Niveau 1 FFESSM

The Niveau 1 is where most members at ACERS start. Theory sessions and pool work run through the winter at X'Eau on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, building the basics before open water sessions are added in spring. The club's calendar for N1 includes practice dives at freshwater sites — Civaux and La Touvre both appear regularly — which means first open water dives happen in calm, controlled conditions before any sea trip.

Once pool work is solid, sea dive weekends at Hendaye complete the qualification. Hendaye is a familiar destination for ACERS, and the N1 candidates join the broader club trip rather than a separate beginners-only outing. The social element is part of it — barbecues, group meals, and the general rhythm of a club weekend.

The certification follows the FFESSM/CMAS pathway, recognised across France and internationally under the CMAS framework. N1 qualifies divers to dive accompanied by a qualified diver to 20 m, or to 40 m with an instructor.

For anyone coming from Cognac or the surrounding Charente area, ACERS is one of the few options for structured FFESSM training locally. The twice-weekly pool sessions and active open water programme mean progression through N1 doesn't drag out over years.