When to pay for Divemaster Membership Certification?

[EmilyB]

Hi! I have recently qualified as a Divemaster (end of September) and am about to send off my certification docs… however I have heard the annual PADI membership fee to stay 'current' is valid from Jan 1 – Dec 31, therefore if I send my docs off now will I pay the full annual fee for only 2 months membership? How does the annual fee work? Should I wait until the end of December to send them off?

Thanks in advance! Emily

 

[knotical]

Back in the day they'd pro-rate it. I suspect they still do. Call them to be sure.

 

[TMHeimer]

Yes call PADI for sure. Will you be working before Dec. 31? If not, why not just pay it Jan. 1?

 

[DM Gary]

I had to pay mine in full in September of 2014, no pro rate. I called PADI and they said I had to send it in within a certain time period after I finished the course. I meant to have the instructor sign it for after the new year but forgot to ask him.

 

[ScubabunnyCR]

If you send it in at the beginning of November it should be valid through to the end of December 2016. Ring them to make sure but they have done this in previous years with Divemaster and Instructor fees.

 

[Frosty]

Ive sent mine off to padi asia pacific on the understanding I was paying for 15 months membership--ie to end of dec 2016