New diver. Can equipement be rented without a card?

[DandyDon]

Come to think of it, some dive boats never asked for my card. I just had to write the cert agency and the number on the ship manifest & liability form.

:cowboy2: << Sneaky Don is here...!

I guess I've been carded about half the times that my diving was prepaid. In some cases, they pretend to check the cards of the group members, but if you notice - it's often for show. They often don't really keep track of whom they've checked.

Exceptions...

(1) If I am paying for the diving on arrival, I usually just hand them a C-card along with my credit card to save digging again, so they pretend to look then

(2) If I'm diving Nitrox, they seem to always check. I've taken to carrying a second copy of my Nitrox card in my bag, in case I get on the boat and there's any question.

(3) I've always had my own gear. In fact, the amount of gear I carry onto a dock probably discourages anyone from thinking I might not have a few cards with me, since I brought everything else!!

Now, south of the US, you will find that rules are really taken to be only guidelines or suggestions. And a few dollars US or CD in the right palm can make anything happen. I'd say a new diver wouldn't have a chance, but I know for a fact that I was not carded my first two trips in particular. If you wear a dingy T-shirt and beat-up cowboy hat, and have your own gear - not likely.

Since you need to rent gear, tho - good luck. At the worst, he'll have to take a Resort Course for that temporary certification.

 

[Greg D.]

why all the sneakyness? just rent gear from two different stores and you will not have a problem with them wondering why you need a backup wetsuit that is a different size

 

[TheRedHead]

:cowboy2: << Sneaky Don is here...!

(3) I've always had my own gear. In fact, the amount of gear I carry onto a dock probably discourages anyone from thinking I might not have a few cards with me, since I brought everything else!!

I've got all my gear - I'm practically staggering under the weight of it. I bought a new T-Shirt that says: Nitrox Rox Air Sux AND I have huge strobe for my camera. I'm going to try it this weekend in West Palm Beach and see if it works. AND I'll wear my salt-stained straw cowboy hat that smells like bait.

We'll see if it works ....

 

[BigWhiteSquare]

Did you try contacting one of these places?

http://www.acuc.es/decquebe.htm

Perhaps they could issue your buddy a temporary C-card.

___

 

[DandyDon]

I've got all my gear - I'm practically staggering under the weight of it. I bought a new T-Shirt that says: Nitrox Rox Air Sux AND I have huge strobe for my camera. I'm going to try it this weekend in West Palm Beach and see if it works. AND I'll wear my salt-stained straw cowboy hat that smells like bait.

We'll see if it works ....

The new T-shirt is a give away. Can you wash it with some blue jeans?

 

[TheRedHead]

It's black ... I'll soak it in a little diluted Clorox. Thanks.

 

[Kevfin]

Did you try contacting one of these places?

http://www.acuc.es/decquebe.htm

Perhaps they could issue your buddy a temporary C-card.

___

Hey!!! This has become an "How To" on cheating the system! Don't throw in ethical and honest stuff!

 

[Damselfish]

I think I've only run into one tropical op in 15 years that didn't ask to see a card, unless it was someone who remembered me.

 

[Shadow]

When I dove in Belize, they not only checked my C-card, but they even inspected my log book. They just couldn't believe the water temperatures of 46 degrees, and the photo of me on the day I certified, with the snow-capped mountains in the background!

What's the scoop on this last-minute deal to Cuba? Can I go from Vancouver? It's not quite as cold as Montreal, but Cuba would still be warmer....

 

[DementialFaith]

I remember this once how a friend of mine realized he forgot his c-card when he got to the boat, so he simply made up a few numbers and because he dove with me and this other guy who's on this boat all the time, noone ever questioned him the next dive during dives. So then I came to this conclusion: If you lost/forgot your c-card, just find the nearest group of instructors/dms/hardcore divers, and noone will question whether you have a c-card.

Or, you can also bs a 6-digits number and pretend you memorize it by heart. The boat crew might even show you more respect!