Refresher vs. Recertification

[D_B]

You pretty much answered your own question when you said a typical refresher course doesn't inspire confidence in you

While you do not need to get a new cert. or purchase and send in the paperwork for one ... I would get the book, RDP and go over it and talk to an instructor about an extensive refresher course that goes over everything that is in the basic OW course

DB

 

[Johnny Quest]

I was in the same situation, earlier this year, but it had been a lot longer. I thought about doing a refresher, but since it had been so long I wanted something a little more in depth. I found three LDS’s in town, a couple of PADI shops and a SSI shop, that were willing to let me “audit” one of their OW classes. I chose the LDS I liked and did the classroom, pool and the checkout dives. It only cost $ 100, plus I did buy the book and the DVD. I read the book and watched the DVD several times before I took the class, so it was not too bad. I had lost my original cert card and was able to get a replacement from PADI with no problem. I ordered the replacement on-line and got the replacement card exactly one week after I ordered it.

 

[countryboy]

Our shop allows the person performing a SCUBA Tune Up (Refresher) to sit in and audit the full OW course, including the checkout dives.. Does not take anything away from the class as we are usually 2:1 - 3:1 ratios (student:staff).. This also instills [with the new students] the understanding that if you have not been diving for a while, you really *SHOULD* take a refresher course.

Good Luck and Happy Diving!

 

[Don S.]

I would suggest taking the open water class again. Since you are already certified there should not be a fee for a new card. You can take the class and do the certification dives under the supervision of an active instructor. At the conclusion of those dives the instructor can sign your logbook. That in itself should validate you as being a current up to date diver.

 

[Walter]

I would start over. Much has changed in the past 6 years.

What?

 

[darylm74]

I took a 9 year hiatus from diving and ended up just taking a refresher course here in Pittsburgh. I then went back home to Tennessee to my original instructor and went diving in a quarry with him. I found that it didn't take much to get back into it and it all came back to me very quickly. My next dive after that was 104ft in Grand Cayman and that was last year. Since then I've done AOW, Nitrox, Drysuit, and Ice diving and currently working on Rescue. I think it is as others have said, it really depends on how confident you are in the refresher and more or less...yourself.

 

[Gidds]

I am in a similar situation. I last dove in 1998 and considor myself a "nervous" diver, or at least I was during parts my training. I wasn't scared during the few open water dives I've done. I used to snorkel a lot in all kinds of strange places including low vis lakes (which can be really creepy) and rather swift rivers. Now I feel nervous about snorkelling but I am trying to get back into the water. Anyway I went to a dive shop endorsed by the dive club I just joined and asked for a SCUBA review and they said that I can do it at whatever pace is best for me (they didn't yet tell me how much that will cost since I need medical clearence first). I thought doing a review at my own pace sounded pretty good but I was wondering what you guys think?

 

[Spoon]

I would start over. Much has changed in the past 6 years.

i agree, try it out in the pool if you still have your skills then a refresher would be fine

 

[chrisch]

Why not do the Scuba review and the AOW? If you do not have the OW videos etc. either borrow the shops or buy some (the DVD goes cheap on ebay).

As others have said it really depends on your confidence in yourself and your view of your diving abilities - you can only answer the question yourself.

Chris