How long does a C Card usually take?

[ScubaMarine]

I sent my pic envelope in last week and was wondering if anyone has an idea of how long the card takes to come? My temporary expired yesterday but I would like to dive this weekend. Do you think they will let me dive with just my logbook? Ive been diving regularly since I finished and i have all my own equipment. Any ideas?

 

[H2Andy]

depends on the agency... but it shouldn't take longer than four to six weeks

i've had problems with some of mine (Rescue and DIR-F were notable); they took
three months or so to get

can you get another temporary one from your instructor?

i would call the dive op and ask if they will let you dive with just the logbook,
if you want to be sure. show them the expired temp card too, and that should
(should) do it.

 

[markfm]

Fortunately, the temp card isn't made of flash paper -- that plus a log book should be hassle free (maybe a license, so they can look at photo with name, then C card with name)

 

[Fly N Dive]

most of my c cards have taken about 2 months
id say ask the dive shop that certified you to give you a new temp

 

[David P]

My Naui card was handed to me on the boat at the end of the day. My Los Angeles County card took months

 

[Parrothead_Diver]

My PADI C-Cards took about two weeks each. But then again I do live about 20 miles from PADI headquarters, so YMMV.

 

[JS1scuba]

I sent my pic envelope in last week and was wondering if anyone has an idea of how long the card takes to come? My temporary expired yesterday but I would like to dive this weekend. Do you think they will let me dive with just my logbook? Ive been diving regularly since I finished and i have all my own equipment. Any ideas?

At Scuba Diving International (SDI) cards are processed and shipped within 24 hours of receipt of the certification form. At PADI and some of the others its about the same.

Why your temp expired yesterday but you sent your PIC in last week makes no sense. The temp is given at completion of the OW divs and final exam assuming you pass it and the instructor/shop sends the form in at the same time. You never should have sent the PIC in yourself.

Since its a PIC I will assume its PADI. You can always call them at 1-800-SAY-PADI and ask where it is.

Cheers

 

[slipslop]

mine took 10 weeks to come from padi in the UK, i got it the day before i left to go on a dive trip to Cairns.

 

[Iruka]

I'd recommend keeping the name/phone number/email of your "certifying" dive shop handy. I've occasionally had to contact a shop to verify certification, when they've forgotten or lost their card. A week or 2 ago, someone showed up at my door wanting to rent gear, and while I tried to look up his info online (he said he was PADI certified, so I should have been able to find the information), I asked him what I thought was the simplest diving knowledge question I could come up with......"what is a safety stop?" And he said "oh, it's been a long time, I'd have to look it up...isn't it where the police check if you've been drinking?" So I thought perhaps he never actually HAD taken a course. A (legal) way around that is to have them sign up as a "discover scuba diving" participant.....the people who just want to try out diving, and don't intend (at the moment, at least) to take the OW course. Unfortunately, he didn't want a guide, he just wanted to rent gear, but without any way to verify his certification, I couldn't do that.

 

[horsemen]

......"what is a safety stop?" And he said "oh, it's been a long time, I'd have to look it up...isn't it where the police check if you've been drinking?"

lol i haven't even been to class yet and i knew what that was i knew that before i even thought about learning scuba