How to answer "what is your highest certification level"?

[Bert van den Berg]

Most often when diving with a new dive operator or even the same dive operator with a new/different crew you will be asked a few questions such as when was your last dive, have you dived in cold water, how many dives and what is your highest certification level.

I can easily tell the op when my last dive was, how many and if I have cold water experience.

I don't know the answer to the last question because I don't know how different certifications are ranked. I am guessing that OW is the lowest, AOW next, Rescue next. Where do the other certifications rank? If asked does does Solo/Self reliant rank higher? How about Deep or Wreck or Cave, Nitrox, drysuit, etc?

 

[GF99/99]

Haha good question. My favorite is when you get a fresh out of there IDC 19 year old and you respond with TDI Advanced Mixed Gas or IANTD Expedition Trimix and then they just look at you with a really confused face, there head sideways and go "Huh?" so then you just say AOW and they nod there head and excitingly go "ohhhh ok!!"

 

[happy-diver]

Treating the crew like your subordinates in bastardry
Yeah, setting yourself up for a nice day on the water.

I like to show them aow, combined with my grey hair
smile, using their name and shake hands, and smile

 

[GF99/99]

Treating the crew like your subordinates in bastardry
Yeah, setting yourself up for a nice day on the water.

I like to show them aow, combined with my grey hair
smile, using their name and shake hands, and smile

Yes your correct I have had wonderful days in the water. I have never had a problem and never had a bad day in the water. When did I ever say I treat the crew like my "subordinates in bastardry" I never said to be rude to the crew. The whole point was I was relating to the OP as there are many different ways to respond to the question due to all the different certifications beyond AOW yes you can answer with your current certification but in the end its easier to just say AOW.

Generally that is all a dive operator needs to know is OW or AOW so they can pick a dive site/plan accordingly or brake into 18m groups and 30m groups.

 

[Jcp2]

And nitrox,

 

[Edward3c]

I just give Advanced Diver / Advanced Instructor. Then go diving.

On the few occasions I get asked to help out I inform the staff my rate is US$2,500 per dive.

 

[hedonist222]

I just give Advanced Diver / Advanced Instructor. Then go diving.

On the few occasions I get asked to help out I inform the staff my rate is US$2,500 per dive.

I once calculated my leisure time to be at least $4,000 an hour and that had to be booked for at least three slots.

 

[Searcaigh]

how many dives and what is your highest certification level.

Depends on where I'm diving and for what reason.

For normal rec diving it's PADI AOW + Nitrox card set.
For Tech, it's the IANTD Trimix card set.

Number of dives they can check my logbook, but generally it's >1,000.

 

[letterboy]

Most often when diving with a new dive operator or even the same dive operator with a new/different crew you will be asked a few questions such as when was your last dive, have you dived in cold water, how many dives and what is your highest certification level.

I can easily tell the op when my last dive was, how many and if I have cold water experience.

I don't know the answer to the last question because I don't know how different certifications are ranked. I am guessing that OW is the lowest, AOW next, Rescue next. Where do the other certifications rank? If asked does does Solo/Self reliant rank higher? How about Deep or Wreck or Cave, Nitrox, drysuit, etc?

I provide whatever certifications are required for the dive at hand.

If it's a dive that requires aow - I show them that. If it's a basic dive, I show that.

But I also make sure I include I've done lots of other training, and done dives in other locations and conditions.

Some operators just want to know if you have been diving in conditions that you are going to experience on the dive you're doing. Ie, have you been deep and dark, or is most of your diving shallow reef drifts.

I think it's key to try and turn the conversation into just that, they're not trying to be nosey, or anything. In my experience, DM's are trying to figure out who they're going to have to babysit, and who is a self licking ice cream cone.

 

[Superlyte27]

I used to tell people ANSI 98-01 Comm Diver certed to 500’

That was right after commercial dive school. I probably haven’t been asked to show a C-Card in 15+ years now. When you show up with three students wearing rebreathers and scooters, they don’t seem to ask