So, why do they do that?

[ScubaFishee]

Just picked up the specialty card from where I did my PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy course back in August. I look at it and the first thing I see is my date of birth printed on the back! Dang it!



But seriously, seeing this card just made me wonder what information is really useful to have printed on the card?

For example, the PADI card has a picture and DOB on it, my SSI card has just the picture, and my friend's NAUI card doesn't have a picture, but I'm not sure about the DOB. If a charter operater asked to see our cert cards, would either of us need to show drivers licenses too because of lack of photo or DOB?

Or have you all found that it really doesn't matter one way or the other?

Just curious... still new and learning and wanted to get the opinions of others.

Thanks.

 

[MechDiver]

I've never been asked to provide anything to "prove" my identity. You usually have to give an agency and cert number on the waiver form anyway.

Phil

 

[scuberd]

naui doesn't provide DOB only the cert date. I too have never been asked to prove I am myself.

also, why does PADI give you a card if you have good boyancy? isn't that something all divers should have anyway? it looks like an excuse to pump more money out if divers

 

[DennisW]

I can hazard a guess as to what I think would be important. However, my two YMCA cards have different information.

The one from 1988 has:

On the front: My picture and the type of certificate.

On the back: My name, my ssn which should not be there in my opinion, the issue date of the card, the training site, and my instuctor's signature.

The one from 2001 has:

On the front: My name and the type of certificate

On the back: Date of issue, expiration if applicable, Diver PIN, My name and address, DOB, my instructor's name and certificate number or PIN.

 

[MechDiver]

scuberd once bubbled...
also, why does PADI give you a card if you have good boyancy? isn't that something all divers should have anyway

In an optimal world yes. In reality, most folks can benefit from a class targeted toward buoyancy control.

 

[Big-t-2538]

MechDiver once bubbled...
I've never been asked to provide anything to "prove" my identity. You usually have to give an agency and cert number on the waiver form anyway.

Phil

This is one area where NAUI isn't all that great. I got no Cert. # until I made my DM rating. All that's on the card is cert. date, Instructor #, and location of cert. I think it would be a good idea to issue numbers, but who knows...could be a bit of a hassle too.

 

[Nessie]

Yesterday I got my CMAS-cards. Quite a bit of the print has already gone of. No DOB, no photo, just certification level +number , name, residency and organization. Oh, and, just seen, expiring date??? Why does it expire???

 

[ScubaFishee]

scuberd once bubbled...
also, why does PADI give you a card if you have good boyancy? isn't that something all divers should have anyway? it looks like an excuse to pump more money out if divers

Well, I took PPB training shortly after completing OW and I think it was only like my 5th and 6th dives after certification. The training was 1-on-1 and gave me a chance to get some suggestions for improvement early on, not to mention another chance to dive at a time before I'd met any dive buddies yet.

Yes, PADI gives a card, but I know the SSI and NAUI LDS in this area offer the classes too, only I think they issue a paper certificate. I could care less about the card, I just wanted to learn more about buoyancy and this was one way I could do it. To me, it was worth it.

BTW, the reason I went with PADI was because the LDS I went with did their buoyancy training in open waters rather than in a pool and were willing to schedule according to my availability... and that instructor just happened to be PADI.

 

[ScubaFishee]

Nessie once bubbled...
Oh, and, just seen, expiring date??? Why does it expire???

Nessie,

How long does it say until expiration?

 

[Nessie]

ScubaFishee,
in 5 years???