Common Practice??

[jbd]

From my experience, I would say it is a lot more common than many people realize. I'm aware of a couple of dozen people who dive with no training or certification. I have no doubt that there are many, many more that I'm not aware of.

 

[CoralSeaMan]

I took a Dive class in 1973 in college. For about 10 years I did occasional dives but never got certified. The sport, world and I had changed so much that when I returned to the sport in 2001 there was no way I could have dived without a certification. In my experiences since then, I think it hard for a non-diver to get started without a certification in my part of the country. On the warm water coast, however, I suspect it is not uncommon.

 

[Tigerman]

The fellow whose name is on my OW card dove for three years before he got certified. I can see how you could do it -- I've never been asked for my C-card to get a fill, just to get on a boat.

Hmm.. Ive never been aksed for a card to do a fill. That said, out of the 5 places ive had my tanks filled, 2 of them knew me since one was at the scuba club where i got certified and the DM that was assisting on our ow class was the one that opened the door on the 2nd.
The last 3 however didnt say a thing about c-cards when I came to fill my tanks. 2 of them didnt look much at my tank but just asked me "when was the tank last tested".. Since the tank isnt 2 years old, the first tests arent due yet either tho (Every year, but first after 2 years here).
They ARE supposed to check cards and tanks before they fill and deny a fill If I cant show it to them, but I could very well dive without a c-card here if I had been able to get the gear.
I do have a couple of aqaintances(spelling?) that has been diving every now and then without being certified, but one of them got his card this spring I think..

So no, not impossible, not uncommon, but not common either..

 

[High Plains Diver]

My first lesson for diving was given by my friend who had no C-Card. He had dived a few times with a group of people that also lacked formal training. We had only one set of equipment and he simply told me what to do, and sent me on my way. I had a great time! That was many years ago, I am not saying that is a smart thing to do, but I know a lot of people who did the same without an accident. P.S. I did get my C-Card
so I could do it the correct way.

 

[ArcticDiver]

Your comments have made me change my mind. I no longer think that not possessing a C card is necessarily a safety issue.

Actually, now that I think of it, when I dove with one operator on Oahu this past January no one asked me for my C card either. The other one, with which I did most of my diving, did.

 

[daniel f aleman]

Dive operations ask for c-cards for liability reasons.

 

[vladimir]

Your comments have made me change my mind.

Definitely a first here on Scubaboard.:11:

 

[Seuss]

Not being certified = Unknown level of experience, ability or skill.

I agree with you on this. (Unknown does not mean unqualified or inexperienced!)

Certified = A known (and perhaps even acceptable) level of experince, ability and skill.

I've worked enough with tourists to know that this isn't correct. I have learned the hard way to never assume that a cert card indicates a level of experience. Watching people put their equipment together is a much better indication of experience.

The big (only?) reason for the card is to limit the liability of the people providing services to the diver.

 

[emcbride81]

It amazes me how many people have never been carded for dives or even tank rentals...I don't have a bunch of experience, but I have been carded every place I have been! Except the place I got my cert.

 

[reeldive]

Every dive shop in the Panama city area that I've delt with has asked for a c card and checked tanks for in date Hydro/VIP. also date of Mfg on AL's

That would include Diver's Den, Dixie divers, Dive Locker, and Vortex Springs