Age off by a week -- refund for the class?

[ktomlinson]

Why did you cancel the second week of dives? It's not like the shop would have known.

 

[frostfire]

Because I really do try to stay within the rules, dispite what some might think. The kid's cert wasnt valid so I cancelled her dives. We just went out to the famous kona manta dive and she and her dad snorkled it. There were 36+ mantas there and it was drop dead.

---------- Post Merged at 06:45 AM ---------- Previous Post was at 06:43 AM ----------

Scott, each time she was taken to 30ish feet.

 

[mdax]

If you were asked about your childs age and said 10 and she was really 9 and you knew the min age was 10 why are you on here complaining at all? Sounds like you have the ethical problem, NOT the DI, Padi, Resort or anyone else. I think the fact your child is "hysterical" and your husband is "about to go ballistic" speaks volumes.

 

[frostfire]

It sounds to me like the DC/Instr asked "How old is your daughter?" and the OP replied "She's 10".

Which is false.

When asked to submit your age on other official documents do you round up or down or put down your correct age? At the very least, there should have been some communication to the effect that the student in question was 9 but would be 10 next week. If that was the case, and the Instr agreed to the training, but then refused to certify, then that is very bad. But the OP continues to say that the girl was 10 ... (in a little bit), which is why I doubt this happened.

I honestly think that passing this off to the DC/Instr because they didn't calculate the maths when they submitted the PIC is a bit rich. If PADI were to come down hard on the DC/Instr for a breach in standards, I'd be fairly annoyed at least because the parents did not tell the truth when stating the age of the child. Ultimately the DC/Instr was responsible for verifying the age via the paperwork- that is their failure alone. However I'd still be presenting a defense to PADI if I was the instructor in question. I wouldn't expect much to happen of it, but I would be submitting this as a defense all the same.

You stated in you OP that you set up the vacation to certify your daughter. Again I find it very hard to believe that you didn't know the minimum age requirements seeing as she has already been through Bubblemakers and the Seal Team.

Once again, I listed her birthdate on several places on the paperwork. I did not falsify the dates. There was no math involved.

---------- Post Merged at 06:57 AM ---------- Previous Post was at 06:49 AM ----------

I am not 'complaining' mdax, I am asking for input. I clearly have yours. Thanks. It's always nice to be called unethical.

 

[ktomlinson]

If the kid has a temp card I'd let her continue diving during the second week, it's not like having your license suspended or something that actually means something. She has the knowledge, which is what a cert is. I bet the shop checks the paperwork better next time!

 

[Wookie]

I'm of 2 minds about this. The OP was honest on her paperwork, but less than honest when verbally describing the age of her daughter to the dive shop. If you tell the bouncer at the bar that you are 21 but the bouncer checks your paperwork and finds out that you won't really be 21 for another week, you probably won't be drinking. However, that's the law of the land, which we must all abide or face consequences. The OP told a dive shop an untruth about her daughters age. Who cares? It's a dive shop. PADI is just a certification agency. SCUBA is still just a sport. The kid obviously did well enough to pass a JOW course of instruction, she's diving with her parents, her parents have waived their right to sue in the event of a mishap, let her dive. Last time I checked, PADI standards were not the law of the land.

If you can't get satisfaction from PADI, next time you come to Key Weat, stop by. Bring her blue logbook with all signatures in place showing she has completed all requirements. I'm sure something can be worked out. This is diving, not rocket science. It's not worth the angst.

 

[chrpai]

I'm of 2 minds about this....If you tell the bouncer at the bar that you are 21 but the bouncer checks your paperwork and finds out that you won't really be 21 for another week, you probably won't be drinking.

If the police came in, the bar is going to get it for serving a minor. The way I see it, the LDS can't just washt thier hands and say "oops". One fact is that there was a training standards violation.

 

[supergaijin]

The OP told a dive shop an untruth about her daughters age. Who cares? It's a dive shop. PADI is just a certification agency. SCUBA is still just a sport. The kid obviously did well enough to pass a JOW course of instruction, she's diving with her parents, her parents have waived their right to sue in the event of a mishap, let her dive.

Do you really think these parents wouldn't sue if something happened to their kid?

Frostfire:
Did you know the minimum age for the Jnr OW?
Did you tell the DC/Instr that your child was 9 or 10?

 

[chrpai]

Do you really think these parents wouldn't sue if something happened to their kid?

Same thing entered my mind. It's a nice offer and to be fair he didn't say what that "something" would be but if down the road kid killed herself and the investigators came around asking about her training.... well, it's just not worth it I assume.

BTW, are you supposed to be 10 to start the course or 10 to get certified? I have a 9 year old (she would no doubt correct me and say 9 and a 1/2 ) and I need to start thinking about what my position with SCUBA is for her. I used to be dead set against it but now I'm starting to rethink.

 

[frostfire]

Just to let you all know, apparently this is not unusual as far as Padi is concerned. Their rule is that is the child is within 6 months of their 10th birthday when they took the course, Padi will issue the certification on their tenth birthday. That's what they did in our case.