expired courses? what cert method?

[dreamy]

Can PADI certification courses have a time limit in which to complete the open water dives? I did a course about 9-10 years ago, but they only gave me about 2-3 months to complete the 2 real dives and I didn't, so I never got the actual certification. Which does not seem right. (Fairly sure it was the Open Water cert and not the lower levels, I am guessing back then it only needed 2 dives? Maybe it was 2 pairs but I think it was just 1 pair needed.) The course I did was through my school, and I believe it consisted of 15-25 hours in the pool, plus many other hours.

I am currently on vacation and wanting to go diving (open water, with guide is fine, and I'd be happy enough with staying pretty shallow), and wondering what my options are. I have other plans for this vacation, so I really can't spend the 2 days to go through the PADI open water certification again. (Plus the $ and effort. I don't plan to dive often, only every 2-6 years.) Should I try to do another cert instead, try to do it as a first time 'Discovery' dive, try to do the cert but just try to demonstrate proficiency quickly enough to pass it very fast, or what? I feel like I don't want to get one of the lower level PADI certs. I am hoping that I can get some ideas here. Thank you in advance.

One other key point is that I have not done any diving since then, so I really don't remember much offhand. If put into the position of diving, I believe I could do it on the other hand. I figured I could just take the online PADI refresher/review.

And BTW I have done open water dives (guided) before. Before I took the PADI course. In Mexico and on a subtropical island.

 

[Walter]

After this long, you'd need to take the class over to get certified. Heck, after a two day class, you'd need to take the class over to be safe. If you can't dedicate the time necessary to learn how to actually dive, stay with the resort courses.

 

[MarcG]

So basically you would like to get certified but don't want to put the time, money, or effort into getting certified. :11doh:

 

[alcina]

You might also consider snorkelling instead. That way others in your group could join you and you'd have more time together. Even if they don't snorkel they can sit on the beach and watch...you'd be surprised how many non-water people love to do that! Snorkelling will also take less set up and break down time so you can go do other things on the same day.

 

[Paco]

Yup. Sounds like the resort course each time you go on vacation or snorkel.

 

[oly5050user]

Can PADI certification courses have a time limit in which to complete the open water dives? I did a course about 9-10 years ago, but they only gave me about 2-3 months to complete the 2 real dives and I didn't, so I never got the actual certification. Which does not seem right. (Fairly sure it was the Open Water cert and not the lower levels, I am guessing back then it only needed 2 dives? Maybe it was 2 pairs but I think it was just 1 pair needed.) The course I did was through my school, and I believe it consisted of 15-25 hours in the pool, plus many other hours.

I am currently on vacation and wanting to go diving (open water, with guide is fine, and I'd be happy enough with staying pretty shallow), and wondering what my options are. I have other plans for this vacation, so I really can't spend the 2 days to go through the PADI open water certification again. (Plus the $ and effort. I don't plan to dive often, only every 2-6 years.) Should I try to do another cert instead, try to do it as a first time 'Discovery' dive, try to do the cert but just try to demonstrate proficiency quickly enough to pass it very fast, or what? I feel like I don't want to get one of the lower level PADI certs. I am hoping that I can get some ideas here. Thank you in advance.

One other key point is that I have not done any diving since then, so I really don't remember much offhand. If put into the position of diving, I believe I could do it on the other hand. I figured I could just take the online PADI refresher/review.

And BTW I have done open water dives (guided) before. Before I took the PADI course. In Mexico and on a subtropical island.

9 years ago and now you want to get certified? You had 1 year to do your ow training dives, per standards,after that you start all over again.This is not unreasonable..How can you take a refresher/review if you never had been certified to begin with..Also if you had completed the ow dives and not dove for 9 years I would suggest to not only do academics review but complete some pool time AND do the 4 ow training dives again.This is all to make you safe for yourself and the people who are in the water with you.. If you truly want to dive put the time-effort and money to dive..If you want to have someone hold your hand every time you go and be very limited on where and what you can do take a discover scuba like the rest of the tourists or go snorkel ..

 

[pasley]

You might consider reading the Accidents and Incidents forum. After reading the "what can happen" you might feel better about investing the time and money to learn to SCUBA.

 

[Kim]

I recently had occasion to dive with someone who is a DM, but hadn't dived for about 9 years. He was VERY pleased to buddy me and freely admitted that he'd forgotten a lot and was very out of practice. Left to his own devices it was clear that on his own he'd have probably made several errors - principally with his ascent speed and safety stop. Our guide swam straight up to the boat from 25 meters deep, very fast and without stopping. Needless to say I refused to let my buddy follow him and insisted on a much slower ascent and a full safety stop. We got out of the water about 5 minutes after the guide, who had left the wreck we were diving after us. (the guide was a Japanese 'old school' instructor - how or what these guys learned ever is a complete mystery to me).
The point is - scuba diving is NOT like riding a bicycle. There are many things that do get forgotten over the passage of time - and that's if you learned them to start with. If you try to cut corners or go cheap the people you put most at risk are yourself, your buddy, and the poor so and so that might have to drag your lifeless body out of the water or worse, have you drown him when he tries to rescue you after you've completely lost it UW and have no clue how to help yourself survive.
Do you really want to be that kind of person?

If you want to dive, get training, get practice, get real. Otherwise.....please don't.

 

[Kevfin]

Based on what you have typed I would suggest either a resort guided scuba tour or snorkeling. This would be the safest approach.

I wish there was a simpler way for you, as that is what you seem to be looking for. But, without putting the time, money, or effort into certification you'd be risking your life. It's just not worth it.