SCUBA shop that will issue be an AOW card after a few days diving?

[happy-diver]

Clearly you weren't warned and are now awash with people standing behind you
and you must know what they say about those type people standing behind you

 

[Pedroo]

Been diving 20 years, 200+ dives. Running into an issue with people requiring AOW cards. I don't want to take a course to learn to "night dive" when I've already done it 20 times or wreck dive etc given what I've already done. Where can I find a shop to dive with for a few days and pay for the cert fee? Sick of the PADI shakedown scam such a terrible organization. 50 USD for a " digital card". The grift in this business is so frustrating. Don't get me wrong I get the purpose but back in the day your logbook was what counted not whether some 21 year old dive instructor gave you a piece of plastic.

And in 20 years you haven't found the time to complete a simple training course like AOW? And you don't need any plastic because everything is electronic now and all you need is an app or even just your name and date of birth. And another thing is that you can complete AOWD training in 2 days. Especially for such a seasoned diver it's probably no problem, right? And you know what else is funny... that this 21-year-old instructor you laugh at had the time and willingness to become a certified instructor, and you don't even want to do one of the first courses... lol

 

[NothingClever]

And yet both RSTC and ISO standards require that an OW Diver is trained to be an autonomous Diver before they are given the certification. Is someone allowing the scuba agencies to ignore the standards?

Themselves, I think.

 

[NothingClever]

and had to meet a bunch of standards to pass AOW.

I think that’s a charitable outlook. Divers on boats show me their training experience could have been better.

 

[NothingClever]

And in 20 years you haven't found the time to complete a simple training course like AOW?

 

[Bob DBF]

And in 20 years you haven't found the time to complete a simple training course like AOW?

Hell, it took me 17 years of diving regularly to get an OW card, and that was because dive ops were getting tight about filling tanks without one. It took about the same amount of time to get an AOW card for a similar reason. Cards are handy if you are an unknown and there is no one you can reason with.

 

[Pedroo]

Hell, it took me 17 years of diving regularly to get an OW card, and that was because dive ops were getting tight about filling tanks without one. It took about the same amount of time to get an AOW card for a similar reason. Cards are handy if you are an unknown and there is no one you can reason with.

I think we would both agree that things are changing, including in the realm of diver training. Perhaps those 17 years ago, diving was only for the real machos who wanted to gain experience over many years to finally get the desired diving certification.

But... we are in 2024 and dive training is fun, easy and accessible to all. And I don't doubt your skills gained during these 20 years but maybe you would learn something new by joining the training. Cause, asking on a forum about someone who will authenticate lies by issuing you a certificate without training is just embarrassing....

And I even looked to see if North Carolina might lack dive centers where you could do such training, but it turns out there are plenty.

But if you still think that a diving course taught by a 21-year-old instructor is an insult to your honor, then I have another simple solution for you! Just buy your compressor, fill your tanks, dive alone and don't bother others with such shady proposals.

 

[happy-diver]

**** YEAH!