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

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I was a boat captain in the keys. We ask the question to determine where to dive and how likely we’ll be performing CPR on you. While I hate the questions, they are valid.
 
I was a boat captain in the keys. We ask the question to determine where to dive and how likely we’ll be performing CPR on you. While I hate the questions, they are valid.

Like I said, legal forms and boat captains get an automatic pass: they get an (accurate) answer that will let me do the level of dive I want to do. Everybody else, not so much.
 
Usually a blank look of, huh. Had that when I used my Altitude Diver card years ago in Cozumel.

Technically, altitude diver IS the highest certification.

That may be my first cert I’ll do just for the c-card. Normally I answer with a cert just high enough to make the dive. Even showing a rescue card could get you buddied up with the newbie air hog.

Sam
 
I try to always show the appropriate card for the dive - AOW/Nitrox does it for recreational dives. For a little while after I got my trimix rebreather cert, I showed that because I was very proud of it. It caused lots of confusion so I went back to showing AOW/Nitrox. If I have paying students with me I show an instructor card, but never if I am not working.
 
@Capt Jim Wyatt is right on.

I'm generally a recreational diver. I have a PADI card from 2004 that shows the combo of Rescue and Nitrox, I don't think they offer the combo card anymore. It's the only card I generally show anywhere in the world.

I take my Solo card if I intend to dive solo and the operator does not know me. I have taken my DPV card on a few occasions when I wanted to rent a scooter, to avoid having to do a check out dive first. Nobody has ever cared to see my Deep card, I don't carry it, AOW seems sufficient for rec limits.
I heard someone went to dive center down south and asked for nitrox and was denied so he gave them his tri mix card and said can we take out the helium. I remember seeing it on this forum don’t remember the rest.
 
i just keep all my C-cards in one of those accordion wallet inserts, and when i show up i just unroll it in a dramatic fashion, like a kings herald reading a scroll

1027_alt10__45236.1591230978.jpg
 
I usually show them this card to get a laugh about the 70s mustache and sideburns. In Grand Cayman once an attractive female less than half my age said it looked like a 70s porn actor. I was too slow on the uptake to ask her if she liked my work.

750805 PADI Instructor Cert Bck sanitized.jpg

750805 PADI Instructor Cert Frt sanitized.jpg
 

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I should try to get a scuba diver card.

Kosta, I recently came across a small stack of these blank cards tucked into the binder pocket of my 1974 YMCA Instructor's looseleaf manual, so for an exorbitant fee....

Blank YMCA SCUBA Diver card front.jpg
 
Kosta, I recently came across a small stack of these blank cards tucked into the binder pocket of my 1974 YMCA Instructor's looseleaf manual, so for an exorbitant fee....

View attachment 643841
but that's the full course, right? I was thinking of the 2-dive certification where you still need a dive pro to dive with you.


I usually show them this card to get a laugh about the 70s mustache and sideburns. In Grand Cayman once an attractive female less than half my age said it looked like a 70s porn actor. I was too slow on the uptake to ask her if she liked my work.

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Those are awesome! Yes, in your shoes, that's what I would show too!
 
Why? If the majority of recreational deep dives offered by dive operators to people showing AOW are done safely, then what's the point in asking for certs or courses above that? If people are killing mosquitos with fly swatters why ask if they own elephant guns! :wink:

I always offer my master diver cert to boat operators because that is the highest cert I have and I'm proud of it. On one trip that was a negative designation for me. As I was assembling my equipment on the boat before departure, the captain said "Where is my master diver?" I raised my hand. The captain buddyed me up with a newbie who had less than a month of diving. Our dive lasted 15 minutes and I had 1900 psi left in my tank! It was probably a great comfort to the crew that I was paired with such a novice diver.
Yeah I've heard of that happening--getting paired with a newbie. I have been lucky in that department.
It's one thing to dive locally and buddy with a new diver, helping them out, etc. I've done that a couple of times and enjoyed it. But it's a different story when you pay big bucks to do a charter.
 

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