For the scuba divers out there--
I'm interested in going diving in central and southern america. I have a what I believe to be a fairly rare certification that no one (even in the US, where I got it) seems to have heard of.

Any of you have problems with odd certifications and shops not letting you dive with them?

I have an open water certification from "PDIC".

Dave

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http://davegtravels.com - RTW on a DRZ
All the way south - Texas to Tierra del Fuego in '08-'09

I would suggest getting a PADI licence, easier to get than a BSAC one, I once met people in the Maldives that had 'problems' with a BSAC and also one of French origin. Although Cuba would have accepted a driving licence!

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'He who laughs last, was too slow to get the joke'
Never confuse the map with the journey.

I would agree, if possible get a padi course under your belt.
I did the BSAC course a few years ago, good thorough training, but padi is the easiest (quickest) way to get underwater safely. It is much more suited towards holiday recreational diving, and is accepted everywhere.

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Harley Davidsons,
The most effective way of turning petrol into noise without the side-effect of horsepower

I second, or Third that advice....PADI is way 2 go.

bit like cash, its accepted EVERYWHERE!

You can get your PADI ticket in Uttila, off the coast of Honduras for about $220, includes lodging. Awesome deal, and even more awesome diving. After the course, diving is about $25 a tank.

I abandon the Scuba activity many years a go, when CMAS certificates was the mainly common ones.
I was diving in the Red Sea, Brasil and Patagonia and no one ask me for a certificate.
In 2003 I went to dive again in Pto. Madryn nobody ask my certificate. Fortunately, because I lost it.
Saludos

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Javier...
Dakar Motos “ ”

I've scuba dived for 30 years. Never been asked for a certifcate. I've dove all over the world spearfishing mostly. I'd take my boat out and spearfish on the oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico... Alone. I guess that's some sort of violation....No No. I guess if you feel you need the instruction, go for it. There are plenty of books out there you can read on the subject. There is no "license" required to sport dive although the various associations give you the impression that you can't put your toe in the water without their say so. I stay away from the "resorts" as you can't spearfish at them which leaves me usually in remote areas with local equipment. I dove one time at a "resort" in Mexico. Showed up in the morning at the boat in my usual gear.... Longjohn underwear and cutoff jeans. my dive knife is the knife I used to butter my toast that morning for breakfast which I "borrowed" from the restaurant. It was a "Fashion Show" of expensive wetsuits, compasses, and foot long dive knives strapped to the legs. They looked at me like I was a homeless person. So, whatever turns you on. Read the U.S. Navy dive manual which is the epitome of diving manuals. It covers compressed air as well as gas diving. Most "resort" dives are in like 50-70ft of water. You can free dive that without scuba gear if you have the lung power. The associations seem to control the industry and then get you to buy alot of stuff you don't need. "Do what thou wilst" "Let that be the whole of the law". Good diving and have fun, Smitty

I guess my main question is how particular are dive shops outside of the US about certifications.

The last time I went diving in Hawaii (I went there to go hiking, diving was an afterthought), I didn't have my card, number, dive log, or any certification information other than my word. I had to talk to 3 people in the dive shop to get "special approval" to dive on the boat. No one in the shop heard of PDIC nor did they have the phone number to verify my cert. It was a pain, but really my fault.

The US loves rules and fears insurance companies. Heh, the reason I got a PDIC cert years ago was because it was $20 or $30 cheaper than PADI.

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http://davegtravels.com - RTW on a DRZ
All the way south - Texas to Tierra del Fuego in '08-'09

Get your PADI! It is becoming rarer and rarer to find places, even in the third world, that will rent you equipment without you having some form of open water training. Personally I think the HSE sucks, without the inherent danger of doing things that have risks attached to them life would be dull, grey and tasteless....
I used to work for PADI International, but I'm not on commision, they are the best out there. Ran into a few people in Thailand that were having trouble renting tanks because they had a BSAC.

What I may do is go and get an advanced certification from PADI -- Do you know if they recognize other company's Open Water certifications?

Perhaps a PADI Advanced Open Water certification is in my future.

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http://davegtravels.com - RTW on a DRZ
All the way south - Texas to Tierra del Fuego in '08-'09

Get the PADI! If someone askes you for a ticket is not the point. The point is your trained how to dive safely, learning your limits and tested at them. If the instructor feels you are not ready to solve a problem when in the water, you don't pass. This is very important! You vow NEVER to dive alone, doing so is reckless IMHO. You can't just go read a book and think you know how to dive. When i took my course, two people quit that day, they didn't have it in them and fear took over. You need to know how to solve problems, together with your partner, when under the water. Especially if your renting gear! What do you do when your at 28m and you have a problem with your gear, shoot to the top?? Get trained properly and follow the rules, be safe and enjoy the out of this world experience of Diving!

This is the right time of year to get trained (indoors at least) they often have really good offers on. I'm PADI and my BSAC buddies think my training is less than theirs because it was a lot quicker. IMHO it's what you do after you're trained that makes the difference. Safety is everything. Pick your diving buddies with care, they're the ones who will save your life if you get in trouble.

Here is what you need to do.....

Often students who completed their initial training with another organization will hear that PADI certification cards are among the most recognized in the world and want their training to end with a PADI certification. This referral process follows the same basic categories as above:

Verification and Documentation
Verification

• Review the referral document to verify that the student has completed the
  knowledge and skill development portions of an entry-level scuba course.

Retain a copy of the referral form.
•Verify that the student has completed a water skills assessment (at least a 200 metre/yard swim or 300 metre/yard mask, snorkel, and fin swim and a 10 minute tread/float).
•Verify that the training completion date listed on the referral document is not older than 12 months.
Documentation – Next, have the student complete a PADI Medical Statement, Standard Safe Diving Practices Statement of Understanding, and Liability Release (Certificate of Understanding) and Assumption of Risk Agreement. If you use the PADI Student Record File, all of these documents are printed there.
Preassessment
You must ensure that the student successfully completes the entire PADI Scuba Review program (refer to the Scuba Review Instructor Guide) along with the PADI Open Water Diver Final Exam. Remediate the student’s knowledge and skills, as necessary, before any open water training occurs.
Use the PADI Skill Evaluation to assess student skills. In addition to the skills listed on the PADI Skill Evaluation Grade Sheet, the student must also demonstrate mastery of the following skills:
• Underwater swim without a mask
• Air depletion exercise
• Air depletion/Alternate Air Source (AAS) combined exercise
Training
A student referred from a certification organization other than PADI must complete
Open Water Dives One and Two for Scuba Diver certification, or One through Four for Open Water Diver certification. For instructional consistency, it’s recommended that the receiving instructor/dive center conducting the preassessment and required remediation completes the open water training.
Certification
As the instructor completing the open water dives, only you can certify the student. You must submit a PADI Positive Identification Card (PIC) envelope to PADI for processing and retain the student’s referral documents. You must submit the PIC within seven days of the completion of the course.

Which is most of the Open Water Course !!! If your already experienced it wont be a problem just annoying that you have to pay again. What you may avoid is having to buy the course material as my interpretation is you dont have to do all the exams.

Go for the advanced course and I can HIGHLY recommend the Rescue Diver course, it makes a massive difference to confidence.

As already stated experience is more relevant and dive with responsible divers within your limits.