Question on Certification

[MBD0607]

Well here goes;
It seems I am running into issues when booking Charter dives, either I get questioned on my Certification; or I get told I am not allowed on the boat at all.
I was trained by the Navy (and still dive with them) where I was certified on Scuba. Later, I was trained and certified on the Mk16 (a mixed gas rebreather). I have the standard "C" card given to you when you graduate from Panama City, and it lists that I am Mixed Gas qualified. I have over 150 dives, in all types of conditions and depths (up to 160' at 5,000 feet). Now I am not someone who is stating my training is better than anyone elses, nor do I claim to be the world's best diver.
The issue I have is that some places will not accept a USN Dive card. I was actually told that since I was not a PADI certifed diver, I would not be allowed to go on a trip when I was on vacation. Needless to say, that particluar dive store has never seen me or my money again.
So, to avoid disssapointments on vacation, or having to explain what I went through for training, is it possible to either take a written exam and get qualified from an agency (PADI,etc); or, do I have to take a complete course from square one.

Thanks for your time

 

[oly5050user]

yes.you can do the PADI final exam and 200 yd swim and the 4 training dives.There would of course be a fee for the final exam and a fee for the 4 training dives.If you screw up on the training dives one bit, or fail the exam, be prepared to have to take a full course.The reason you would have to these requirements is that when the instructors signs off on a card he /she is stating that this person can meet the required objectives.How can they sign off on a card if they have no documentation of the academics and have not seen you complete the swim and skills?

 

[fisheater]

I suggest that you contact a PADI and/or NAUI Course Director.

It's my understanding that they can issue civilian certs for qualifying military divers.

Good luck and thanks for your service to our country.

 

[SteveC]

Where you actually told by a dive operator that they would not take you, or where you told by a dive shop (that wanted to sell you a Padi course) that you could not go. I would be surprised if there were many dive boats that would not take your money. I would think that the Navy card is quite sufficient. As to your main question, if you find that you do need a Padi card, I would check with a dive shop and see that they can do. I'm sure it will cost a few bucks, but you probably would not have to take the entire course again.

 

[SandyRobinson]

Seems like your USN card would be good anywhere if the store was familiar with it. I have a friend who went thru the Navy scuba training in Panama City after he obtained full cave (He has a dive related job with the Navy in PC.) Seems like the Navy training was fairly extensive - more so than any recreational courses that I am aware of.

Maybe there are some other agencies that offer a crossover without the test and checkout dives. Good luck, and thanks for your service.

 

[mikediveguy]

another option .. find an instructor that recognises the navy cert and do an ' adventure dive' get the card... all is well . lol

 

[MBD0607]

I was actually told by the Dive Boat Operator Company itself. The Charter (unbeknown to me) was through a particular store in my home town. I did write a letter to the Store CEO, and explained the situation, and why I thought I was more than qualified, along with copies of my Certificates and Smooth Logs.
Thanks for the quick answer by the way!

 

[japan-diver]

NAUI has an experienced scuba diver course just for people in your situation with experience but no "recognized" cert card. Requires a written test that should be no problem with your training and a in water skills check with an instructor- no need to take a full class.

 

[Crowley]

PADI has, as mentioned above, an "experienced diver" certification similar to NAUI. Mikediveguy's suggestion is an inexpensive shortcut and may well work. There's no reason that a dive centre representing itself as a PADI dive centre should refuse to accept a non-PADI cert; training standards actually require that we honour equivalent level certifications.

Ask the Dive centre to call PADI to ask them if they recognise your certifications as a pre-requisite for further training and that should clear any doubt; you can ask them yourselves, but the dive centre has a direct line. I've had to do do it in the past. The response is usually swift.

Cheers

C.

 

[Walter]

Send me a copy of your training qualifications and I'll certify you.