Jr. PADI Scuba Diver Conversion to Jr. Open Water

[RockRover]

Hey Guys,

I have a question that the PADI site, and my local LDS isn't too clear on. My daughter was certified two years ago, at age 10, as a Jr. Scuba Diver. Interestingly, she took the 50 question exam (and did better than me!), and had 4 OW dives. I didn't know much about the whole certification process at the time, and thinking that I would always dive with a DM or instructor, didn't thing much of it.

Now, after two years, my daughter and I are hooked! She has shown remarkable progress and we're doing two big trips a year, plus some local diving, and are starting to see the limitations of her cert. She wants to do a rescue cert, and AOW, but we're sort of stuck in this Jr. Scuba 'middle ground'.

My question to you all is will she have to take the full OW course to get her Jr. OW cert? Or is there a recognized 'truncated' course such that she takes the test (again) and "finishes" her two remaining check-out dives? (she currently has 40 logged dives).

Maybe I'm just being cheap, but I hate having to pay twice for the same dang thing.

Thanks!

-D

 

[Crowley]

The Scuba Diver certification (which by the way only includes two open water training dives and does not include the exam) does not require that the diver resits the full OW course to upgrade.

Of the full OW course, SD comprises 3 knowledge development sessions including associated knowledge reviews and quizzes, 3 confined water / pool dives and two open water training dives. To upgrade, the diver has to complete the remaining two chapters in the book, take quiz 4 and the final exam, the two remaining confined water sessions, and the final two Open Water training dives. The 200m swim test will be required if not already completed.

Your original dive centre should have a copy of the paperwork for your daughter - ask them to forward it to you, although if your daughter has already completed some sections above and beyond the requirements of Scuba Diver, she will need to repeat them again if it's more than 1 year since those skills were completed. The Scuba Diver certification lasts forever, but completed course segments that were not included in the certification are valid only for 12 months, as per the referral process.

So no - you don't have to pay twice for the same thing! Should be a walk in the park for her after 40 logged dives!

Hope that helps,

C.

 

[RockRover]

Thanks Crowley. Yea, it's been 24 months since her cert, so we're outa' luck on the extra stuff (including the exam, which she "only" missed one on...Which she argued with the instructor over, and he agreed! Remember this kid was 10 at the time! ).

Would PADI have a copy and/or record of the exam? I remember her instructor making a big deal over erasing a couple of corrections on the 'scantron' test sheet. It wouldn't hurt having her take it again though.

I wish I would have known then about the 12 month limit on the skills as a referal. O'well. Like you say, it'll be a cake walk for her now. Can she combine anything with the course? My LDS will have to figure out a price...Interestingly they've never been confronted with this one.

I'm always amazed at her trim and buoyancy control...but most importantly, her clear head under pressure. On her first OW dive she sculled her reg out of her mouth. Cooley performed a textbook reach/sweep with her arm, found the reg, cleared, and off we went like nothing happened. Love that kid!

Thanks again.

--D

 

[knotical]

Would PADI have a copy and/or record of the exam?

Not likely that PADI, the central training agency, would; but her instructor or the dive shop who did her training should. However, AFAIK she would need to complete a final exam again. There are two versions of the exam, so to make it more interesting for her, ask to have her given the B exam. (or the A exam if her first one was B)

Can she combine anything with the course?

PADI allows combining part of a single selected specialty with the Open Water course.
Commonly this means integrating the skills/knowledge up through dive 1 of the specialty (although each specialty has its particular rules). The remainder of the specialty could then be accomplished following completion of the Open Water course. Choices allowed are:
Peak Performance Buoyancy
Project AWARE
AWARE – Coral Reef Conservation
Enriched Air <but the minimum age is 15>
Digital Underwater Photographer Level One
National Geographic Diver
Altitude Diver
Boat Diver
Dry Suit Diver

By the way, to add a bit to what Crowley said, your daughter would also need to re-do confined water dives 4 and 5.

 

[Crowley]

By the way, to add a bit to what Crowley said, your daughter would also need to re-do confined water dives 4 and 5.

Thanks for pointing that out - I got sidetracked somewhere - corrected by editing...!

PADI won't have training records for individual divers. They record only certifications when submitted by an instructor - the mountain of paperwork would be enormous otherwise, and it's big enough already!The responsibility for retention of individual training records is delegated to the instructor, or the dive centre for which they work. They must retain these for seven years...

Anyhoo, it's kinda academic, as all portions subsequent to the SD certification will have to be completed or repeated.

Cheers and let us know how the upgrade goes!

Cheers

C.

 

[RockRover]

Thanks guy's! Guess we'll get busy then. I'll keep ya' posted.