C-Card roulette

[hroark2112]

I show my rebreather instructor card and my AN/DP cards. Last year on a liveaboard they watched me and my group for about 30 seconds on the first dive and then left us alone. Anything I needed was just a quick request away but the crew was fine letting us do what we wanted so long as we were safe.

 

[Marie13]

An ice diver card works well also.

In the tropics? I'd love to see the reaction to that one!

 

[Jack Hammer]

I typically try to show the lowest level card that will allow me to dive, less BS that way.

 

[charlier]

I typically try to show the lowest level card that will allow me to dive, less BS that way.

If you ever visit Indonesia or Thailand and you showed us an OW card, we would probably group you in a team of inexperienced divers.

 

[Sam Miller III]

@Edward3c.. Not certain what a thousand pound sterling translates to the currency used in the former colonies, but it seems like a lot of dollars
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A family story told and retold when my diving family gathers

Some years ago my son needed a relaxing vacation and chose Hawaii. His plan was to relax around the pool with the family and do nothing except one day he wanted to devote to diving. I suggested based on what I had read on this board to take all his certifications and honors...just in case some fuzzy faced DM demanded some special certification or "training."

He arrived at the boat was met by a wet behind his ears DM who was checking certifications. Sam IV showed him a NAUI (Life) Instructor certification which confused the DM - didn't understand the "Life certification" so he next displayed his rather low number PADI Instructor card, which he was informed was long out of date. Next comes the SSI Pro 5000 Which totally confused the DM, so he asked the Captain about a Pro 5000, The Captain jumps up, runs over introduced himself and says cone on up to the wheel house and lets chat --which the did all the way to the dive site.

Sam IV asked the captain if it was agreeable and acceptable just grab a tank. jump over the side and just relax underwater-- No problem was the reply.

On the return there was a vacation type diver who suddenly was experiencing all sorts of imagined dive maladies. The fuzzy faced DM "training " immediately kicked in- he began asking the most bizarre questions , so Sam IV came out of the wheel house and causally took over the questioning of dive history and began a preliminary examination, much to the consternation of the DM, who asked "I suppose you are also a diving doctor?" Sam IV casually replied "Matter of fact I am." To which the DM replied with much sarcasm "Well were did you GET your training ? As if you sent in 3 box tops and received post doctorate specialties. Sam replied "4 years ER residency and 2 years Scripps Hyperbaric fellowship.

The diving victim had swallowed copious amounts of Air ( IE and air hog) and had a stomach pain which had dissipated by the time the boat docked.

Post Scrip
The captain had never and a passenger who was as knowledgeable and experienced as Sam IV and invited him to jump on board any time he was in the islands.
He has 4 or more times and the Captain and Sam IV have become life time friends

And so it wuzzz ... the dazz of our dives

Sam Miller,111

 

[MargaritaMike]

If you ever visit Indonesia or Thailand and you showed us an OW card, we would probably group you in a team of inexperienced divers.

How about AOW or Nitrox Cert?

 

[charlier]

How about AOW or Nitrox Cert?

M2, you get Nitrox fills and paired with more experienced divers. For rec divers, a Rescue Cert is best. In strong currents, even with a DM cert, I would keep an eye on you.

 

[Diving Dubai]

If I visited @charlier, and showed him my top card, I would expect nothing more than professional courtesy. After all he knows nothing about my dive history - even though I dive big currents at my local sites.

Many people try to "talk the talk" but cannot "walk the walk" - while I wouldn't' be expected to be placed in the least experienced group I would expect him to check me out and have no problem with it, because it's his area and his rules and his responsibility>

Equally I'd never rely on a strange DM or instructor to assist. At the end of the day a cert card just shows you've met the minimum requirements of any particular cert. It doesn't show if you've kept your skills up to date or your other experience post cert.

I've had DM's kindly offer me their assistance - but I've politely declined until I've seen their actual ability's and made a pro check. I also respect people pay money to pleasure dive and get away from being the responsible person as I do.

 

[charlier]

@Diving Dubai - excellent post and fully agree. Professional courtesy and a gracious response works for me.

 

[jadairiii]

...Equally I'd never rely on a strange DM or instructor to assist. ....

Exactly. But....I went to Jamaica back in 1993 and showed the Resort (well known, large resort, Caribbean and still in business today) instructor on site my AI card to dive the next day. He takes me out of the shop and to the back and asks me if I could certify him (give him a card) explaining that he is awesome in the water but was never certified to dive or teach! This guy was teaching resort courses every day and DM'ing every dive. I gently explained that as an AI, I could not. Did one dive with them, was horrified, repacked my gear and snorkeled off the beach the rest of the trip.

On a different note, my dive buddy showed a shop is full mix card and they shop refused to fill his tanks with nitrox, since he did not have a nitrox card.....