C-Card Recognition: Myth or Fact?

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Was asked for my AOW card when diving with Buzos De Mexico in Isla Mujeres. Very good operation in my opinion. I know that in litigious countries like the US, dive ops just want to avoid possible lawsuits due to a customer's incompetence. That said, just as others have previously stated: no certification guarantees that knowledge was learned/remembered, but I guess something is better than nothing. As far as non-litigious countries, I'm guessing some dive ops want some assurance that customers won't be a liability in terms of screwing up the dive for other competent divers.

 

[BRT]

I've seen a few threads on topics similar to that in the past year. My understanding is there's no official list, no "licensing" board that allows certification agencies to issue cards. An agencies' credibility exists strictly in the mind of the person deciding to take a particular card or not. Some shops (based on those other posts I mentioned) do have a list for their fill guys to use. Nothing exists to stop me from going and printing some "Kelemvor's C-Cards" that say I'm certified for everything from open water to diving in hot lava with a snorkel on my mask. I bet there are operators that care little enough that they might actually take it. Some others wouldn't. Big agencies like PADI, NAUI, SSI have an advantage of being popular enough that most people have heard of them and would accept a card with their name on it.

Personally, I'd pay for the lava diver specialty

 

[Chris12day]

The only problem I have had was due to a shop wanting to see my C-Card when my wife was filling my pony tank. I had been traveling for two weeks and learned that I was required to have a redundant air supply for my ice diving during the book portion of the class. I was unable to personally go to the shop in my hometown (not the shop I use for my instruction and normal fills). My pony bottle was within hydro and visual. They did fill my bottle, just asked a lot of questions to my wife.

Safe diving.

 

[tplyons]

I've only been asked once to see my AOW and Nitrox cards. They're PADI.

 

[Pietsweis]

I don't get why people (staff)make things so difficult at the dive shops. Why do they not just do online checks? Just as easy. If I forget my cards and they refuse to let me dive I would be a really miserable customer...

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[Tigerman]

I don't get why people (staff)make things so difficult at the dive shops. Why do they not just do online checks? Just as easy. If I forget my cards and they refuse to let me dive I would be a really miserable customer...

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Just as easy... if youre in a populated area of a 1st world country .. and even then online checks cant always be done due to ISP issues...

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[knotical]

On the one hand, you show them your card and they take a moment to check it.

On the other hand, you didn’t bring your card so they must open their browser, go to the agency website, find the diver-check screen (varies with agency), type in your name and depending on agency sometimes other info like dob. Not quite as easy. And if there are issues like internet problems as Tigerman mentioned, or variations on your name, or a database issue, that adds more time, and possible lack of success – so you might not even be able to dive, or get your air fill, or …
And in the meantime there might be other divers waiting to check in.

 

[Pietsweis]

Yeah fair enough. I am talking about the exception rather than the rule. If you happen to forget your card that option is there. I agree that a card is the easiest way. All I am saying is that it should not keep you from diving if you do forget it or in a situation where you unexpectedly need it.

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[scottishscuba]

I don't get why people (staff)make things so difficult at the dive shops. Why do they not just do online checks? Just as easy. If I forget my cards and they refuse to let me dive I would be a really miserable customer...

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Because they might get sued? I'd rather a dive shop took the time to ensure that their clients were suitably qualified than letting any old Tom Dick or Harry dive.

Back to the original question.. I'm PADI and carry my cards. I have been asked for them at every dive shop I've been to (never in the USA) and copies have generally been made. I have no problem with this. Its my responsibility to prove that I'm qualified.

I do think its a bit unreasonable of some people to get hot under the collar because someone didnt recognise their (possibly very small and specialist) card issuing organisation. Until I started browsing SB I had no idea that there were so many cert agencies, especially in the USA!

 

[Rich Keller]

Have you ever had a dive operator deny you service or a boat trip based upon the brand of your C-card rather than what was written on it?

I had a problem once when I was at Beaches in Turks & Caicos. No one their shop knew what NASDS was as they had been out of business for so long. I talked to the guy in charge who was the only one there who knew about NASDS and was able to go diving. Once I got home I got a new card from SSI who took over for NASDS when they went out of business.