Sheesh, nothing like dredging up 2 year old threads.....I'll bet the original poster isn't even an active member any more!
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pt40fathoms:Sheesh, nothing like dredging up 2 year old threads.....I'll bet the original poster isn't even an active member any more!
matt_unique:A certification would have the most value if there were real skills and knowledge to be demonstrated to an independent body. Similar to that of pilot training - it does not matter what flight school you go to - you have to sit with an FAA certifying pilot to get your license. If you can't demonstrate skills and knowledge to their satisfaction, you don't pass - period. This would not eliminate the idea of school favoritism because this certifying diver would have had to be trained from some agency - but it would minimize some of the problems with lax certification.
rstone:As a pilot and a diver I dont think its fair to compare the FAA to PADI or any other dive agency. A pilots license is NOT a certification, and is issued and regulated by the government. Your PADI cert is just that.. a Certification.. and nothing more (its not a license, as much as you might want it to be). I dont think most of you would be in favor of the government regulating who can get a cert and who couldnt. Then again the gov does a crappy job when it comes to handing out drivers licenses.
aboalreem, you should really try to pay attention when you are running searches and posting to these old threads. This thread is from 2005! You have posted many like this in the past few days... adding you 2 cents in to arguments that ended a year (or 3) ago. It's your right, I guess, but it is usually considered better form to join in new threads (or start new discussions) than jump into ancient history and bumping it to the top of the list.