Has anyone run into charters that are picky about which agencies they'll accept C Cards from? (Speaking mainly of the main agencies, not lesser known ones)
I recently ran into a charter that wouldn't accept SDI Open Water certifications. This caught my eye as I did my OW with SDI and later my AOW with a NAUI shop. I had always been told that SDI was no different than PADI or any other agency, and when seeing the training others have gotten from other agencies I always felt mine was on par or exceeded theirs. The only thing I can remember being mentioned as different with SDI is that they don't require teaching tables, they cover the computer from the beginning. Our instructor thoroughly covered tables so I don't feel like I missed anything on that aspect.
It is irrelevant to me as I am past OW and with a different agency to boot, but this was the first time I have seen an operator specify an agency like this. Here is the wording from their website for anyone who is curious:
All participants must be certified through an internationally recognized and accepted Scuba Training Agency. Scuba Diving International, SDI certification is not recognized by the industry to meet the minimum standards of training for Open Water Diving and will not be accepted. If you have a question if your training or certification meets the minimum industry standard, feel free to give us a call or compare your training to the below Industry Standard.
Industry standards require a minimum course that includes: 12 hours academics, with an instructor in a classroom (not online), 12 hours pool training with an instructor, and 5 open water dives including 4 on Scuba and one skin dive.
I recently ran into a charter that wouldn't accept SDI Open Water certifications. This caught my eye as I did my OW with SDI and later my AOW with a NAUI shop. I had always been told that SDI was no different than PADI or any other agency, and when seeing the training others have gotten from other agencies I always felt mine was on par or exceeded theirs. The only thing I can remember being mentioned as different with SDI is that they don't require teaching tables, they cover the computer from the beginning. Our instructor thoroughly covered tables so I don't feel like I missed anything on that aspect.
It is irrelevant to me as I am past OW and with a different agency to boot, but this was the first time I have seen an operator specify an agency like this. Here is the wording from their website for anyone who is curious:
All participants must be certified through an internationally recognized and accepted Scuba Training Agency. Scuba Diving International, SDI certification is not recognized by the industry to meet the minimum standards of training for Open Water Diving and will not be accepted. If you have a question if your training or certification meets the minimum industry standard, feel free to give us a call or compare your training to the below Industry Standard.
Industry standards require a minimum course that includes: 12 hours academics, with an instructor in a classroom (not online), 12 hours pool training with an instructor, and 5 open water dives including 4 on Scuba and one skin dive.