Which certification to bring on dive trip?

[tinaCZ]

Thanks, I’m not “Putting Another Dollar In” to get an e-card; if they were serious about plastics it would be free and you’d have to pay for plastic IMHO.

Do you think a screen shot of the padi certifications from the padi account is ever going to be a problem?
I realised with horror yesterday that I would have to pay 2x 57 USD for 2 ecards ( AOW and EON) (plus the same for my buddy/ husband..) and just decided to use the screenshots... I have emailed the screenshots already twice before to the dive shops and it was never a problem .. It is unbelievable they want this money...just to show you the same information in a different layout???
I never got any physical cards, not sure if I was supposed to..

 

[scubadada]

Except for Solo. I have never needed anything but AOW and nitrox for any recreational dive, anywhere. I have used DPV to avoid a guided dive before rental.

 

[ZephyrNYC]

I've been a qualified instructor since 1996 and normally show my instructor qualification.

Only twice have I had an issue:

• In the Bahamas I was asked to take a student and sign-off a deep certification (40m).
• In Cozumel I showed my BSAC Advanced Instructor which was mistaken for PADI's Assistant Instructor and asked to help out on an Open Water course.

When I showed my BSAC Advanced Diver in Granada, I was asked if I wanted to do the PADI Rescue (the owner was laughing in the background and told the receptionist that as a BSAC AD I could most likely teach the course.)

Did they offer to pay you?

 

[gamon]

I've got close to 800 dives, probably 2/3 were off of commercial charters. With the exception of CocoView in Roatan who for reasons unknown "confiscated" our C cards for the duration of our stay, I've never been asked for a physical card.

I hand over my phone which has photos of all my C-cards starting with my SSI advanced (that shows the Nitrox certification, then the Solo card, and tell them they're free to scroll as far down the list of remaining cards as far as they like.

 

[The Chairman]

Did they offer to pay you?

Never. Ever.

It's a balance. Showing an instructor's card usually affords you a bit of leeway at a resort or liveaboard. It also sends a message that you're ready to help out to a point. If you don't want that, then show a different card or bring a buddy, even two.

 

[Wookie]

I prefer to show a trimix instructor card from an obscure agency.

I never dive solo on vacation and the card takes care of my number of dives and gas choice. The obscure agency takes care of being asked to do anything.

 

[The Chairman]

The obscure agency takes care of being asked to do anything.

So, which agency would that be???