Roll call: Any old NASDS divers out there?

[tbuechner]

Still Diving,
NASDS Cert at Diving Locker in San Diego, 1968. Cert number in the low 2000. Still have the original Cert Card saved. The plastic is falling apart now but still have it for history. Had to jump thought hoops to get a replacement when all the old NASDS records burned in a fires.

 

[cpwomer]

Just cause your cert is NASDS does not make you any less qualified to scuba. And if you run into a dive shop that try's to tell you different one take your business else where and report them for improper use of their licence to operate and the BBB for attempting to deceive and hustle the public for money...I've been diving all over the world since 1978...My logbooks have logbooks and I've stop counting... Its kind of like a motorcycle licence, do I really need one for every state...NOT...I'm sure this will bring on postings that disagree but don't be sucked in that any one cert is any better to have than the next or why would there be so many.

 

[yaml]

just a question: do i "have" to get my nasds card replaced by SSI or another org? its never been questioned but people seemed concerned that there was a deadline ( which i understand has passed) for getting SSI to "replace" it (originally nasds certified in 1974 at houston scuba academy west by ed mcquade); thanks

 

[Insta-Gator]

Nah, it's not a "must do" anywhere I've dove. If you only have OW card, you may consider getting a Nitrox card from SSI or another agency. That would demonstrate "currency" if you are concerned about that.

 

[caymaniac]

I use my NASDS #5591 as well I have a TDI nitrox cert., I've never had a problem.

 

[rlw]

I use my NASDS #5591 as well I have a TDI nitrox cert., I've never had a problem.

To my way of thinking, if you have an NASDS cert., you are probably more qualified than most other certificate-issuing-organizations' diving instructors. When I got my cert. (early 70s), NASDS was the ne plus ultra of diving certification authorities. NAUI and PADI were a poor, distant second. And my attendance of the 3rd Divers Instructoral College in Sandy Eggo in the late 70s served to reinforce this view. Tony Zimos ran a very tight ship, and if you passed one of his classes, you were damn-sure qualified to provide training to others....

-RW-

PS: If any of you trained under Tony, did he tell you the story of the clapped-out old Vietnamese broad with whom you had had to, uhhhh, "sleep" in order to be accepted by your SEAL Team brethren? That is one of the most horrifying initiation rites I have ever heard of....

 

[RandyKowalski]

I use my NASDS #5591 as well I have a TDI nitrox cert., I've never had a problem.

I have to agree.... I have had BOTH PADI and NAUI certifications and found the NASDS instructional methodology to be the best. So much so, I attended the NASDS Instructor College in San Diego. I received my rating, OWIC-296 from Tony "The Greek" in 1976. College #19. I instructed Full Time for 8 years and continue to teach today. I still love it!!!!! Tony Zimose and Dick Hammas were the BEST!!!! Prepared all of us well.... "The Greeks" and Hammas's stories were a nice break from the intense curriculum. Both were Outstanding Instructors. What College # were you and what is your OWIC #? I see that you are in West Michigan. I am in Plymouth and my company has a large branch in Grand Rapids. Lets throw back a few and share "SDDS and NASDS College Stories"
RandyKowalski@mac.com
I still remember the "Cadence Calls" on our morning runs at La Hoya Beach... Life Guard Tower #12 to Scripts Pier and Back.
"You Can't be Mild and you can't be Meek if you wanna get Certified by The Greek"

 

[salinity]

I attained NASDS certification in 1995 (from OWIT-52). I still have the beat-up card but haven't used it much (read: at all). I'm looking to take a refresher next month and perhaps start logging some dives in the near future. I missed the deadline to get a new card issued by SSI and share concerns about being "denied" when renting or looking to go on a dive. But we'll just have to see how that goes.

 

[Mr. Physics]

I know this post is a little old... But yeah! NASDS 1976 from Salem School of Scuba (Ohio) and my instructor was Mark Scott OWI #214. Anyone trained by Mark Scott out there? He was very thorough in training me! Someone mentioned previously about the actual mouth to mouth training... Yeah... That was the real thing!

I too was a tad late in contacting SSI in getting a card to replace my NASDS T.I.C. Card. I thought that it was very rude of them to offer it for 12 years and then all of a sudden stop the conversion. After all, NASDS did merge and combine with SSI. It's a bad business decision for them to stop converting certifications. Oh well, I haven't had a problem using my NASDS card... It is cracked but I keep it safe in a plastic bag!

 

[jlconley]

Took my NASDS open water class at Michigan Underwater School of Diving in 1976 from Jerry Rowe. Did my check out dives and certified in 1977 by Randy Kowalski. I was sixteen years old. Then certified PADI Divemaster and Master Diver from and worked for Professional Diving Services in Springdale, PA. Went to NASDS Instructors College in Summer of of 1982 (OWIC 605). Worked for Jensen Beach Divers in Jensen Beach, FL before and after going to Instructors College for a few years.

Randy: I remember your gold corvette and how you could barely fit your At-Pac with Ferring and doubles and all your equipment in it.