Popeye
Contributor
Groundhog246 once bubbled...
I have an aquaintance with almost 20 years diving experience, IF you go by the fact he got his OW C-card almost 20 years ago (he has done other courses since). Of course in the last 10 years he's only dove on trips South, usually for a week or two a year and not at all for the last 4 years. He's the kind of guy who'd hop a plane next month, show his card, claim 20 years since his certification and several hundred dives (and rightly claim hundreds of dives), but not mention the 4 year hiatus. A prime candidate to be a DAN statistic.
Due to this type of problem, divers showing up for the first time at my LDS to rent or purchase gear or join a dive trip, are usually asked to show their log book, as well as a C-card. I've known a couple to get upset and bad mouth the shop. If it's been a while since you dove, they'll probably insist you come back with a bathing suit and towel to demostrate your skills in their pool. If you can demonstrate acceptable knowledge and skills (eg. hook your gear up correctly) no problem. If you can't, they'll probably suggest a refresher course and decline to rent you gear.
They have failed students at OW dives I've attended. Rare, because most fail at the classroom/pool level, or made to repeat until they're ready for OW.
I never fail to be amused at the hubris of the "experienced" diver. I agree with your point completely. I participate very actively in a Usenet dive group, and in 5 years, I've met and dived with 55 different members, some repetatively. And while the majority were solid, there were some spectacular exceptions, with divers claiming great experience.
But.
I certainly didn't see it as the fault of their instructor.