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Wednesday 9 July 2014

The PADI Boat Diver certification

If I don't have a Boat Diver certification, am I still allowed to dive from a boat? Ever been asked this question before? Yes, I have been asked that exact question more than just a number of times.


You feel like the patsy in a PADI money making scam - you would be right in thinking that. Sometimes you just have to tell it as it is.

PADI are taking you for a fool - don't hand over your hard earned money for such a blatant rip-off. I would like to know if any divers have been refused boat dives because of a lack of a boat diver certification?

You are, after all, not being asked to skipper the boat and resume responsibility for the safety of the vessel or its passengers. Nor are you required to meet any regulatory frameworks or insurance requirements as the skipper has to be licenced.

In many localities, the deckhand doesn't even require licencing or qualifications whilst working under the direction and supervision of the skipper. You are being taken for a ride, not just by the skipper - but by PADI too.

2 comments:

  1. Before taking on any specialty in any agency, examine exactly what having that specialty card actually does to enhance your diving ability.

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  2. You raise an interesting point John, the collection of c-cards and diver competence. Courses such as search and recovery teach specialist skills. If you need to take a peak performance buoyancy class, you need to ask yourself, what did I miss out on in my entry level class. Likewise, I would be more than happy to take a photography class from certain instructors, I might even consider taking a boat to the dive site.

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