Should old dives count?

[Claws]

Being a former military trained diver starting some 17yrs ago with training in scuba,rebreather,hardhat and specialties the question is now I am doing this for fun with my wife after a 10 year surface interval.

Should my old dives count when considering further qualifications or specialties?

Do I start again from scratch or what do you think?

 

[1_T_Submariner]

I think your experience should count. That being said a refersher or taking a course with your wife would also be worth it.

Welcome to Scubaboard.

 

[Claws]

I recently did the AOW course as a refresher and recert but what would the LDS instructors say if I brought in my old logs?
I remember 99.9% however this whole new fangled weight intergrated stuff is weird.
I want my ccr back.

 

[UserName1]

Of course you can log all that stuff, but the major agencies like PADI and NAUI probably won't use it toward granting you any ratings. I just left commercial diving, and have a lot experience using mixed gas, deco diving, and the like, and I can't even touch a mixed gas tank according to PADI/NAUI. I wanted some Nitrox, and the dive shop said no. If PADI and NAUI doesn't give it to you, then you don't have it. My ADC cert doesn't mean jack. I have a friend that has a combat diver rating from the Marine Corps, and he had to sit through an Openwater 1 course with beginners so he could rent some gear and dive in a quarry. Your experience means something, but you still have to pay the money and sit in class.

 

[Damselfish]

What you log is mostly useful for your own historical purposes and remembering things. You did the dives so I wouldn't start over at zero for that purpose. And certainly the experience is of use even though it was long ago and things are different. So as far as having enough for some class, just judge yourself honestly as to where you are. If you have enough dives logged and you feel ready for something, great. If you don't feel ready then you shouldn't do it no matter what you have logged. What class are you thinking about where the number will matter?

 

[Claws]

Its not the number that really matters it is the specialties I.E. Nitrox Deep etc.
in the case of mixed gasses and especially scr or ccr it seems crazy to spend a fortune to qualify on something I should be able to take a refresher in.

I will be diving with my wife mostly however there are times when I could see the opportunity to dive specialties with more experienced divers.

 

[UserName1]

I thought the same. I have done stuff that would be considered advanced tech diving in recreational circles, but because I didn't take a NAUI/PADI approved course "you're technically not allowed to do those things." That is what the local dive shop instructor tells me. They are too concerned with lawsuits and safety I guess. If you ever had the certs from NAUI/PADI, then you can do anything no questions it seems. If they came from the military or commercial sectors, then you'll have to find out about some kinda crossover, but I didn't have any luck converting my experience into automatic NAUI ratings. So if I want the offical NAUI Nitrox, my previous experience won't grant me the rating, but after I have the rating the experience is all valid. You will have to check with the instructors at your dive shop. Some of them are cool, some are uptight and by the rules. Refresher courses aren't even offical courses. You can do your own basic refresher. All they do is review skills and dive tables. You're paying for the instructor's time to answer questions more or less. Explain to the instructor that you had the training in the military, and want some refreshing in new technique and review the text. I don't see a problem, but you never know. Every instructor is different. A c-card and ratings don't expire, and don't have to be renewed. If you are going with guys that already have a mixed gas or tech cert, then have them get your tanks filled, help with dive planning, etc. Really, what law will you be breaking if you go deep diving and don't have that rating? It's about experience. That's how I view it. You should be fine. I wouldn't worry about anything. For me, I just want to be an everyday single tank diver again. I want clear, warm water with viz. Hobbies don't make for good careers as I found out. You sound like you're in the same boat I am. Being a regular old scuba diver, but maybe add a little spice with a wreck dive in deeper water or something like that. I got burned out on blackwater, long bottom times, and three hours sitting in a chamber.

 

[grazie42]

I´d check on insurance coverage as well...without certs you propably won´t be covered if anything were to happen...

 

[fisherdvm]

I think the insurance issue might be a stickler here - both for the LDS and the divers.

You might want to read DAN's contract, it might be very specific about what cert you need for what type of diving you do.

 

[diverdown247]

It should count, but you will be told that undocumented experience will not count due to the liability it creates. Then again, anyone can "pencil whip" a log book.