5 replies to this topic

[TravelBunny]

C-Card Replacement

Your certification card is your passport to fun and adventure. It is your ticket to the underwater world. It allows you to fill tanks, buy or rent equipment and book dive charters. Stores, resorts and operators accept it as verification that you have been trained, passed the tests and requirements, and you are qualified in the techniques of scuba diving.

So what do you do when you suddenly realize your card is lost as you are about to go on vacation, or worse yet, when you arrive at your destination. Do not dispair. It can be replaced, and in most cases, quite quickly if you are prepared for this situation and know what to do.

Most agencies require basically the same information to replace your card, but there are a few differences in procedures. You should become familiar with these and maintain the necessary information in your logbook. It is also comforting to know that if you lose your card while on vacation, most agencies will verify your certification by phone or fax to the resort or operator. But you will still need to replace your card as soon as you return home.

Listed below are certifying agencies, contact information, procedures and other information you may need to replace your card. We have not listed the specific costs as they vary by agency and are subject to change. Basic costs range from $10 - $20, rush processing will add an additional $0 - $20 plus overnight delivery fees. But cost is of little importance when it has to be replaced. If you do a lot of diving and/or travelling, it may be in your best interest to have an extra C-Card in advance for just such emergencies. This could help you avoid the anxiety, lost dive days and additional costs for replacing a card quickly. But if you must must replace it "on the fly", have this information available.


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IDEA - International Diving Educators Association
Headquarters
P.O. Box 8427
Jacksonville, FL32239
USA
Tel: 904-744-5554
Fax: 904-743-5425
ideahq@idea-scubadiving.com
http://www.idea-scubadiving.com/
Essential: Name
Helpful: Birthdate, sex, date of certification, certification number, name of instructor, instructor's certification number.
A new photograph is required for the replacement card - 1" x 1 1/3"
Requests can be made through your original dive center or directly through IDEA. Rush processing is available.

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ISEA - International Scuba Educators Association
P.O. Box 17388
Clearwater, FL 34622
Ph. (813) 539-6491
Fax (813) 539-6491
Essential: Name and birthdate.
Helpful: Your certification number, instructor's name and/or certification number, your sex, store where certified, store number, date of certification, name of another student in your class.
New photograph required - 1" x 1 1/3"
Contact your original instructor, an ISEA affiliated dive center, or directly to the agency in writing or by phone. Rush orders are accepted.

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MDEA - Multinational Diving Educators Association
PO BOX 3433
Marathon Shores, FL 33052
Tel. 305-743-6188
techdiver@uplogon.com
http://www.upbluewaterdivers.com
Essential: Name
Helpful: Date of certification, instructor's name and/or certification number, name of affiliated dive center where you trained.
New photo for replacement card - 1" x 1 1/3"
Contact either an MDEA affiliated dive center or MDEA directly. Rush replacement is available.

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NASE - National Academy of Scuba Educators
134 South Main, Suite M140
Salt Lake City, UT, USA 84101
Tel: 801-363-9274.
Fx: 801-359-4461.
http://www.naseworldwide.com
Essential: Name, name of your instructor, date of certification.
Helpful: Your sex, instructor's certification number, name of dive store where trained, store's affiliate number, name of another student from your class.
No photo information.
Contact NASE for replacement form.

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NASDS - National Association of Scuba Diving Schools
1012 South Yates
Memphis, TN38119
USA
Tel: 901-767-7265
Fax: 901-767-2798
nasds@netten.net
http://www.divesafe.com/
Essential: Name, birthdate, certification date, name of dive center and instructor's name.
Helpful: Instructor's number, dive center number, your certification number and the name of another studen from your class.
Photograph needed - 1" x 3/4"
Contact your NASDS dive center or NASDS directly. You can also print a replacement card application at the NASDS website.

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NAUI - National Association of Underwater Instructors
9942 Currie Davis Dr., Suite H
Tampa, FL 33619-2667
USA
Ph. (800) 553-6284
Ph. (813) 628-6284
Fax: 813-628-8253
nauihq@nauiww.org
training@nauiww.org
http://www.naui.org/
Essential: Name, date of certification, certification number, name of instructor.
Helpful: Instructor's certification number, dive store where certified, store's affiliate number, birth date, name of student from your class.
Contact your NAUI dive center or NAUI directly for replacement forms. If your certification is over 10 years old, processing will cost additional and require more time for manual search. Rush orders are available.

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PADI - PADI Americas
30151 Tomas Street
Ranch Santa Margarita, CA 92688-2125
Ph. 800-729-7234 voice
Fax. 949-858-4338
http://www.padi.com
Essential: Name, certification date.
Helpful: Birthdate, certification number, instructor's name and/or certification number, dive center name, name of a student from your class.
Photo required for replacement - 1 1/2" x 1 3/4"
Contact your local dive center or you can call or write PADI directly. Address your questions to the research department. Rush orders for replacements are available.

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PDIC - Professional Diving Instructors Corporation
P.O. Box 3633
Scranton, PA 18505
Ph. (717) 342-9434
Fax (717) 342-6030
Essential: Name, birthdate.
Helpful: Instructor's name and/or certification number, name of the dive center where you trained, your certification number.
Photo required - 1" x 1 1/3"
Contact any PDIC dive center, or PDIC directly by phone, fax or mail.

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SSI - Scuba Schools International
2619 Canton Court
Fort Collins, CO80525-4498
USA
Tel: 970-482-0883
Fax: 970-482-6157
admin@ssiusa.com
http://www.ssiusa.com/
Essential: Name, dive center where certified.
Helpful: Certification number, birthdate, instructor's name and/or number, dive center's affiliate number, name of another studen from your class.
Photo required - 1" x 1 1/4"
Contact any SSI dive center or SSI directly.

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YMCA - Young Men's Christian Association, National Scuba Program
5825-2A Live Oak Pkwy
Norcross, GA30093
USA
Tel: 770-662-5172
Fax: 770-242-9059
scubaymca@aol.com
http://www.ymcascuba.org/
Essential: Name
Birthdate, social security number, instructor's name, your certification, place certified.
Photo required - 1 1/2" x 1 1/2"
Contact YMCA directly for a replacement.

[drbill]

Great information to post, thanks!

I still have my original 1960's vintage c-card. I don't need it here on the island, or most places I go in SoCal. However I don't carry it on me. I created a color copy of it with my scanner and printer and carry that laminated in my wallet. That way I won't lose the original unless the house burns.

[Capn Jack]

C-Card Replacement

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PADI - PADI Americas
30151 Tomas Street
Ranch Santa Margarita, CA 92688-2125
Ph. 800-729-7234 voice
Fax. 949-858-4338
http://www.padi.com
Essential: Name, certification date.
Helpful: Birthdate, certification number, instructor's name and/or certification number, dive center name, name of a student from your class.
Photo required for replacement - 1 1/2" x 1 3/4"
Contact your local dive center or you can call or write PADI directly. Address your questions to the research department. Rush orders for replacements are available.

This is a great post - THANKS for all the research!!

For convenience, you can get a PADI replacement online VERY easily with just your birthday, name and a digital photo:
Click here for electronic PADI Replacement

[Geek]

PADI has an underwater version of their cards available. If you buy one of those, and clip it to your gear or your bag, you'll be sure to have it with you when you go anywhere. There is also a similar DAN tag which is superior if you are trying to use it as a medical ID rather than a certification.

[Latitude Adjustment]

We need to be certified? I thought if we were born before SCUBA we were grandfathered

[Dive_Girl]

It is also comforting to know that if you lose your card while on vacation, most agencies will verify your certification by phone or fax to the resort or operator.

If internet is available, PADI dive professionals can verify a diver's credentials instantly using PADI's online diver verification database.