Technical Dive Guide Certification in 2025 can we ask for Proof ?

[halocline]

As I see it, there are two types of certification relevant to this situation. One, the guide must have whatever certification is needed to satisfy the local guide requirement. Two, the guide must be certified to actually do the dive in question; not as an instructor for that type of dive, but simply as a diver.

I’m planning on doing some technical diving in Cozumel fairly soon, and I know we need a local, certified and registered DM who is also a certified tech diver, trained and qualified to do the dives. Beyond that, I don’t think there’s any additional certification needed.

Now, if you show up at a site to do something like this and find that the guide can’t ‘legally’ do the dive, I certainly think it’s fair to expect a refund. I suspect that if the dive op did refuse to show the client the certification, it was probably because the guide did not have it. If I read things correctly, in this case the guide allegedly demonstrated a lack of knowledge prior to the dive; and that’s why the whole issue came up. IF that is an accurate representation of what happened, then sure I’d be pretty annoyed! But we never truly know what really happened on threads like this.

 

[BoltSnap]

If local regulations say a "guide," that doesn't mean a "CERTIFIED" guide by an international agency. Just a "GUIDE," nothing else.

I don't know why you are so hung up on this matter, especially since you claim to be a competent diver. The guide being certified or not shouldn't be an issue for you. Just go diving and use your "expert" background to do the dives and not expect much from the "guide."

BTW, DAN has nothing to do with this matter at all.

 

[Mobulai]

And if this dive is beyond that „guide“s capability… I have to worry about bailing them out/something going wrong and putting the rest of the team at risk?

Even if I say „ok you do you and at your own risk“ it would sour the dive if an incident occurs

Unless I get a really good discount (basically pay at cost), I don’t see that being a good idea for me as a customer

An unfair double standard for divers/customers having to be certified but not the guide

 

[halocline]

If local regulations say a "guide," that doesn't mean a "CERTIFIED" guide by an international agency. Just a "GUIDE," nothing else.

Presumably there must be some qualifications or registration for satisfying the local guide regulations, otherwise anyone could simply say ‘I’m a guide’ and jump right in. At least there are in any marine park I’ve ever visited that has a local guide requirement.

And it’s self evident that if one is going to do a technical dive with another diver, you want that diver to be trained and qualified, with the appropriate certification level, to do that dive.

 

[kensuf]

If local regulations say a "guide," that doesn't mean a "CERTIFIED" guide by an international agency. Just a "GUIDE," nothing else.

I don't know why you are so hung up on this matter, especially since you claim to be a competent diver. The guide being certified or not shouldn't be an issue for you. Just go diving and use your "expert" background to do the dives and not expect much from the "guide."

BTW, DAN has nothing to do with this matter at all.

Counterpoint. What becomes his responsibility to assist his guide if the guide is well beyond their personal limits?

 

[BoltSnap]

Presumably there must be some qualifications or registration for satisfying the local guide regulations, otherwise anyone could simply say ‘I’m a guide’ and jump right in. At least there are in any marine park I’ve ever visited that has a local guide requirement.

And it’s self evident that if one is going to do a technical dive with another diver, you want that diver to be trained and qualified, with the appropriate certification level, to do that dive.

If the guide is provided by the local dive center, they know their people. Same for boat/drivers, do you think that boat drivers in third world countries are actually certified "captains" like they have to be in the US?

 

[Mobulai]

If the guide is provided by the local dive center, they know their people.

For me personally that might work if the guide is trained (not certified) to perform the dive (and just about to get his cert or something); and only with pre established trust with that dive center already (places I’m sort of a regular at)

Otherwise it’s adding a weak link to a risky dive

All of this is before accounting for legal/insurance liability and so on

 

[BoltSnap]

For me personally that might work if the guide is trained (not certified) to perform the dive (and just about to get his cert or something); and only with pre established trust with that dive center already (places I’m sort of a regular at)

Otherwise it’s adding a weak link to a risky dive

All of this is before accounting for legal/insurance liability and so on

I agree with you on this one.

 

[Mobulai]

I agree with you on this one.

I know you would because I also get the conditions you’re talking about — but I don’t think this applies to the OPs case
They just increased suspicion by not being clear about the guides state

 

[jadairiii]

Nothing should surprise you when discussing the "dive industry". Majority of dive professionals aren't qualified to be basic open water divers.