I've just returned to diving after a very, very long hiatus. I have a question for the real veterans out there who have been around since the 70s, as to how NASDS used to classify certifications....
I was originally certified in (!) 1976 with NASDS as a teenager. I well remember doing both the OW as well as the AOW courses, but my original logs are long lost. Looking at my C card, which hasn't yet crumbled away to dust, the card clearly says "OPEN WATER CERTIFICATION", but says underneath "This card is to certify that the diver named has completed an Advanced Training Program under the sanction of the National Association of Skin Diving Schools". The card has my name, the LDS's name, and the Instructors name on the front. On the back is a series of specialties listed, with my Instructor having dated and signed me off as completing "Life Saving", "Air Consumption", "Navigation", "Night", "Deep", "Dirty Water" and "Emergency Ascent" specialty dives.
Was it standard at the time for NASDS to call the ADVANCED OW course "Open Water Certification", (or using the same card for both OW and AOW), conferring the AOW cert by signing off certain specialties, and not give a separate AOW card as PADI does now?
BTW, I'm now PADI certified, having started from absolute zero last winter after so much time away. I have a few specialties done, Rescue and other specialties next year, and plan to go on to at least DM, so I plan to stay very active. Next dives are in three weeks in St Thomas with Blue Island Divers - woo-hoo.
I was originally certified in (!) 1976 with NASDS as a teenager. I well remember doing both the OW as well as the AOW courses, but my original logs are long lost. Looking at my C card, which hasn't yet crumbled away to dust, the card clearly says "OPEN WATER CERTIFICATION", but says underneath "This card is to certify that the diver named has completed an Advanced Training Program under the sanction of the National Association of Skin Diving Schools". The card has my name, the LDS's name, and the Instructors name on the front. On the back is a series of specialties listed, with my Instructor having dated and signed me off as completing "Life Saving", "Air Consumption", "Navigation", "Night", "Deep", "Dirty Water" and "Emergency Ascent" specialty dives.
Was it standard at the time for NASDS to call the ADVANCED OW course "Open Water Certification", (or using the same card for both OW and AOW), conferring the AOW cert by signing off certain specialties, and not give a separate AOW card as PADI does now?
BTW, I'm now PADI certified, having started from absolute zero last winter after so much time away. I have a few specialties done, Rescue and other specialties next year, and plan to go on to at least DM, so I plan to stay very active. Next dives are in three weeks in St Thomas with Blue Island Divers - woo-hoo.