MSD cost

[gangrel441]

Does the card list all of your PADI certs on it? How is it any better than (for example) showing Rescue Diver and nitrox cards and claiming you have night diving experience?
So far, I haven't seen any need to bring more than those two cards unless I need to get a trimix fill in a new area. Would MSD let me get by without the nitrox card? If it did, I suppose I could see an advantage in bringing one card instead of two, but I don't know if it would be worth $41 dollars.

It doesn't list ALL of the specialties, but you can get one that lists EAN. At the very least, this shows at a glance that you have Rescue, Nitrox, and at least 50 logged dives. Worth it in my book.

 

[MSilvia]

this shows at a glance that you have Rescue, Nitrox, and at least 50 logged dives.

I guess I can see where that would have it's advantages if I had an aversion to carrying two cards, or didn't already have a single card that showed I had (non-PADI) training and experience that exceeds MSD. Still, since you have the same level of training (and evidence of training) before sending away for the certification as you do afterward, I guess I still don't really get what good it does other than giving you the opportunity to pay to pat yourself on the back, and maybe sign up for a DM class at Phil's LDS.

 

[ATLfins]

I do agree with msilvia on the card issue. I still need to lug around specialty cards. There's really no reason that PADI can't print your specialties on the back of the overall cert card. They send you a cert card for each specialty, so why not just send a revised AOW/Rescue/MSD card instead. Same cost to them, and it would save weight and clutter for us.

For the record I am Rescue but have met the criteria for MSD. I'll probably go ahead and get it. I know how valuable pure diving experience is, but I definitely know more because of the certification classes/dives, so why not. And compared to gear costs, it's a drop in the bucket.

Also, I recently called a dive shop to sign up for a trip off South Carolina for my girlfriend and me. They gave a lukewarm "well, ok" when I said she was AOW, but when I said I was Rescue and ordering the MSD card, they perked up and said they'd love to have us on board. For me, the MSD is not so much for "wow, you're great" as it is "we don't need to worry about you."

Congrats on your MSD

 

[GA Under Water]

Me too....In addition to the one's I've completed, I'm working on:

Night Diver
Underwater Navigation
Wreck Diver
Altitude Diver
Underwater Naturalist
Computer Assisted Diver (multilevel)

I've got the KR's done for a few, some dives done on others, etc...all in various stages of completion. My LDS has a "Season Pass" you can buy for $699...take all the specialties you want for 12 months, including DAN classes. I'm taking everthing I possibly can. They don't do Ice, Cavern and Rebreather though.

I thought about Altitude, Seems like a good one considering I dive Lanier wich is 1070' above sea-level.

 

[Joe-Diver]

Suprisingly enough...Possum Kingdom here in Texas is an altitude dive...just barely.

 

[GA Under Water]

WOOHOO it is finally in the mail. few days till it is listed on my profile.