question for everyone

[freedivernd]

quote from FantaSea Scuba & Travel

For scuba divers, possession of both a scuba regulator system and high pressure cylinder for breathing purposes requires certification.

I'm a bit curious about this...mainly, who requires this? Is there a federal/state (gov.) governing body that enforces this? I don't believe so. Kinda like up here in ND there is a rule that states you have to be certified scuba to spearfish... but it doesn't identify which agency you have to be certified by or what the certification has to entail.. seems to me that I could certify anyone, Freddy's WeDrownEmGood Scuba Certification, and who's to say that's not good enough? It (ND law) also doesn't say you have to be scuba diving to spearfish, just that you have to be certified.
Raise your right hand, repeat after me...I hereby certify you .
What stops a person from buying a compressor, equipment, and goin' for it? I don't think anything does.
Don't get me wrong.. getting certified from an accredited (by whom?) agency is a good thing. Say, by any one of the more popular certifying agencies that are recognized around the country (countries) at the diveshops.
Fred
edited that last sentence, it sounded kinda harsh