Certification Problem

[Hillmorton Scubie]

Hi
As a new diver I have a problem with achieving my OW certification.
A month ago I completed my open water paperwork and pool dives ( 3 day intensive course) with a local dive shop with a view to finishing off with a certification from a vacation dive shop in Mexico. I have just returned from Mexico where I completed the 4 required referal dives plus 4 additional dives.
When finished the Mex dive shop asked for my gold coloured PADI hologram to stick on my PIC. I had not been told about this and had never been given one from the local dive shop. The Mex dive shop said they could not forward this on to PADI without this gold hologram and that I was welcome to buy another pack!!!.I did not buy another pack. I did retain the PIC.
I tried to call PADI during vacation to confirm but they were not answering (probably because of christmas and also my local dive shop is also closed.
I would like to know before I go into the local dive shop who is right, and am I going to have to buy this hologram.
Thank you for your assistance

 

[WVDiver]

Never heard of any such hologram. Sounds bogus to me. Keep trying to get a hold of PADI. They will straighten it out. Sounds like someone is trying to get away with something to me.

 

[letterboy]

Sounds goofy, how much is said hologram going to cost you?

 

[DeputyDan]

$50 says this will have an unfavorable outcome.

 

[WVDiver]

$50 says this will have an unfavorable outcome.

If they are a PADI Dive Shop, and I'm assuming he made sure of that prior to the checkout dives, PADI will find out what is going on.

 

[Hillmorton Scubie]

The Mex dive shop was PADI registered, had 2 locations, was large with numerous staff and full of expensive dive gear for sale. It also had two 31 ft dive boats with the shop name on them (I went diving from them). I was showed a Gold coloured Hologram (with PADI emblem on it) and was told that it was a new thing introduced by PADI to stop people sharing manuals !!! It is supposed to be submitted with the PIC. Im certainly scratching my head on this.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

I've heard of those and it is something PADI is introducing but I don't think it's here in the US yet. Take your proof of your dives to your shop and they should be able to get you set up with your card.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[Walter]

Holograms are not currently used in the US, but are required in some other countries. I've heard when you buy your materials in the US and do your checkout dives in another country, your receipt will serve in place of the hologram. Of course, if you weren't aware of the policy, you wouldn't take your receipt on vacation with you. Your Instructor should be able to get this worked out for you.

 

[rakkis]

PADI now requires dive resorts in the Caribbean to use a special Crew Packs (book/table/etc) that includes a hologram sticker. They are only available through stores in that area. You won't be able to get them through a shop state side.

The reason for doing this is to encourage students to have their own study material to refer to before/during after the course rather than just have access to it for the 3-5 days their Caribbean class lasts. Submitting the hologram is proof that you have your own.

If you were referred, go to your original shop and have them sort it out for you. They will call PADI and straighten things out.

I see a lot of this happening in the future. There are a couple of big problems working against PADI's current plan.

1. Customs delays getting large enough quantities of books to resort destinations.
2. A lot of students already having a crewpack before coming

My guess? PADI has two real choices:

1. Universalize the holograms and have to change gears in two years when they realize forgeries are being rampantly used.

2. Change the referral system. Essentially move training records online and have a field for whichever shop supplied the book to fill out. OR (more likely) add a form identifying the source of the book to the referral paperwork.

 

[akscubainst]

There is an issue here but if the certifying shop does Online PIC's then the hollogram should be not applicable. Do Carribean shops not have access to online PIC's?

I'm yet to have a student come back with this problem. I wonder if the shop in Mexico is confused about the process. A PADI to PADI referral will never have the hologram since they will have bought the books at home.

Dave