Which AOWD cert is more useful? PADI or ACUC?

[hmb]

I do not mean training , but what will be after it... How useful is the c-card.
Say, I'm coming to a dive shop, show my PADI AOWD card or AOWD card from ACUC - would I be always treated the same way? Presuming the same diving experience...

TIA

 

[Vayu]

The experience itself is much more telling than the certification card. The way shops treat you doesn't matter. Find a shop that will treat you like a good customer regardless of certifying agency. Your own skills will dictate your confidence and thusly how you may be treated in the water and out of it.

 

[divemaster_jim]

The only other thing I can add is that the PADI cert. is more recognized than the two. At all the shops I've seen as long as you've got a C card they don't much care where you got it from.

 

[dl348]

PADI is definitely the most recognized, but to answer your question all c-cards of the same training level are equally "useful".

 

[RJP]

Say, I'm coming to a dive shop, show my PADI AOWD card or AOWD card from ACUC - would I be always treated the same way?

Want a card that will effect how you are treated at a dive shop? Try one of these...

 

[Tigerman]

Want a card that will effect how you are treated at a dive shop? Try one of these...

Or even better, a wide collection of different creditcards in all the colors of the rainbow and particularilly the gold colored ones..

 

[jarhed]

I don't think too much of the adv open water card. Next step after open water is lots of experiance then on to rescue diver. these are more usefule skills IMHO.

 

[captndale]

This is how I rank divers who come to dive on my boat:
1. Open Water Diver
2. Advanced Open Water Diver
3. Rescue Diver
4. Dive Master
5. Experienced Diver (at least 50 dives + dives below 100 ft + wreck dives)
6. Instructor
7. Very Experienced Diver (100 dives + dives to 130 ft + many wreck dives)
8. Technical Divers
9. Tri-mix divers

I pay no attention to agencies but I do take note of the instructor's name on their cards.

 

[Tigerman]

This is how I rank divers who come to dive on my boat:
1. Open Water Diver
2. Advanced Open Water Diver
3. Rescue Diver
4. Dive Master
5. Experienced Diver (at least 50 dives + dives below 100 ft + wreck dives)
6. Instructor
7. Very Experienced Diver (100 dives + dives to 130 ft + many wreck dives)
8. Technical Divers
9. Tri-mix divers

I pay no attention to agencies but I do take note of the instructor's name on their cards.

So if I had 55 dives, dives below 100 feet and wreck dives, but only an AOWD cert, I would be? Ranked 2 or ranked 5?

 

[Packhorse]

How about if I had done 500 dives some deco and only OW? 1 or 8?