Technical Dive Guide Certification in 2025 can we ask for Proof ?

[happy-diver]

its not just the card...actual...real experience matters

The guides have ...actual...real experience but apparently wihout the certs, does that matter

 

[KBlack]

If you are planning to conduct a any type of dive with a guide it is not unreasonable to expect the Guide is qualified to conduct the dive. It is also not unreasonable to ask the dive operator at the time of booking the dive who your guide will be and what there qualifications and experience are.

If in doubt dont be afraid to ask for proof of qualifications & experience.

 

[SelfDiver]

"Hey dude. I can dive this plan."
I don't care if the "guides" are a dive god, card collector or a newb. I can comfortably do this dive alone, and they're only coming because the rules say so.
I will give them an out "If anything doesn't feel right - do not dive!"

Certification is not indicative of capability. Your insurance is not dependent on your "guide's" card collection, only yours.

 

[KaptainAddock]

thats because they've likely done virtually every route on the Coolidge a thousand times and know within a few BAR how much gas theyre going to use and how long they will take to within a few minutes and know every nook and cranny on the boat, what are you wanting them to plan ?

theyre repeating the same dive over and over

I did the stern on the coolidge with my 'guide' he had a single tank and a 6 litre pony - i was somewhat taken aback at his lack of redundancy but if youve done enough diving in the third world pacific areas youll find its the norm as is penetration diving without running a line. YOU need to decide
what your comfortable with, if your not happy dont do it. If your expecting the 'guides' to meet your requirements you may find yourself sitting a few out

At some point in your diving career your going to find you have more exeprience that most of the guides you encounter then what are you going to do?

I have decided to Help Dives Guides exploited but some negligent and Fraudulent operators , it is not about me having more experiences or them having dived the same dive site xxxxxxx times .
It is about exploitation of the few, charging top $ by the Owner Operator and drip feeding small $ to get the staff at call. And controlling the situation by not training the Staffs. It is about an Industry of Make believed, smoke mirrors and pretenses.

 

[KaptainAddock]

To the OP. I don't understand this question. If you are paying this person, you can ask for any damn thing you want. Ask for their blood type, credit rating, mother's maiden name, references, whatever. If you don't get it, go somewhere else. Don't hire them. Dive elsewhere.
If you don't think they are qualified, walk away. If you choose to get in the water with someone you believe is unqualified, that's on you.

And to all the Perry Mason wannabes, if the guide kills you, you wont care what happens in court.



Do you expect students to act like anything other than students?

the missing point is about "go some where else" , the local agency in fact the name is VSOA , in Vanuatu, write the rules and the rules say , you cannot dive the dive site unless you dive with a VSOA members. But the VSOA members does not respect the rules written by Themself . Employing, non trained or certified Guides, and are paying very small money and the best part the Leading Agency , ooops what about it ??

 

[KaptainAddock]

The guides have ...actual...real experience but apparently wihout the certs, does that matter

What matter is,do you want to work for peanuts? because, no, the Certification does not matter , but the test of the peanuts does, and it test like a rotten situation for the profit of the few. And that what matter.and with the blessing of the so Call leading Diving Agency , what a Jokes

 

[KaptainAddock]

If you are planning to conduct a any type of dive with a guide it is not unreasonable to expect the Guide is qualified to conduct the dive. It is also not unreasonable to ask the dive operator at the time of booking the dive who your guide will be and what there qualifications and experience are.

If in doubt dont be afraid to ask for proof of qualifications & experience.

thank you for your Non emotional and clear view on the matter . I have asked many time including SDITDI USA and Australia , the Vanuatu Scuba Operator Association or VSOA , The owner of the Dive center In Vanuatu Pacific Dive and and only one of the staff did provide a ANDP certification from SDITDI.

 

[KaptainAddock]

Ethic and Scuba Diving

"I have a serious concern about local diving practices that seem to contradict global safety standards. I inquired as to why a local law appears to supersede the universally accepted safety protocols upheld by major dive agencies like PADI and SDI/TDI. Specifically, these agencies do not condemn the practice of using non-certified guides to lead technical dives. I consider this practice to be extremely cheap and reckless."

Elaboration: Is This a Fraud, a Sham, or Something Else?

This situation is less a single "fraud" and more a dangerous loophole created by a conflict between international standards, local laws, and economic pressures. Here’s a breakdown:

1. The "World View" of Diving Safety (PADI, TDI, etc.)

Major training agencies like PADI (for recreational) and TDI (for technical) are primarily standards-setting and certification bodies. Their core principle is:

· Only certified individuals should lead dives at a level matching their certification.

· A Technical Diving Guide (or equivalent) is a specific, advanced certification. It requires rigorous training in leading dives in overhead environments (caves, wrecks), with mixed gases, and in decompression diving.

· Their power lies in liability and insurance. A dive professional operating outside their certification voids their insurance and any support from the agency.( But this as to be proven) Often the agency prefers not to interfere, after all they are selling a product.

For a dive center, hiring an uncertified guide would likely void their business insurance if an accident occurred. (Again, this as to be proven, Insurances is also a product)

They "do not condemn" it in a legal sense everywhere because they can't.

They are not global law enforcement. Their authority ends with their members and affiliated dive centers.

2. The "Local Law" That Supersedes

This is the critical factor. In some destinations:

· Lack of Regulation: There may be no specific national or local laws that define who is legally allowed to lead a technical dive. The law might be silent on the required certifications.

· Different Definition of "Guide": The local law might define a "dive guide" based on years of experience, local knowledge, or a simple, basic government-issued license that doesn't distinguish between leading a reef dive at 12 meters and a decompression dive on a wreck at 60 meters.

· Economic Pressure: In popular tourist destinations, there is high demand for exciting (technical) dives. There may be a shortage of properly certified guides, or operators may want to cut costs by using cheaper, uncertified labor.

So, the local law doesn't necessarily "supersede" the world view; it often just fails to enforce it or create a legal framework that matches it.

Is It a Fraud or a Sham?

· Fraud: If the dive operator is knowingly misrepresenting the guide's qualifications to you (e.g., claiming they are "TDI-certified" when they are not), then that is absolutely fraudulent. You are paying for a service under false pretenses.

Sham: The entire practice can be considered a sham because it creates a false sense of security. It shamelessly exploits the gap between what is safe and what is merely legal (or not illegal). It is a cheap shortcut ("superchery" is a great term for it) that prioritizes profit over safety.

The Reality: Most often, it's a grossly irresponsible and dangerously negligent practice. The operator is playing Russian roulette with clients' lives to save money. They are relying on the guide's "experience" over validated, structured training. Technical diving is unforgiving; experience alone is not a substitute for the systematic risk management learned in proper courses.

What You Should Do:

1.Vote with Your Wallet:

This is the most powerful tool. Do not dive with any operation that cannot or will not provide proof of their guides' certifications for the specific type of diving you are doing. A reputable technical dive operation will be proud to show you their credentials.

2. Ask Direct Questions: Before booking, ask: "What is the exact certification of the guide who will be leading this technical dive? Can I see a copy of their TDI Technical Guide (or equivalent) card?"

3. Report to Agencies: If you find a dive center that is affiliated with PADI or TDI or else, and they are engaging in this practice, you can report them to the agency. They risk losing their affiliation because it violates the agency's standards, even if it doesn't violate local law. (But do not hold your breath)

4. Spread Awareness: Tell other divers. This kind of practice thrives in secrecy. Informed divers will avoid these operators, forcing them to either adhere to higher standards or go out of business.

In conclusion:
While it may not always be illegal fraud, it is unequivocally a shameless and dangerous betrayal of established safety protocols. The concern is not just valid—it is crucial for your own safety and the safety of others. Always insist on properly certified professionals for any dive, especially technical ones.

 

[lizardland]

Maybe you should be questioning the culture of needing a guide for a technical dive and the way that businesses try to convince divers that they are incapable of planning and executing advanced dives without killing themselves. If you aren't capable of doing a 60m dive independently then having a guide doesn't make it safer. If you are capable then why tolerate companies insisting on the need for guides?

Part of me thinks that one of the aims of diver training agencies isn't to train divers, it's to instill the belief that divers are incompetent and that somehow "professionals" are magically better. I take it for granted that the rest of the world dives like the UK does: boat operators are maritime taxi drivers and what you do underwater is your business and your responsibility. Then I go abroad and see the horror show that is industrialised diving and it makes me realise how lucky we are.

 

[KaptainAddock]

Maybe you should be questioning the culture of needing a guide for a technical dive and the way that businesses try to convince divers that they are incapable of planning and executing advanced dives without killing themselves. If you aren't capable of doing a 60m dive independently then having a guide doesn't make it safer. If you are capable then why tolerate companies insisting on the need for guides?

Part of me thinks that one of the aims of diver training agencies isn't to train divers, it's to instill the belief that divers are incompetent and that somehow "professionals" are magically better. I take it for granted that the rest of the world dives like the UK does: boat operators are maritime taxi drivers and what you do underwater is your business and your responsibility. Then I go abroad and see the horror show that is industrialised diving and it makes me realise how lucky we are.

i m glad that you get the drift of what i try to exposed