenging dive sites with confidence and preparing you for advanced leadership training. Whether you are looking to expand your scuba diving course experience or achieve a globally respected diving certification, the CMAS Two-Star Diver program is the essential next step.
CMAS P2 Two-Star Diver Course Overview
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| When You Can Start | Immediately upon meeting prerequisites. You can enroll through any CMAS-affiliated dive center or club. |
| Maximum Depth | 30 meters (using air as a breathing gas) . |
| Minimum Age | 15 years old (with parental consent for minors) . |
| Course Duration | Varies by dive center and schedule. Typically 4-5 days or requires a minimum of 5-10 open water training dives . |
| Course Requirements | CMAS One-Star Diver (or equivalent) and a minimum number of logged dives (e.g., 20-30 total dives, with some at depth) . |
| Medical Requirements | Valid medical certificate of fitness for diving, as required by the national CMAS federation . |
| Swimming Assessment | None specified for this level, though a high level of water fitness is expected based on prior experience. |
| Fitness Level | Good physical condition; required to manage deeper dives and perform rescue techniques. |
| Language Availability | Materials are available in multiple languages through national CMAS federations worldwide . |
| Equipment Included | Depends on the diving school. Some include tanks and weights ; you are typically expected to provide your own personal gear (mask, fins, snorkel, BCD, regulator). Additional specialized equipment like a surface marker buoy (SMB) and pocket mask may be required . |
| Certification Type | Advanced recreational / autonomous diver . Meets ISO Standard 24801-2 . |
| Certification Validity | For life; national federations may have specific requirements for maintaining active status. |
| Certification Issuer | CMAS (Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques) through its national member federations . |
CMAS P2 Two-Star Diver Pre-Course Requirements
The prerequisites for the CMAS P2 (Two-Star Diver) Course** ensure that candidates have sufficient foundational experience to handle the challenges of advanced training.
- Pre-study Required: Yes. Candidates must complete theoretical and practical components as defined by their national federation .
- Online Theory Available: Varies by national federation. Some offer online or digital learning components.
- Previous Certification Needed :
- CMAS One-Star Diver certification (or an equivalent entry-level certification from a recognized organization).
- Minimum logged dives: Typically 20-30 open water dives since becoming certified, with some requiring dives deeper than 20 meters .
- Some federations also require specific specialty certifications, such as Underwater Navigation and Rescue courses, before or during the Two-Star program .
What You Will Learn in CMAS P2
The CMAS Two-Star Diver course expands your knowledge and skills significantly, preparing you for autonomous diving in a wider range of conditions .
- Core Skills: Master advanced diving techniques, including deep diving principles and procedures for dives between 18 and 30 meters .
- Safety & Rescue Procedures: Develop comprehensive rescue skills, including self-rescue, assisting panicked divers, surfacing an unconscious diver, in-water rescue breathing, and emergency management strategies .
- Navigation Mastery: Enhance your underwater navigation skills using a compass and natural references. Learn to execute navigation patterns, estimate distances, and create detailed underwater maps .
- Advanced Dive Theory: Gain in-depth knowledge of dive physics, physiology, decompression theory, and the use of dive tables for planning multi-level dives .
- Specialized Diving Activities: Get introduced to night diving principles, including the use of underwater lights, and basic search and recovery techniques .
- Environmental Awareness: Increased emphasis on environmental awareness and conservation principles .
CMAS P2 Two-Star Diver Course Structure
The CMAS Two-Star Diver program is comprehensive and includes a mandatory number of training dives, often with a time limit for completion .
- Theory Sessions: Candidates study advanced dive theory, covering topics like diving-related illnesses, air consumption calculations, and decompression safety . A written theoretical examination is required .
- Confined Water Sessions: Advanced rescue scenarios and navigation skills are practiced and assessed in a controlled environment.
- Open Water Dives: Candidates must complete a minimum number of open water training dives. Requirements vary by federation but commonly include 5-10 dives, with specific dives focused on deep diving (18-30m), navigation, and rescue scenarios . Some programs require a total of 30 logged dives (including those from One-Star) for certification .
- Assessments: Successful completion requires passing the theoretical assessment and demonstrating all practical skills, including rescue and navigation abilities, to a CMAS Instructor.
After CMAS Two-Star Diver Certification
Earning your CMAS Two-Star Diver certification grants you significant autonomy and recognition in the global diving community.
| Allowed Diving Depth After Certification | 30 meters (autonomously, with a buddy of at least the same level) . |
| Next Recommended Course | CMAS Three-Star Diver (Dive Leader), CMAS Rescue Diver, or CMAS Specialty Courses like Search and Recovery, Nitrox, or Wreck Diver . |
| Rental Discounts / Benefits | Varies. As an advanced-level diver, you are qualified to rent equipment and participate in more challenging dives worldwide. |
CMAS P2 Two-Star Diver Requirements & Safety Notes
- Medical Clearance: A valid medical certificate attesting to fitness for diving is mandatory before starting the course .
- Course Time Limit: Some federations require all course components to be completed within a specific timeframe, such as 12 months, otherwise the training must be restarted .
- Prerequisite Dives: Be prepared to provide proof of your logged dives. Requirements like “10 dives deeper than 20 meters” are common .
- Equipment Requirements: Beyond standard recreational gear, you may be required to purchase and carry additional safety equipment, such as a spool, surface marker buoy (SMB), wrist slate, and pocket mask .
Certification & Next Steps
Upon successful completion of all course requirements, your CMAS national federation will issue your CMAS P2 (Two-Star Diver) certification card. This certification is recognized worldwide by all CMAS member federations .
In terms of equivalence, a CMAS Two-Star Diver is generally considered equivalent to a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver or SSI Advanced Adventurer . It qualifies you to dive autonomously with a buddy to 30 meters, and it is the essential prerequisite for all higher-level CMAS training, including the CMAS Three-Star Diver (Dive Leader) program .
Regarding the cost of a CMAS Two-Star course, it varies significantly by country and dive center. A package in Hurghada, Egypt, is listed at €450 , while a 5-day, 10-dive program in Phuket, Thailand, is priced at 21,500 THB (approx. $635 USD) . These prices may or may not include equipment rental, materials, and certification fees.
CMAS Two-Star Diver Frequently Asked Questions
CMAS One-Star is your entry-level certification, allowing you to dive under supervision. CMAS Two-Star certifies you as an autonomous diver, qualified to organize and conduct dives with buddies of the same level to a maximum depth of 30 meters without instructor supervision .
You must be at least 15 years old, hold a CMAS One-Star Diver (or equivalent) certification, and have logged a minimum number of dives—often 20-30, with some at deeper depths .
You are qualified to dive to a maximum depth of 30 meters using air .
The in-water training typically takes 4-5 days and includes a minimum of 5-10 open water training dives . However, you must also meet the total logged dive requirement (e.g., 30 total dives), which may take additional time to accumulate .
A CMAS Two-Star Diver is generally considered equivalent to a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver .
Yes. The use of decompression tables for dive planning is a key part of the theoretical knowledge required for the CMAS Two-Star certification .
Yes, night diving principles and techniques are a standard part of the CMAS Two-Star course curriculum, so you will be qualified to participate in night dives .
Practical Checklist / Key Takeaways
- Who it’s for: Certified CMAS One-Star Divers (or equivalent) with at least 20 logged dives who want to achieve autonomous diver status .
- What’s needed: 15+ years old, CMAS One-Star certification, 20-30 logged dives, valid medical clearance, and your own diving equipment .
- Key Feature: This course certifies you as an autonomous diver, qualified to plan and execute dives to 30 meters with a buddy, without direct instructor supervision .
- Key Benefit: You gain the skills and knowledge for advanced recreational diving, including deep diving, night diving, navigation, and rescue techniques, and you are prepared for leadership courses like CMAS Three-Star Diver .
- Equivalence: Your certification is recognized globally and is equivalent to a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver .