im new scuba and have a question

[underwater-freak]

i just got certified and i fell like i got ripped off because i took a collage scuba class and i had just turned 14 my question is why is the padi certification based on your age and not your test scores and skills on your check out dive?
thank you

[Scott]

Congratulations on being certified and sorry you feel you got ripped off.

There are certification levels that have restrictions based on age, namely Junior Open Water which is age 10-14.
Should a diver fail to meet the performance requirements of an Open Water Diver course an Instructor could issue a Scuba Diver rating, this is not age specific.
Did you score 75% or better on all the quizzes and exam? You should have shown mastery of the skills in the pool and during the open water check out dives. Baring some other issues there should have been a card issued.

Can you provide more details on what happened in your case?

[Jim Lapenta]

I thought jr OW was 10-14 and 15 was the break point for adult cert. When did they change it to 10-12?

[Scott]

I thought jr OW was 10-14 and 15 was the break point for adult cert. When did they change it to 10-12?

Typo, changed.

[Hawkwood]

- deleted -

[daniel1948]

... my question is why is the padi certification based on your age and not your test scores and skills on your check out dive?

While there is of course variation between individuals, at age 14 your brain is not yet fully developed, and your analytical and judgmental skills are not yet mature. The age-based certifications recognize that a pre-teen or early teen does not have the level of life experience and mental maturity to provide the same level of buddy support an adult should be able to.

Admittedly, the flaw in this is that many adults are too immature to be safe buddies. But diving is a buddy sport, and the life of a diver can depend on his or her buddy. The adult certifications are a statement by the certifying agency that the holder of the card can perform certain support actions calmly and reliably.

You raise a valid point, that this should really depend on demonstrated ability. And many have complained that certification is given with far too little in the way of demonstrated ability. But it is the rare 14 year old who can show proper judgment and calmness in a life-or-death emergency situation.

OTOH, the earlier you learn a skill, if you keep at it, the more competent you will become.

Enjoy your diving, and dive safe.

[DivemasterDennis]

Dear underwater-freak,
Your junior open water certification isn't really that different than a regular certification. It means you must dive with a professional divemaster, but most people do that anyway, new divers or not, when on a dive trip away from local sites. And many junior open waters dive with a more experienced diver who might not be a professional, like an experienced parent, in controlled environments, and that's not much different than what other new divers do either. You are supposed to limit your depth, but quite frankly, most of the best stuff to see is found in the shallower depths. Soon enough you can convert your junior status to regular status. However, to dive wherever and whenever, you need to gain experience and competence. That's the same for every new diver, regardless of age. Now that you have finished the course, it's not about test scores, its about diving skills. Be an active diver, and learn from every dive. Look at it this way: you are certified to scuba dive. There are only about 4 million of us divers on the entire planet! That means you are part of a very special and elite group. Be proud, be active, and before you know it, you will "outrank" a lot of us "adult" divers.
DivemasterDennis

[beaverdivers]

Ditto Divemaster Dennis's point.

Also, the C-card is just a piece of plastic. Diving is mostly about experience. Go out and Dive and have FUN!

[underwater-freak]

[QUOTE=Scott;6178119]Congratulations on being certified and sorry you feel you got ripped off.

There are certification levels that have restrictions based on age, namely Junior Open Water which is age 10-14.
Should a diver fail to meet the performance requirements of an Open Water Diver course an Instructor could issue a Scuba Diver rating, this is not age specific.
Did you score 75% or better on all the quizzes and exam? You should have shown mastery of the skills in the pool and during the open water check out dives. Baring some other issues there should have been a card issued.

Can you provide more details on what happened in your case?

I was taking the scuba class at a collage with a bunch of collage students i was in the top 90% of my class and I did very well on my check out dive. I was doing so well my dive instrunctor sugested we go and "explore the rest of the small area we where in and even go to 100ft. deep." I didnt cause I only had a shorty because thats all my uncle had for me to borrow. Any info you can give me about why you have to be 15 not to be a jr diver it would help me with my english research report and understand padi's reason i didnt "get ripped off".

[Jill from Phoenix]

So, the instructor should have issued you a Junior Open Water Diver card if you completed all the requirements of the class. When you turn 15, you can upgrade your card to Open Water Diver with just proof of age to PADI. Contrary, when you turn 15, you could also just take an advanced class and obtain a regular adult card that way so you don't have to pay for an extra card. There are no limits for a 14 year old diver compared to a regular adult diver, except you have to dive with a certified adult.

Of course, don't be a dare devil and do anything outside the realm of your training. And don't succumb to peer pressure if your friends try to get you to do something cool, but you know it's dangerous. Until you are 18, your parents will need to sign for you for any waiver of claims, assumption of risks, indemnity releases that come up for renting equipment or signing up for dives with an operator.

Some of the best divers I've seen were under 18. On Catalina Island there is a kids scuba camp. When the kids go to Casino Point, a popular shore site, they can pick out all the flaws and snafu's of the adult divers. They really show 'em all up.