Screwed - OW Cert

[Diver0001]

This happens from time to time. It always makes a mess.

You could always use the temporary cards to take a Rescue Diver course with NAUI.....

Chris

This might actually be the easiest way to solve this problem.

R..

 

[alcina]

I would have have thought that PADI would have a list of certified instructors on their website but I don't see anything. So, a person has to call them up just to make sure their instructor is legit before taking a class? That is putting a lot of burden on a new student.

Your instructor will have a card with a pretty sticker to say that she/he is in teaching status for that year - 2005 now. Simply ask to see it...the dive centre probably has a copy on file, too.

You can check for instructors and dive centres being expelled or suspended here:
http://www.padi.com/english/common/courses/qm/report/

As for an agency not checking a previous certification level, that is the job of the instructor of the next course, in this case AOW. The instructor will usually ask to see your certification card, a valid temporary is fine, and your log book. All of your training should be in this log book and it should be completed correctly. If the new instructor sees this, I can't imagine why she/he would dig farther - especially if the diver is exhibited expected levels of competency.

Not all agencies are online and not all agencies/shops/instructors are good at getting the certifications processed. PADI usually has their cards out 6-8 weeks after RECEIVING the information...if you don't receive one of those nifty plastic cards in two months, it might be a good idea to check with your instructor. YMMV

artusor - I hope you get things all sorted out! Shame your instructor didn't simply send your Advanced paperwork in - you'd have your new card

 

[jonix]

artusor: hope you get this problem fixed soon

anyways, is there a way to check a person's certification with PADI, NAUI, SSI, etc. online?

 

[ranger]

I agree with Doc and Larry, this is the reason for my initial question. With 2 temp C-Cards this problem can be handled. The next time you take a course ask to see the instructors C-Card. If they are PADI, there will be a sticker affixed to the card stating their teaching status. The flip side is they could have been suspended after reaching teaching status and affixing the sticker, and the only way to confirm this is for the dive shop to go to the PADI website to verify teaching status. This is a terrible thing to have to do, but due to unscrupulous people in the SCUBA world, I wouldn't blame you if you did it. I would not hesitate to show my students my C-Card and would not be offended if asked to do so.

 

[wreckchick]

As it turns out, I have access to MANY PADI instructors here in the keys, let me know where you're going to be and I'll see if I can make a call for you.

Rachel

 

[vladimir]

My original open water course, in 1975, was supposed to give me a PADI and YMCA certification. After the checkout dives, some idiot in my class stole a weightbelt (score!) from the instructor, a NYC policeman, who was so pissed off he refused to certify anybody until it was returned, which was never. The YMCA leaned on him and I received a card from them. Much later I got certified by PADI, since not everybody recognized the YMCA card at the time. About a year ago I contacted the YMCA to get a replacement card and they had no record of my certification. So I had dived for 18 years using a bogus C-card.

 

[Fishlips_1]

Will be seeing my instructor later, I'll ask him what you should do. Maybe post this in the instructors forum? Or, at least send them this way? Good luck. MAJOR BUMMER. Oh, if your temp is still valid, go take a class of another agency. With that you could get other cards from PADI. Seems a little silly but what ever works.