I just read a thread by an Instructor who was on a dive boat and noticed many of the tanks were well past 5 year out of hydro. He seemed to be pointing out how the crew seemed okay with the tanks being out of hydro (one as much as 8 years without a hydrostatic inspection). He didn't want to name the shop. He just wanted to confirm whether or not tanks had to be hydro tested every 5 years. Was this different from state by state? Was it more a guideline, a rule or a legal requirement.
That is not what struck me as interesting. People started calling out the OP about how, as a "dive professional" he should be naming the shop and warning others who they should not do business with. Others started questioning what a "dive professional" was.
My father was a certified steamfitter. He went to school, got certified and renewed his certification on a regular basis. When asked what he did, he was a 'professional' steamfitter. Most people who went to school to become a certified 'professional' tradesperson took what they did for a living seriously. And they did it for a living. There were some who weren't great and cut corners. My father was occasionally hired to gather evidence and testify against them in court. I don't know anyone who decided to go to school, become certified and do something completely unrelated.
As a computer consultant I have meet a few people who are 'divemasters'. When they find out I'm a divemaster they start talking to me about it. I'd ask them where they worked. They don't and never did. They seem surprised to find out I actually worked as a divemaster. Most don't have their own gear. They rent everything and might go diving once every few years.
Am I off? Is recreational divers obtaining divemaster certification a common thing? Is becoming a divemaster too easy? Does being a 'professional' diver have less meaning than other industries?
That is not what struck me as interesting. People started calling out the OP about how, as a "dive professional" he should be naming the shop and warning others who they should not do business with. Others started questioning what a "dive professional" was.
My father was a certified steamfitter. He went to school, got certified and renewed his certification on a regular basis. When asked what he did, he was a 'professional' steamfitter. Most people who went to school to become a certified 'professional' tradesperson took what they did for a living seriously. And they did it for a living. There were some who weren't great and cut corners. My father was occasionally hired to gather evidence and testify against them in court. I don't know anyone who decided to go to school, become certified and do something completely unrelated.
As a computer consultant I have meet a few people who are 'divemasters'. When they find out I'm a divemaster they start talking to me about it. I'd ask them where they worked. They don't and never did. They seem surprised to find out I actually worked as a divemaster. Most don't have their own gear. They rent everything and might go diving once every few years.
Am I off? Is recreational divers obtaining divemaster certification a common thing? Is becoming a divemaster too easy? Does being a 'professional' diver have less meaning than other industries?