NonPADI to PADI Referrals
Student divers who completed their initial training with another diver training organization may come to you to complete training. They may realize that a PADI certification card is widely recognized around the world and want their training to end with a PADI certification.
Follow these steps:
1. Review the referral document to verify that the student diver has completed the knowledge and skill development portions of an entry-level scuba course.
• Make sure the training completion date listed on the referral document is not older than 12 months.
• Check to see if the diver has completed a waterskills assessment (at least a 200 metre/yard swim or 300 metre/yard mask, snorkel and fin swim, and a 10 minute tread/float). If you can't verify completion, have the student diver complete the Waterskills Assessment.
• Retain a copy of the referral form.
2. Before any inwater training, have the student diver complete:
• PADI Medical Statement. If the student diver indicates any medical conditions, the diver must obtain a physician’s approval unless the diver provides a current (within 12 months), signed medical release . Note, however, that any new medical conditions will require a new medical release signed by a physician.
• Standard Safe Diving Practices Statement of Understanding
• PADI Release of Liability/Assumption of Risk/Nonagency Acknowledgment Form – General Training or PADI Statement of Risk and Liability/Nonagency Acknowledgment Form – General Training, EU Version. (What if the referred diver is 10-11 years old? – See FAQ)
3. Assess the diver’s knowledge by administering one of the following, and remediate as necessary to verify mastery:
• Open Water Diver Online Quick Review
• ReActivate Quick Review
• Open Water Diver Course final exam
4. Assess the diver's skills by conducting a confined water dive that reviews Open Water Diver course skills in preparation for open water training dives. Remediate as necessary.
5. Ensure that the student diver has a personal PADI Open Water Diver Course Manual manual (book or digital) for use during the course and for reference afterward, unless unavailable in a language understood by the student diver. Ensure that the diver has a log book.
6. Conduct open water training dives with the student diver. Make sure the diver successfully completes all Dive Flexible Skills.
7. If you complete the student diver’s final open water training dive, you certify the diver. You must process the diver’s certification card online or submit a PADI Positive Identification Card (PIC) envelope to your PADI Regional Headquarters for processing.
For more information – refer to your PADI Instructor Manual, Open Water Diver Instructor Guide