Today was just one of those days........ First I got stood up by my students this morning. For anyone who thinks we are on salary, we are not. If you book time with an instructor then don't show up, he will have turned down other work for that time, and is now not going to get paid anything because you are not a person who can be taken at their word. Come on carma!
Next, I had to make the most uncomfortable phone call to a student that I have ever had to make. I received a student last month who was a referral. He had done his pool and classroom portions back in his hometown of Edmonton, Alberta. He brought his PADI referral form filled out by his instructor, and it was all in good order. The instructor had put his PADI number on the form, and filled in all the normal information. We did the required dives and signed him off. I issued him a temporary card and sent him on his way, a happy customer. The problem is, that by chance I heard about an "instructor" in Edmonton who is issuing PADI referrals, even though he is not a PADI instructor. I checked my records, and sure enough it's the same guy. I phoned PADI, and as it turns out, he hasn't been a PADI instructor since 1985!!!! I will never make that mistake again. I will always check to make sure the referring instructor isn't a lying douche bag. A black mark is now on my permanent record for issuing a certification to someone who has not completed the PADI course, and the student will apparently have his certification stripped from him. I felt that I had to call and tell him what has happened before he receives official word from PADI. Neat!
I am currently making arrangements to get his certification completed at no charge to him. Today sucked!!!
