Screwed - OW Cert

[neil]

My AOW instructor is holding on to my paperwork, since it would just get bounced back to him if I don't have BOW. He was going to hold onto it until he hears from me. I do have the temporary AOW card though.

It probably would NOT get "bounced back". PADI doesn't check to see if you are certified or not, they have to rely on the AOW instructor's adherence to protocol in checking your certification. If you had showed up for AOW with a NAUI OW card PADI has no way of checking that out. I could issue my cat an AOW card and nobody will ever check into it. I would try to talk the AOW instructor into issuing the card and be done with it. You DID actually take an OW course, and you're sure you covered the material? It's a shame that YOU have to be the one to fix this, I think the shop you worked through should have one of the instructors sign off on a card for you. Good luck.
Neil

 

[akscubainst]

You can try this as well. Especially if the instructor signed your logbook and you have the temp card. It should be enough for PADI to process the Cert then Jump the Instructors *****.

Dave

 

[DandyDon]

Actually your advanced instructor could send it in. Padi would not kick it back... they don't check. How would they know if you had a Naui open water, SSI, YMCA, etc. If the paperwork goes in, they'll print the card.

I know as a Naui Instructor, I can give someone credit for previous experience, so you could simply take the exam, and show you can perform the skills. Perhaps you could have that happen during your trip... try contacting some of the places where you are going and see what they can work out for you.

Good answer!! :35:

Hey, get your AOW instructor to send it thru. Once you get your AOW card, you don't actually need the OW card. Then, go ahead and get your Nitrox and other cards.

 

[lostinspace]

I could issue my cat an AOW card and nobody will ever check into it.

I'm sure you're an honourable guy, but that is just plain frightening that no-one checks.

 

[DandyDon]

I'm sure you're an honourable guy, but that is just plain frightening that no-one checks.

Their quality control is focused on the Instructors. Would many of us accept Padi check us out personally? I think not... :voskl1:

 

[MoonWrasse]

Hello All!

I'm new to scuba, just certified (I thought) in March. This is not what I wanted my first post here to be about, but here is my problem.

I contacted a LDS here in Long Island about my OW certification in January, completed my pool work here, and in March went down to Florida with my instructor to complete my checkout dives. I completed the dives without a problem, and received my temporary c-card. In May I was in the US Virgin Islands and took an UW Photography class, and my Advanced OW. This was done with my temporary certification card. My AOW instructor suggested that we contact PADI since he felt that I should already have gotten my permanent card.

I called my OW instructor and was told that he had sent in my forms and he would double check. After not hering anything for a while, I left several messages that were not returned. Finally, this morning I went to another LDS who called PADI. According to PADI my instructor was not in teaching status when he certified me.

I submitted all of the details and PADI indicated that they will have to start a quality control review.

Has anyone seen a similar situation to this one? How was it handled? Is there anything else I can do? Unfortunately the shop that certified me has since closed, so Im afraid I'm screwed. And I just finished planning a dive trip to the Florida keys for next month. Damn!

I'd suggest filing a complaint with your state, it sounds like fraud to me. Likely other people may have also gotten ripped off. Who knows if the OW instructor covered all you need to know to dive safely.

 

[neil]

I'm sure you're an honourable guy, but that is just plain frightening that no-one checks.

Thanks for the benefit of the doubt! Normally it wouldn't be a problem: a student usually has a card or doesn't. In this case who could imagine that in effect the temp card was not legitimate? I checked PADI standards, BTW, and nowhere does it say that only humans can be certified. My cat is 15, does she get Junior or regular cert.?

 

[DandyDon]

My cat is 15, does she get Junior or regular cert.?

:kitty: Can he pass the swim test...?

 

[liberato]

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.

 

[chrisch]

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