Ops requiring AOW certs?

[scubadada]

Your attached image is not redacted..

Just edited

 

[maj2]

I keep scans (photos) of all my cards on my phone.I may or may not have paper copies with me at any given time. My paper copies are just from my printer and "laminated" with clear packing tape. Has anyone had trouble showing e-cards or copies?

I also keep images of my cards on my phone. Never had a problem showing them vs the originals.
I have never bothered with printed and laminate-taped copies, as I have never had reason to bother. The scanned images on my phone were always fine.
I have also never bothered with PADI's "e-card" concept. I looked at it, but the cost per card was ridiculous given that I have never had any problem with scanned images.

 

[dberry]

I never requested an e-card from PADI (so I scanned the plastic cards), but my nitrox (NASE) and SDI/TDI cards were only available as e-cards.

 

[TMHeimer]

When you take a course PADI still does send you the plastic card, no?

 

[Marie13]

I never requested an e-card from PADI (so I scanned the plastic cards), but my nitrox (NASE) and SDI/TDI cards were only available as e-cards.

You never got cards for SDI/TDI? I've been getting plastic cards for my SDI classes, but my shop prints them.

 

[dberry]

I didn't take my SDI/TDI classes through a shop, just a free-lance instructor. And when it was over I was given my user # and access to the website and the credentials online. I never asked about getting a plastic card <shrug>.

@TMHeimer yes, I was mailed plastic OW and AOW cards a few weeks after the instructor submitted the forms showing I completed the courses. I scanned them so I'd have all my cards on my phone if someone asked. My NASE nitrox cert didn't seem to have an option for a plastic card, which didn't bother me.

 

[Storker]

When you take a course PADI still does send you the plastic card, no?

They did as of last February.

 

[Diving Dubai]

To be fair, not every shop is going to be aware of every certification. Without being on SB, had someone shown me an LA County Cert, I'd have probably thought it came out of a cereal packet (No disrespect intended)

I've known BSAC divers who have had their Advanced Diver cards dismissed as just an AoW (It's a higher level cert than a DM) - If you don't have a mainstream card, you need to have some documentation to back it up, as it's easier to say No than spend time and effort researching.

If someone went to the US with a CMAS card or BSAC card, would they understand the cert level? Probably not.

Frankly no certification card guarantees the competency of the diver - but what else do we have other than check dives?

 

[boulderjohn]

To be fair, not every shop is going to be aware of every certification. Without being on SB, had someone shown me an LA County Cert, I'd have probably thought it came out of a cereal packet (No disrespect intended)

And what makes a scuba diving agency legitimate?

Let's take a long term scam organization, Scuba Divers of America. The owner created the agency when he was kicked out of NAUI for some reason. They issue their own certifications, which you can only get, I believe, at their home location in Arizona. (The last time I checked, the agency home address was a vacant lot.) They used to get most of their money, though, by selling academic materials online, telling you that you could take them to any scuba agency and submit it as a substitute for their academic training and then finish your certification through that agency. PADI still has a disclaimer on their website saying that is not true. When I made the link for this post, I saw their web site for the first time in years, and I see that they have greatly expanded their offerings.

So what makes it a scam? What makes the certifications he offers any less valid than any other? I am asking seriously--I don't know the answer.

 

[northernone]

My card just says, "A Diving God".

And what makes a scuba diving agency legitimate?

Let's take a long term scam organization, Scuba Divers of America. The owner created the agency when he was kicked out of NAUI for some reason. They issue their own certifications, which you can only get, I believe, at their home location in Arizona. (The last time I checked, the agency home address was a vacant lot.) They used to get most of their money, though, by selling academic materials online, telling you that you could take them to any scuba agency and submit it as a substitute for their academic training and then finish your certification through that agency. PADI still has a disclaimer on their website saying that is not true. When I made the link for this post, I saw their web site for the first time in years, and I see that they have greatly expanded their offerings.

So what makes it a scam? What makes the certifications he offers any less valid than any other? I am asking seriously--I don't know the answer.

Here's one way: ISO 24801-2:2014 - Recreational diving services -- Requirements for the training of recreational scuba divers -- Part 2: Level 2 -- Autonomous diver