Transfer OW Cert To Another LDS

[Blueringocto_73]

So I have been working for awhile to get cert. out of Monterey. I successfully completed dives 1 & 2 on Saturday but called dives 3 & 4 due to rental gear issues. Speaking to the instructor today I am told that there will be no openings to fit me in for 2 months.

If I hadn't already been working so long towards this cert. I could just shrug it off as another bump in the road. But this seems a bit excessive to me, and I'm interested in finding an instructor who isn't too busy for me. But I don't know if another LDS is allowed to pick up a cert. in progress for Monterey.

Is this something that is done? Assuming I could even find an instructor interested in training a student for Monterey from another LDS.

Obviously students are referred all the time from pool training to offshore destinations for checkout dives.

 

[Diver0001]

In de PADI system there is something called a "referral". Basically it's a piece of paper where your current instructor writes down everything they have done with you so that another instructor can pick it up and carry on with the training from the point where you are. Where I work, every instructor is required to keep notes about every student on a "referral" form so that if something happens and the instructor can't finish the course that we have a clean "hand over".

Most instructors (I do this as well) will want to see you in the pool at least once before carrying on with your training because ... well ... not all instructors are created equally and as the receiving instructor you need to know what the student really can and cannot do....

Normally we charge for this "extra lesson" if the previous instructor is not someone we know, which means that a referral usually ends up increasing costs. However, my opinion is that if your instructor does NOT want to do that extra lesson with you then you should probably run away. Any instructor who is interested in quality will want to do the extra pool session with you.

R..

 

[sheeper]

get your paperwork from the LDS, find another and work out being a "referral".

It does not even have to be PADI. All the major agencies are part of the RSTC and you can go with any LDS and any supporting agency. Just find an LDS and instructor that is smart enough to put you, the customer, first!

 

[oly5050user]

If this is for a PADI course you should have a training log book with all academics,confined water and training dives that have been completed checked off and signed by the instructor. On page 3 and 4 there is a referral training record form that should have been filled out during your course. That can be used as a referral form for future instructor .

 

[tursiops]

All the major agencies are part of the RSTC and you can go with any LDS and any supporting agency!

NAUI is not part of the RSTC.

 

[Blueringocto_73]

Thanks for the info! I'm feeling like I'm not being given any priority over new students who follow me in the certification process. Shouldn't it be first come first serve. Finish cert. on students already in the process over new sign-ups.

If I was an LDS that was trying to maximize profits over service concerns then this would be the way a students needs are addressed.

It wouldn't be that difficult to slip me into a dive class sooner rather than later, if quality of service is the goal.

What is being overlooked is loyalty to an LDS in terms of where gear is purchased. If I feel that I'm not getting the best service I may look elsewhere to purchase dive gear. It's a two way street.

There is a down-side to a business that does not take care of it's customers.

 

[tursiops]

Well, you can say how you think it ought to be, but the shop has already decided how it is going to be. Time to demand your referral paperwork and move on. Better to vote with your feet than with your mouth.

 

[elgoog]

I'm feeling like I'm not being given any priority over new students who follow me in the certification process. Shouldn't it be first come first serve. Finish cert. on students already in the process over new sign-ups.
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It wouldn't be that difficult to slip me into a dive class sooner rather than later, if quality of service is the goal.

The new sign-ups could have happened long before your request to re-schedule. If those classes are already full, the LDS won't be able to fit you in without having to hire more instructors or DMs for that class (I assume there's some max number of students per instructor and it's possible that's already been filled up).

I don't know which LDS you're doing your course with but some of them may only have 2 OW classes go through a month, especially if they don't have their own pool. I will also point out that some shops specifically have a policy that rescheduling ocean days is an additional charge and not included in your original course cost. Not saying if this policy is correct or fair or not, but it's there.

 

[Blueringocto_73]

Well, my LDS is fair when it comes to the price. He is not charging again to finish the reschedule. But I'm to the point where I would possibly go 1 on 1 and pay the increased amount. I'm not bothered by paying more to an instructor who would give me prioritized training.

 

[victorzamora]

I will also point out that some shops specifically have a policy that rescheduling ocean days is an additional charge and not included in your original course cost. Not saying if this policy is correct or fair or not, but it's there.

I can't imagine any shops charging extra for rescheduling due to THEIR gear failures.