OMyMyOHellYes
Contributor
As far as I've learned there are a few agencies offering the solo (SDI) / self-reliaint (PADI & SSI) certification.
Everything I've heard is that they are the same or equivalent courses. But anectdotally I remember reading several posts on SB saying self-reliant divers have been denied access because their card said "Self-reliant" vs "Solo".
If so, I assume this is a prejudice/assumption that self-reliant is learning cert (not unlike boat diver or underwater naturalist) where it would imply some limited amount of education to make one more prepared or competent but not a certification that lends access or privileges like the SDI card would since it plainly says "SOLO DIVER".
A couple of questions.
Do the self-reliant certs recognized by the issuing agencies as a ticket to go jump in by your lonesome and go do your thing or are they just exposure/educational? I ask because when I queried the staff at PADI their response was basically (paraphrased) 'NO. We do not have any kind of solo diving certification. Are you talking about self-reliant diver? We don't offer any kind of solo diver certification.' and continued to want to parse terms and would in no way acknowledge equivalency. Almost, seemingly to me, like their general counsel had put some stern warnings or procedures out there against using or acknowledging the term.
Any knowledge of insurance companies making a distinction?
Any recent evidence(like since 2021) of boat or shoe operators making a distinction?
Or have most folks gotten over the symantic difference?
Just wondering....
Everything I've heard is that they are the same or equivalent courses. But anectdotally I remember reading several posts on SB saying self-reliant divers have been denied access because their card said "Self-reliant" vs "Solo".
If so, I assume this is a prejudice/assumption that self-reliant is learning cert (not unlike boat diver or underwater naturalist) where it would imply some limited amount of education to make one more prepared or competent but not a certification that lends access or privileges like the SDI card would since it plainly says "SOLO DIVER".
A couple of questions.
Do the self-reliant certs recognized by the issuing agencies as a ticket to go jump in by your lonesome and go do your thing or are they just exposure/educational? I ask because when I queried the staff at PADI their response was basically (paraphrased) 'NO. We do not have any kind of solo diving certification. Are you talking about self-reliant diver? We don't offer any kind of solo diver certification.' and continued to want to parse terms and would in no way acknowledge equivalency. Almost, seemingly to me, like their general counsel had put some stern warnings or procedures out there against using or acknowledging the term.
Any knowledge of insurance companies making a distinction?
Any recent evidence(like since 2021) of boat or shoe operators making a distinction?
Or have most folks gotten over the symantic difference?
Just wondering....
