What is considered proof for high level professionals?

[agent62]

Hey all, new to posting here, great site!
I have been working for a dive equipment company for high level divers and I am trying to find a way to verify if these people (potential clients) are actually who they say they are.
PADI course directors have certificates with CD-numbers.
NAUI gives cards with instructor member numbers.
I know SSI gives cards, but I dont know how to check them (whats on them).
UTD gives a 4 digit instructor number.
ACUC and SDI/TDI/ERSI use member numbers, but Ive never seen an instructor card.
I have not been able to find anything about IANTD, nothing about NASE, and nothing for CMAS.
Anything that could help me correctly identify high level professionals would be greatly appreciated !!
Thanks for all your help gentlemen and ladies

 

[Akimbo]

You mean a Visa isn't enough? How unique!

 

[Jim Lapenta]

What do you consider a high level professional? Just because someone is a CD does not mean they aren't a schlump. Just what are you selling to those of us who make money at this?

 

[Nwcid]

I think you would have to define what a "high level diver" is first. Is is someone with a lot of experience but a lower certification level? Does it have to be someone with a higher level of certification yet less experience?

What makes one a "professional"? Do they have to have a full time job doing it? Can they be part time? Volunteer? How about someone who's life outside of work is in the water more then a full time job?

 

[boulderjohn]

I think some of you are missing his point.

The actual diving skill of the individual is not an issue. As an equipment manufacturer, he is trying to deal with people who have some level of ranking within the industry. Such people are influential. Such people are important potential customers. Such a person gets critical deals in order to help set up contracts for future sales. For example, because I am a scuba instructor, some companies will give me special deals on equipment. Many won't--that would be up to a shop that employs me. Some companies will set up a contract with a shop and offer a limited number of hot deals" for that company in a year, deals only available to people with a high enough ranking to make it worth their while. The idea is that there is a payoff of some sort, making it an investment. At the very least, a new diver seeing the professionals around him all decked out with a certain brand of equipment may be inclined to buy that kind of equipment.

 

[knotical]

By now I suspect that all or at least most agencies are somewhat similar to PADI. From the level of DiveMaster (or equivalent) and above, the professional has a number. Verifying that number against his/her name and level with the certifying agency seems to make sense. For example, you can do it with PADI pros by going to: http://www.padi.com/scuba/prochek/ and entering the number.

I have PM’d the moderators here on ScubaBoard who do similar checks to allow pros into the Instructor-to-Instructor forum. One of them might chime in with more hints.

 

[tc]

The PADI pro check site is listed above, you need just their instructor or DM number and it shows their name and status.

NAUI has an instructor verification page where you enter their number and it gives you their status. You can also do a search for an instructor with a zip code and it will give a list for the area.

SSI you need their first and last name and date of birth to check. It gives you their name and certification history.

HSA and UTD have a list of their instructors on their web sites.

SDI/TDI/ERDI issue cards and have instructor numbers but no way to search them on their web site. If someone is an instructor for them I ask them to send me a pic of their card but they can also make a printout on the SDI site of the courses they are authorized to teach.

IANTD has an instructor search page if you know their name, area and what they teach.

For any agencies just do a search on the agency initials and "instructor verify" to find the link. Sometimes you can do "find an instructor" instead if you know their location.

For agencies that don't put their instructor info online just have the person take a pic of their card and email it to you. If someone's credentials seem suspect you can always call the agency to double check. (Don't be surprised if the agency wants to verify who you are first)

And once in a great while you'll get someone who comes back with "how dare you ask for my credentials, don't you know who I am?", so far every single one of those I've encountered turned out to be someone with no actual credentials.

 

[Rick Murchison]

Ditto...
Rick

The PADI pro check site is listed above, you need just their instructor or DM number and it shows their name and status.

NAUI has an instructor verification page where you enter their number and it gives you their status. You can also do a search for an instructor with a zip code and it will give a list for the area.

SSI you need their first and last name and date of birth to check. It gives you their name and certification history.

HSA and UTD have a list of their instructors on their web sites.

SDI/TDI/ERDI issue cards and have instructor numbers but no way to search them on their web site. If someone is an instructor for them I ask them to send me a pic of their card but they can also make a printout on the SDI site of the courses they are authorized to teach.

IANTD has an instructor search page if you know their name, area and what they teach.

For any agencies just do a search on the agency initials and "instructor verify" to find the link. Sometimes you can do "find an instructor" instead if you know their location.

For agencies that don't put their instructor info online just have the person take a pic of their card and email it to you. If someone's credentials seem suspect you can always call the agency to double check. (Don't be surprised if the agency wants to verify who you are first)

And once in a great while you'll get someone who comes back with "how dare you ask for my credentials, don't you know who I am?", so far every single one of those I've encountered turned out to be someone with no actual credentials.

 

[TSandM]

GUE also has all their instructors listed on their website.

 

[redacted]

What do you consider a high level professional? Just because someone is a CD does not mean they aren't a schlump. Just what are you selling to those of us who make money at this?

Yeah, you do have to wonder what it could be that a "vacation diver" can sell but only "high level professionals" can buy.