Question about Open Water SSI

[xida00]

Hi,

I am traveling with a few people around Australia and around 5 of us (out of about 9) have just completed our open water course. The one thing we need to know is can you dive with someone who has no diving qualification holding only an open water license? We have heard mixed rumors that you can and can't, we are hoping that we can as the other 4 that we are traveling with are hoping to do some diving with us when we head out to the Whitsundays in a few weeks.

Thanks for any information on this.

 

[boulderjohn]

I am not sure I understand your question.

Are you asking if you can dive with an uncertified and unqualified diver under SSI rules? Are you talking about diving with someone who has neither training nor experience?

SSI has nothing to do with it. You are free to do what makes sense to you.

On the other hand, local laws may be an issue, and Australia has some of the most restrictive diving laws in the world.

So let's get back to what makes sense to you. If you are allowed by local laws to dive with someone who has neither training nor experience, does that sound like a good idea to you?

 

[Scott]

If you are asking if you as an open water diver can dive with someone who has no scuba certification, the answer is yes, no, maybe and it depends.
Yes, you can dive with someone who is not certified. There are a number of divers around the world who hold no "official" certification and are very competent divers.
No, you can't typically if you're diving from a commercial operators boat. For liability reasons operators will require a proof of certification.
Maybe you should think about it. Question being, do you want to, has this person dived before, how well do you know this persons abilities?
Depends on if you can get air without showing proof of certification.

 

[tstormdiver]

I don't fully understand your question. First you say "someone who has no diving qualifications", then you say "holding only an OW license". Which is it? OW certification is a qualification, as such. It says you should be able to plan & execute dives within your limitations & comfort levels with another diver of the same level or higher (diving at your level). If you are referring to dives that might be more advanced,... it usually is left up to the operator based upon the conditions to be dove. I would say most will default to requiring the more advanced certifications to cover themselves. I have never dove in Australia, so I know nothing of the conditions that can be found there.

 

[flots am]

I am traveling with a few people around Australia and around 5 of us (out of about 9) have just completed our open water course.

Assuming you passed, you are now certified "Open Water Divers"

The one thing we need to know is can you dive with someone who has no diving qualification holding only an open water license?

As far as I know, Australia has no "open water licence" (a licence is issued from a government agency, like a "driver's licence")

If the other person has an "Open Water Diver" card from SSI, PADI or anybody else, they have the same certification you do, which qualifies you or them to dive with a buddy in conditions similar to or better than where you were trained.

flots.

 

[Rogersea]

If the other four divers are not certified and have no experience, it is best that they learn to dive from an experienced diver. I would not recommend taking your friends diving especially when you have no experience.... Have them take a course....

Cheers,
Roger

 

[DukeAMO]

Your question is difficult to understand. I think what you're saying is that 5 of you are newly certified, and 4 are not certified at all?

I can't imagine that anyone would recommend that someone with no diving certification should go diving with anyone other than a certified instructor, or at the very least a diver with extensive experience (hundreds of dives) and rescue training. They could get killed otherwise. Even then, they need some basic safety training, like how to avoid decompression injuries, how to share air, how to do mask clears, etc. etc.

Also, most dive operations will not rent equipment (specifically, tanks or air fills) to someone who is not certified. Letting an un-trained diver borrow your equipment could get them killed, and you could be held liable for the death.

If the other 4 want to dive with you, see if they can enroll in a Discover Scuba course or a Resort course. Then they can get a minimum of safety training and dive with a certified instructor, and it's not expensive. The shop offering the Discover Scuba or Resort course will probably allow the certified divers to come along, possibly for a small fee. [Edited to add] For example, they would probably want the 4 certified divers to pay for any boat trips, rentals, and air fills, and hire an extra Divemaster to join the group.

 

[flots am]

Hi,

I am traveling with a few people around Australia and around 5 of us (out of about 9) have just completed our open water course. The one thing we need to know is can you dive with someone who has no diving qualification holding only an open water license? We have heard mixed rumors that you can and can't, we are hoping that we can as the other 4 that we are traveling with are hoping to do some diving with us when we head out to the Whitsundays in a few weeks.

Thanks for any information on this.

OK, I just reread your question for about the fourth time . . .

If you're saying that out of your group of 9, 5 are Open Water certified and 4 aren't certified at all and you want to know of the 4 non-certified people can go diving with you, then the answer is: "No".

flots.