[Veronika]

Hi Sandi,

I completely agree with you. I like CMAS when it comes down to SCUBA education and training, but as soon as it is about non-compressed breathing gasses stuff (Orienteering, Finswimming, Apnea, whatever) I find them highly counterproductive and narrow-minded.
Regarding freediving the point is that - form my personal point of view and my experiences - they do not just ignore what non-CMAS freedivers are doing but for them we are people practising a highly unsafe sport that has to be banned, and second class sportspeople. Theirs is the only way. For me, this is not only un-sportsmanlike, but plain bad behavior.
Luckily there are very tolerant people as well, but especially some of the higher ranking CMAS ones of some countries seem to be proponents of actively spreading the idea that non-CMAS freediving or freediving altogether should be banned. That of course doesn't make life easier for us.
I find this a pretty annoying and frustrating situation. Yet the point is that you can't do much about it. They simply have too much influence.

Just my very subjective point of view. Needn't be true for everyone and everywhere.

Veronika