Recreational diving in Québec: certification, equivalence and renewal
Check permitted certification levels, credentials obtained elsewhere and Québec certificate validity.
This administrative guide is not diving instruction and does not cover professional diving.
Check certification
Outside a course or examination, diving requires the applicable certificate or equivalence. Confirm recognition of your qualification with FQAS or an authorized representative. [1]
Stay within the qualification
Certification limits the level of practice. Specialized activities require corresponding qualifications; do not infer specialist authorization from a general certification card. [1]
Request an equivalence review
Before a visit, provide your credentials to the authorized organization and request the applicable equivalence process. Allow for review before booking an activity requiring specific qualifications. [2]
Prepare renewal
A diver’s certificate is renewed every three years. Depending on the situation, renewal relies on documented dives, supervised refresher training or the required examinations. [3]
Official sources
- Québec — Diving qualification
- FQAS — Authorized organization
- Légis Québec — Diving qualification regulation