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Diver Certification Referrals & eLearning

Aquatic Sports and Adventures can help divers that have taken their classroom and/or confined water (pool) training somewhere else. This could be from another store or from PADI if you took training online. We are able to complete dive referral or eLearning for:

• Scuba Tune-up (Review)
• Open Water Diver
• Adventure Diver
• Advanced Open Water Diver
• Rescue Diver
• Divemaster

The most common referral (not eLearning) is for an Open Water Diver that took their classroom and confined water (pool) training and wants to complete their dive training on a winter vacation. We term that a "store referral" meaning the student is coming from another training facility.

If you have already taken the knowledge sections and confined water (pool) sessions near your home, your PADI dive shop can issue a Student Referral Form that includes confirmation on what you have learned. Bring this form with you and you can complete the Open Water Dives with Aquatic Sports & Adventures and earn your scuba dive certification.

There are 3 types of referral forms common in the dive industry:

1. PADI to PADI Referrals
2. Non-PADI to PADI Referrals
3. "Universal" or "Global" Referrals

Since Aquatic Sports and Adventures is a PADI training facility, we will provide you with an overview of the PADI process below. If you are coming from a Non-PADI facility (ie.: NAUI, SSI, YMCA, CMAS) to complete your training and become a PADI diver, contact Captain Terry Sovil, PADI Master Instructor, for details.

The "Universal" or "Global" type referral is one that Aquatic Sports & Adventures does not support. In this process your training facility gives you a form and you return it to them to issue your certification. This type of referral can cause serious customer service issues and some legal/liability issues can arise.

These are the things your PADI Referring Instructor needs to explain and provide you prior to your visit with Aquatic Sports and Adventures:

• Only successfully completed Knowledge Development, Confined Water Dives and Open Water Dives may be credited.
• Your instructor should keep your PADI Open Water Diver Course Record and Referral Form (located on the back of the Student Record File) up-to-date. Before providing you with the Referral Form they should double check to be sure there are no missing signatures, dates, etc.
• Explain that the referral is only valid for a maximum of 12 months from the date of the last training session and that the balance of the course should be completed as soon as possible.
• Discuss with you what to expect upon referral, including that:
  1. An extra cost will be involved
  2. There will be a preassessment
  3. If a medical release was required (signed by a doctor), you need to bring a copy of that release form
  4. A photo will be needed for the PIC envelope
  5. Only a PADI Instructor may complete your open water dives for PADI certification. Your instructor should suggest you ask to see the instructor's certification card and to check the picture and that the Teaching status is for the current year (your instructor can show you their cards). Additionally, provide you with their contact information and make you aware that they can contact PADI to verify whether an instructor is current and authorized to conduct the balance of his training.

COSTS: