redhatmama,
-PADI is not part of the Universal Referral Program.
-A PADI instructor IS allowed to conduct your referral dives for you but will not issue a certification.
-The instructor back home will order your permanent card.
-This is, IMO, just a way for PADI instructors to be able to accomodate customers, make $$ and not have the responsibility for the cert. Not necessarily a bad thing, but there it is.
Why don't you find an instructor who can issue you a temporary card? NAUI, SSI, YMCA, PDIC, and IDEA are part of the Universal system. Hire an instructor to complete your dives and then dive with that shop.
In order for the PADI instructor to certify you he/she would have to follow these guidelines:
Non-PADI to PADI Referrals
Verification and Documentation Verification
* Review the referral document to verify that the student has completed the
knowledge and skill development portions of an entry-level scuba course.
Retain a copy of the referral form.
Verify that the student has completed a water skills assessment (at least a 200 metre/yard swim or 300 metre/yard mask, snorkel, and fin swim and a 10 minute tread/float).
Verify that the training completion date listed on the referral document is not older than 12 months.
Documentation Next, have the student complete a PADI Medical Statement, Standard Safe Diving Practices Statement of Understanding, and Liability Release (Certificate of Understanding) and Assumption of Risk Agreement.
Preassessment
You must ensure that the student successfully completes the entire PADI Scuba Review program (refer to the Scuba Review Instructor Guide) along with the PADI Open Water Diver Final Exam. Remediate the students knowledge and skills, as necessary, before any open water training occurs.
Use the PADI Skill Evaluation to assess student skills. In addition to the skills listed on the PADI Skill Evaluation Grade Sheet, the student must also demonstrate mastery of the following skills:
Underwater swim without a mask
Air depletion exercise
Air depletion/Alternate Air Source (AAS) combined exercise
Training
A student referred from a certification organization other than PADI must complete
Open Water Dives One and Two for Scuba Diver certification, or One through Four for Open Water Diver certification.
Certification
As the instructor completing the open water dives, only you can certify the student. You must submit a PADI Positive Identification Card (PIC) envelope to PADI for processing and retain the students referral documents. You must submit the PIC within seven days of the completion of the course.
No matter what, have fun!
Neil