Ops requiring AOW certs?

[scubadada]

...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)...

Exactly. In Southern California, many scuba professionals are aware of the LA County program. LA County still teaches a well known local diving course (Rocks, Rips and Reefs, 3 R's), an outstanding advanced course (Advanced Diver Program, ADP), and certifies instructors (Underwater Instructor Certification Course, UICC). Underwater Unit They gave up basic scuba certification some number of years ago and there in no way to verify previous certification online.

Outside Southern California, Florida for instance, fewer dive professionals have heard of LA County, especially younger individuals. I would imagine many also don't know that the YMCA was an excellent certifying organization from 1959-2008. Most probably don't know that the LA County program was the prototype for the formation of NAUI in 1960, the first national certification program.

I have never shown my LA County card outside of the US. Almost no dive professional would be familiar with the certification unless they had a specific interest in the history of scuba training and certification.

On the other hand, my PADI certs are universally recognized worldwide and can be verified online

 

[AdivingBel]

My card just says, "A Diving God".

Is that equivalent to AOW?

It's the course right after that.

The course must include trip planning 'cause you do that quite well...BTW, are we there yet??

 

[BDSC]

Close Brother! Getting closer every day!

 

[EFX]

My friend and I went to dive the Spiegel using one of the big dive ops on Key Largo. She asked for an AOW or higher cert. I showed my MSD and my friend said he only had OW. She said she would accept a similar deep dive within the past year if it was logged and she could see the log. My friend then explained, somewhat nervously, that he did that deep dive about a year ago. She was hesitant, glanced over at me, and then said it was OK for my friend. Based on her reaction I think she only let him dive because I was his buddy and an MSD. They didn't need the business that day because the boat was full.

 

[dberry]

When I dove the Spiegel Grove with Rainbow Reef I showed my AOW, but my friend did not have it. They did let him dive because we were also accompanied by an instructor. Otherwise they said he couldn't have gone.

 

[BDSC]

So I'm guessing that all of these forms you sign saying that you won't hold the dive op responsible means very little.

 

[boulderjohn]

My friend and I went to dive the Spiegel using one of the big dive ops on Key Largo. She asked for an AOW or higher cert. I showed my MSD and my friend said he only had OW. She said she would accept a similar deep dive within the past year if it was logged and she could see the log. My friend then explained, somewhat nervously, that he did that deep dive about a year ago. She was hesitant, glanced over at me, and then said it was OK for my friend. Based on her reaction I think she only let him dive because I was his buddy and an MSD. They didn't need the business that day because the boat was full.

When it was time for Gabe and Tina Watson to do their checkout dive on their liveaboard trip, Gabe said they didn't need to do one because he had NASDS Rescue Diver certification. The checkout dive was required by operator (Mike Ball) policy, but Gabe convinced them that he had the wherewithal to take care of his wife, a new diver. Tina died on that dive, and Gabe was absolutely incompetent in his efforts to rescue her.

Mike Ball was charged a hefty fine by the courts because they did not follow their own policy for checkout dives.

 

[Marie13]

Some of you might remember my thread a while back about the friend who wanted me to go to the Caribbean with her. She had expectations about depth, swim-throughs, etc., that I was not comfortable with. She was OW/nitrox certified. Had never seen the need for AOW as no one had required it (still doesn't). She dove to 100ft numerous times without needing it. She had not been in the water in a few years and laughed at the idea of a refresher. Vacation only diver. I declined that trip.

Interesting timing with this thread since she told me she was planning a trip somewhere in the Caribbean (she wouldn't specify where) and wanted to do some diving in the 120ft range. Whoever the dive op was, they asked for an AOW card *and* proof of dives in the last year, specifying dives below 100ft were required, before taking her money. Good thing they did, since she couldn't produce either. She was pissed, but still doesn't see the need for AOW or even a refresher.

 

[scubadada]

Many operators accept proof of dives below a certain depth within a certain period of time in lieu of AOW. You should always check with your operator. Having AOW is the easiest way to deal with the requirement. It's only 5 dives and a couple of days to accomplish.

 

[KeithG]

Interesting thread, lots of opinions, but have we established anywhere other than FLA that this practice is common?