When should a shop request your C-Card?

[Mark Derail]

I get carded by the boat captains before the boat leaves.

 

[Dirty-Dog]

Personally, I don't see why the dive shop should care about your certification. You're buying a tank. And some compressed air. What you do with it is your business, and your responsibility. If you're stupid enough to strap it on and jump in the water without knowing what you're doing, then you will, at least, have the chance to be nominated for a Darwin Award.

It's reasonable for the people you dive with to want to know your level of training, although even then it's important to remember that a card does not equal expertise.

The idea that the dive shop is somehow responsible for the individuals stupidity is one of the reasons I think the American judicial system needs a major overhaul.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

There is no law that says you have to be certified to dive. I have never been asked to show my C-card once in three decades.

 

[koozemani]

My Lds of choice has a copy of my card on file, but I can guarantee that not everyone who works there knows who I am. I can see the argument for fills due to possible liability, but I think we live in to much of a nanny state as it is. People need to be held responsible for their actions.

If you go on a trip organized by a Lds, charter, or liveaboard, by all means you should show your card because your presence can affect the safety of the other divers on that trip. Apart from that, you either do know better, should know better, or you're soon to be irrevelent to the gene pool.

 

[MarineResearch]

When a significant amount of liability is transferred to the dive operation, like when I get on their boat or access a cave on their property. Requiring C cards for any equipment purchase would not be very helpful to the dive industry. If someone wants to kill themselves by diving without proper training, well, it's their life, despite what the 'tards in DC (or enter your state capital) might think.

 

[billmas]

Thankfully, I don't get asked to show my driving licence when I stop to put petrol (gasoline!) in my car. I don't see much difference with diving. As MarineResearch says above, if an operator is assuming any liability - usually in a professional capacity as a dive boat, instructor etc, then yes I would expect them to want to see my card.

Hth
Bill

 

[String]

Poll needs an option for "never". I fail to see why a card should be produced at all to buy merchandise!

 

[rhwestfall]

see post 16 above....

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

First off, let's clarify something ... the only law that applies in scuba diving is that your cylinder needs to be hydro'd every five years. That one's regulated by the Department of Transportation (assuming USA, which is the context of the OP).

We are a self-regulated industry ... there are no scuba police. Shop policies vary wildly ... but there is no requirement to show a c-card for any purchase, or even an air fill.

So when you made your purchase, the dive shop saw the only card they needed to see, which most likely said VISA or MasterCard on it.

... and if you truly paid $260 for an AL80 and a fill card, they probably didn't want to press their good fortune ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[miketsp]

Since it's not a legal obligation** why should a card ever be required?

** In most of the civilized world that is.....