qn: Padi Divemaster Application

[divekatkeens]

Hi, hope i can get some clarification here.

The application form for Padi DM states the membership expires 31Dec of the current year regardless of date certified.

Does that mean that if i complete my training in October2006 and mail in my application, i will have to pay the fees for the rest of the year (2.5months left!) eventhough the card and all will probably arrive in December?

Some instructors do tell me that my payment in October2006 will be valid for next year 2007.

So...... what would it be?

 

[Scubaguy62]

My application went out 2 1/2 weeks ago. I confirmed with PADI, that all memberships expire 12/31 of the current year, regardless of when you applied for membership. It seems odd that they are not per calendar year, but in retrospect, it could be a logistical nightmare otherwise. That's the main reason why I'm holding until next January to do IDC. I can deal with paying $70 now, and having to renew in 3 months, but I will not pay $460.00 now and have to renew in 2 months, although the renewal is $87 if you do it online and wait until the last possible minute (12/31/06).

BTW, also from PADI, it should only take 7 - 10 business days for your application to be processed and your cert. card issued. Also, don't mail your app; spend the extra $$ and send it FedEx, even if it is 2 or 3 day service. Get a tracking #, or send it overnight express mail. Certified or registered mail usually takes 1 - 1 1/2 weeks to get there, despite that it can be tracked.

 

[Diver0001]

Hi, hope i can get some clarification here.

The application form for Padi DM states the membership expires 31Dec of the current year regardless of date certified.

Does that mean that if i complete my training in October2006 and mail in my application, i will have to pay the fees for the rest of the year (2.5months left!) eventhough the card and all will probably arrive in December?

Some instructors do tell me that my payment in October2006 will be valid for next year 2007.

So...... what would it be?

That's correct. Padi does it's membership thing from 1-jan to 1-jan and there's no getting around that.

If you certify so late in the year you can obviously wait until January to start working.

And just to be clear, the membership fee for a partial year is paid prorated so if you're only paying for 2 1/2 months then you only pay that portion (what's that about 20%) of the yearly fee for the remainder of this year.

R..

 

[Ber Rabbit]

Certified or registered mail usually takes 1 - 1 1/2 weeks to get there, despite that it can be tracked.

Certified and registered letters are first class mail and should arrive at the destination within 1-3 days depending on how far it is from where you are. If your delivery confirmation is dated later than that please contact the post office so they can find and fix the problem.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[Scubaguy62]

Certified and registered letters are first class mail and should arrive at the destination within 1-3 days depending on how far it is from where you are. If your delivery confirmation is dated later than that please contact the post office so they can find and fix the problem.
Ber :lilbunny:

maybe that's just in So. Fla., but it's not unusual for certified mail to get to its destination several days later than normal, and normal can be as much as 4 - 6 days.

 

[Red Sea Shadow]

Hi, hope i can get some clarification here.

The application form for Padi DM states the membership expires 31Dec of the current year regardless of date certified.

Does that mean that if i complete my training in October2006 and mail in my application, i will have to pay the fees for the rest of the year (2.5months left!) eventhough the card and all will probably arrive in December?

Some instructors do tell me that my payment in October2006 will be valid for next year 2007.

So...... what would it be?

The instructors are right. Make your instructor sign the application after September 30 and your membership will be valid till December 31st, 2007, NOT 2006.

 

[Scubaguy62]

The instructors are right. Make your instructor sign the application after September 30 and your membership will be valid till December 31st, 2007, NOT 2006.

Yep..just confirmed with PADI. BTW, app fees are never pro-rated; again according to PADI.

 

[Diver0001]

Well I'll be darned. I was certified in the fall too and I'd be willing to bet my favorite box of tiewraps that they prorated it. Could this be a difference between PADI Americas and PADI Europe?

R..

 

[Damselfish]

It seems odd that they are not per calendar year, but in retrospect, it could be a logistical nightmare otherwise.

Not sure why it should be a nightmare? Lots of organizations seem to do it with no problem. Or magazines - can you imagine how people would react to a magazine that charged the same for 12 issues in January or 1 issue in December?

 

[divekatkeens]

Darn this thing is really confusing. Oh i left out a crucial piece of information, I am with Padi Asia Pacific, that means the office is in Australia.

I've never heard of the fees being pro-rated.

Anyway the worse part, ive tried emailing Padi for a clarification but the big business organization it is, i still havent had a reply.