Israeli Diving Federation

The Israeli Diving Federation

Abbreviation	TIDF
Formation	1966
Type	NGO
Purpose	Underwater Diver training
Headquarters	Wingate Institute, Netanya Israel
Location	P.O. Box 22421, Tel Aviv
Region served	Israel
Official language	Hebrew
Affiliations	CMAS[1] EUF[2]
Website	http://web.archive.org/web/20130328091321/http://www.diving.org.il:80/?

Israeli Diving Federation (Hebrew: ההתאחדות הישראלית לצלילה, Hitahdut Haisraelit Letslila‎‎) (TIDF) is a non-governmental SCUBA diving training organization based in Israel.

History

Diving resort, Gulf of Eilat

The Gulf of Eilat is one of the most popular diving destinations in the world. About 250,000 dives are performed annually in Eilat's 11 km Gulf of Aqaba coastline, and diving represents 10% of the tourism income in this area.^[3]

TIDF was founded in 1966 by ex-Navy diving instructors and members of an underwater archaeological society. In the 1970s the federation began certifying dive instructors in the wake of numerous diving accidents, especially in Sinai peninsula, which at that time was under Israeli control. In 1979, Knesset passed the Recreational Diving Law (Heb:חוק הצלילה הספורטיבית), which regulates training, certification and practice of diving in Israel. The federation was its enforcing body until 1997.^[4]

Courses and certification

• Diveclub Diver - A basic diving certificate available from age 12. The 'Diveclub Diver' is allowed to dive up to 12 meters (39 feet) and must be accompanied by a registered dive guide.
• One-star Diver - The one-star diver certificate is parallel to Open Water Diver of SSI/PADI. This level entitles its owner to perform dives up to 20 meters (66 feet) accompanied by another diver with Two-stars or higher certification.
• Two-star diver - This level is parallel to Advanced Open Water Diver of SSI/PADI. Two-star divers can dive to depths of up to 30 meters (98 feet).
• Three-star diver - This level is parallel to SSI Master Diver.
• Assistant Instructor - This level is parallel to Assistant Instructor Diver of SSI/PADI.

EUF Certification

TIDF obtained CEN certification from the EUF certification body in 2012.^[5][6]

Underwater sports

TIDF currently offers the following underwater sports - Apnoea, Aquathlon (also known as underwater wrestling) and Sport Diving.^[7]

See also

• Sports in Israel
• Tourism in Israel

References

1. "THE ISRAELI DIVING FEDERATION". CMAS. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
2. "Associate/Observers". European Underwater Federation. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
3. Artificial Reefs and Dive Tourism in Eilat, Building Capacity for Coastal Management, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
4. Ministry of Education, Culture & Sport
5. "EUF Certified Training Systems/Training Organisations". EUF Certification International. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
6. "Courses and certifications, EUF". The Israeli Diving Federation. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
7. "Sports". The Israeli Diving Federation. Retrieved 9 February 2013.

External links

• Recreational Diving Law in Israel (Hebrew)
• Israeli Diving Federation (Hebrew)