Nicosia, Cyprus. A bill submitted by the deputy ministry of tourism to parliament seeks to regulate recreational diving services in Cyprus by introducing a licensing framework and provisions on safety, inspections and penalties.
Purpose and scope of the bill
The proposed legislation, expected to be examined by the new composition of the House, aims to ensure recreational diving services are offered safely and in line with international standards, while creating procedures to investigate accidents and assign responsibility where needed.
Licensing requirements for providers
Under the bill, all recreational diving service providers would be required to obtain an operating licence from the director-general. This would apply to diving centres, diving schools, independent scuba diving instructors, and licensed sea transporters carrying divers on registered and approved vessels.
Licence duration and register
The licence would be valid for three years, and the deputy ministry would keep an official register of licensed providers.
Restrictions on unlicensed activity
The bill states that no person or company would be allowed to train, promote, organise or provide recreational diving services without holding a valid licence issued by the competent authority.
Application eligibility and fees
Applications would be accepted only from individuals or businesses whose activity is the provision of recreational diving services. Each application would be subject to a one-off, non-refundable fee of €200.
Licence categories and conditions
An operating licence would be granted for four categories: diving centres, scuba diving schools, diving instructors operating independently, and licensed sea transporters of divers. To secure a licence, applicants would need to meet a series of conditions.
How do you think the proposed licensing framework could affect recreational diving providers in Cyprus?