PADI AOW cert. question

[Miss Mouse]

Hi there,

Just a quick question, as I know some well-informed person will be able to clear this up for me straight away...

We're off on holiday in August and have booked a few days diving with a PADI instructor. My boyfriend has done the 2 obligatory adventure dives for his AOW and wanted to do a couple more while we are away. We asked the instructor if we could do this but he said unfortunately no as, due to the remote location of his dive centre, he cannot receive the necessary training pack through the post. I thought all the trainee needs is his PADI logbook (containing training record) for signiture from the instructor? We already have a copy of the AOW training book. Is there something else specific that needs to be posted?

I don't want to pester this guy or question his logic, but it just seems a shame to not be able to progress with the AOW cert. just because of a postal problem... Is there anything we can do?

Opinions? Thanks!

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Take the materials with you. All you need is the book, proof of the dives you have done so far (but realize that the instructor has the option to require you do all the dives with him), and yes your logbook. I would be leery of anyone who says they cannot receive the materials. Perhaps they are not in active status and PADI will not sell them the materials. Just how remote is this? Why would they not be able to get a large manilla envelope, which is all it should take? Then if he has access to a computer he should be able to send in the necessary info to PADI to get your cards.

 

[Simon-]

How does this instructor offer any courses if he can't receive crew packs?????

 

[Miss Mouse]

Hi Both,

Thanks so much for your quick replies. I should have guessed you ask the above questions.

Simon; He did not offer the course, we just asked as we spotted he's a PADI instructor.

Jim; I share your opinion about postal problems, but this guy does live in a remote part of Africa, so I can't really question. My first instinct would be to offer my address to receive the required post and just bring it over with me, but I really didn't think we need anything more than the stuff you get when you commence the AOW. Which leads me to think maybe there is another reason he doesn't want to do the dives... Would an inactive status make certification of adventure dives impossile?

Thanks for your help guys!

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

Is there another instructor in the area?

 

[Miss Mouse]

Ha! I see your thinking, but we've already booked. And it's not the be all and end all - we'll still enjoy the dives, it's just nice to get a bit closer to achieving a cert, that's all.

 

[RJP]

Jim; I share your opinion about postal problems, but this guy does live in a remote part of Africa, so I can't really question.

If YOU can get there, the MAIL can get there.

 

[ScubaSteve]

Is this guy really an Instructor? Have you checked with PADI? It sounds to me like perhaps he is misrepresenting himself.

 

[Mike Boswell]

He is a PADI instructor but cannot receive the training pack through the post? In two months?

I'm not sure I would be real anxious to go diving with a PADI instructor who gave me this answer.

At a minimum I would get somebody to verify his status.

 

[Mike Boswell]

If YOU can get there, the MAIL can get there.

Especially if they just address it to "Occupant".

My mail carrier will go so far as to deliver letters to my mailbox at the curb, and will even come to the house to deliver boxes or registered mail.

But he would ford the five rivers of Hades and cross the Gobi desert on his knees to deliver a fistful of junk mail.