| Comhairle Fo-Thuinn | |
| Full Name: | Irish Underwater Council |
| Abbreviation: | CFT |
| Formation: | 1963 |
| Type: | NGO |
| Status: | Guarantee Company Without Share Capital. |
| Purpose: | Recreational diving, diver training, underwater sports & sciences national governing body |
| Headquarters: | Dún Laoghaire, Ireland |
| Location: | 78A Patrick Street, Dún Laoghaire |
| Region Served: | Ireland and Northern Ireland |
| Membership: | 3000 member & 84 clubs (2004) |
| Leader Title: | President |
| Leader Name: | Ciaran Kissane |
| Leader Title2: | National Diving Officer |
| Leader Name2: | Paddy Lambe |
| Main Organ: | Executive Committee |
| Affiliations: | CMAS CMAS Europe EUF |
| Website: | http://diving.ie/ |
Comhairle Fo-Thuinn (in Irish pronounced as /ˈkoːɾˠl̠ʲə fˠɔˈhiːnʲ/; Irish for "Under-Wave Council"; CFT), also known as Irish Underwater Council (IUC) and trading as Diving Ireland, is the national governing body for recreational diving and underwater sports in Ireland.
CFT organises and promotes recreational scuba diving and snorkelling via a club system. It is administered by an executive committee is supported by the following four commissions: a Technical Commission which sets standards and tests for diving courses offered by its member clubs; a Medical Commission which advises on diving medical standards, treatment of diving medical conditions and monitors developments in hyperbaric medicine; a Sporting Commission which organises underwater sports, photography and an event known as the national gala; and a Scientific Commission which promotes underwater biology and archaeology. Its membership consists of both clubs and individuals which as of 2004 respectively totalled 3,000 and 84.[1] While the majority of its activities are in the Republic of Ireland, a small number of members and clubs are located in Northern Ireland.[2] It is incorporated as a Guarantee Company Without Share Capital under the name 'Comhairle Fo-Thuinn – Irish Underwater Council'.[3]
CFT is recognised by the Irish Sports Council as the national governing body for recreational diving and underwater sports in the Republic of Ireland.[4] It is the Irish representative to Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques with affiliations to the Sports, Technical and Scientific Committees.It is also a member of CMAS Europe and the European Underwater Federation.[5] [6] [7] CFT is both a supporter and a member of the National Steering Group of the Marine Conservation Society-co-ordinated Seasearch program which seeks to 'gather information on seabed habitats and associated marine wildlife in Britain and Ireland through the participation of volunteer recreational divers'.[8] [9]
As of October 2013, underwater hockey is the only underwater sport supported by CFT.[10]
The CFT oversees competition between clubs and the national team.
| Year | A Team | B Team | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 4th | [11] | |
| 2023 | colspan="3" rowspan="2" | ||
| 2024 |
The CFT training program which is delivered by instructors based within its member clubs was structured as follows as of January 2013.[12] [13]
The following equivalencies were those in place as of January 2013.[14]
| CMAS | CFT | |
|---|---|---|
| CFT Diver 1 Star | ||
| CMAS 2 Star Diver | CFT Diver 2 Star | |
| CMAS 3 Star Diver | CFT Leading Diver | |
| CMAS 4 Star Diver | CFT National Diver | |
| CMAS 1 Star Instructor | CFT Instructor | |
| CMAS 2 Star Instructor | CFT Examiner | |
| CMAS 3 Star Instructor | CFT Leading Instructor | |
| CFT National Instructor |
The CFT obtained CEN certification from the EUF certification body in 2006.[15]