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

[TMHeimer]

Since I got it 10 years ago I have shown the DM card on boats. I was never asked specifically to buddy with a newbie and was allowed to go solo a couple of times when my instabuddy cancelled due to being cold, etc.

 

[Marie13]

For the Great Lakes, if asked, AN/DP card.

For our family recreational vacation trips to really warm water destinations (Bonaire/Curacao/Etc.), Ice Diver card....

@rhwestfall

Please do share the reactions to your ice diving card in the tropics.

 

[MichaelMc]

"Scientific diver at UC Berkeley under AAUS, which I also assisted in teaching."
Which basically says working, cold, kelp and surf. And leads to talking about what we cover in that class like NAUI rescue and master scuba diver and DAN first aid for professional divers. That, plus my BPW, mostly means I can hang off to the side and them not worry about me.

For a card, I give my SSI advanced that lists the complete classes I covered before that: Night, Nav, Boat, Deep, Search, Rescue and CPR.

I think solo is the top rec. card as it covers rescue but with no one else there to help you. With cavern and NAUI master scuba diver also on the shortlist.

 

[KDAD]

I was once asked if I was drysuit certified when I showed up with it at a pool session. I'm not and they wouldn't let me dive it. I was just happy to salvage the session when they started checking the VIPs on my personal tanks that I brought already filled...

As far as other dives the minimum needed for the dive. Some operators don't even ask for it. Show up early with well-used gear, preferably still wet from the previous day, and they're like just get on the boat.

 

[Marie13]

I was once asked if I was drysuit certified when I showed up with it at a pool session. I'm not and they wouldn't let me dive it. I was just happy to salvage the session when they started checking the VIPs on my personal tanks that I brought already filled...
.

I had that same issue with drysuit. Good thing I had my card on me. I was pool diving with two buddies and didn’t have a wetsuit with me as I didn’t own one at the time.

 

[bletso]

Dry suit card? WTH Watched a video, did a pool practice and never looked back. More than 600-700 dives dry and never been ask for a card. But then I seldom dove with groups from dive shops. DM's and DI's generally can be a pain where one sits. Many 'Dive Specialties" are just money makers. Doesn't mean there is no worth in them especially for card collectors. Once had a DM horrified when my wife grabbed her gear and jumped in to put it on down under. I had to point out that she more than likely had more dives than he and she was about to upchuck on his deck.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I just keep my PADI advanced card in my wallet and that works. For nitrox I use my TDI AN card because my PADI Nitrox card split in half in my wallet.
One time showed my TDI DP card to get on a boat and the person checking in the divers insisted that I needed at least an Advanced card to be able to go on the charter.

 

[Jackie Treehorn]

I keep the TDI Trimix card in my wallet. So if asked, I goto it. Almost always never had a problem with it for rec dives with nitrox fills. In some cases they even asked me about specific tank sizes or mix options.

A couple times, usually at resorts, the trainee working the counter wont know what it is.... I quickly apologize, pull out the padi app and show them my MSD and Nitrox cert.

 

[flyboy08]

Certified Cuckoo worked for me.

 

[lermontov]

a lot is ignorance on the dive ops employees side - just show the card that covers the dive charter AOW covers most