Just finished my open water and advanced diving in Koh Tao. I had already completed the classroom and pool portion in Canada. A bunch of other shops told me that I would have to start over and pay full price. I was lucky to find Scuba Junction. They told me about the global referral program. They did a short theory review and skill check out with me and then we went diving. They didn't even charge for the review, only the dives. I had so much fun with the open water I also completed the advanced course. I got to see 4 big reef sharks, a blue spotted stingray, and even an octopus on the night dive. The staff were all excellent. I would definitely recommend Scuba Junction to anyone diving in Thailand.
1
similandiver
Always glad to hear good reviews and positive feedback.
Scuba Junction is a great shop and has some great staff. I hope you keep diving!
2
anonymous
<blockquote>Quote
<hr>I had already completed the classroom and pool portion in Canada. A bunch of other shops told me that I would have to start over and pay full price.<hr></blockquote>That is bizarre. A referral should always be an option. If you have completed all theory and pool sessions, you need 4 open water dives to complete the course. I can't believe a dive shop would turn down a referral.
3
quero
<blockquote>Quote
<hr>That is bizarre. A referral should always be an option. If you have completed all theory and pool sessions, you need 4 open water dives to complete the course. I can't believe a dive shop would turn down a referral. <hr></blockquote>The key here may be the term 'global referral'. PADI does not recognize referrals from other agencies. If the OP did his initial training through an agency other than PADI, for example SSI, and then arrived on Tao asking for a referral course from PADI shops, it makes sense that they would tell him he had to start over. Scuba Junction does both PADI and SSI certs, so if an SSI student comes in with a global referral from an SSI shop, it's easy. Also SSI participates in the universal referral program, making it possible for a student from NAUI, for example, to use that training for a referral with an SSI school (among others). Different agencies have different standards as to who issues the final cert; IIRC, with NAUI, for example, the originating instructor is the one who certifies the student as a NAUI diver, even if the open water dives were done with an instructor from another agency.
4
divingdude57
If you check the PADI website you will find that a PADI instructor can in fact complete a Unerversal Referral.
By the term Global Referral I would assume that it was a referral from Scuba Diving International, any insured paid up (membership) instructor from any agency can complete the SDI Global Referral.
I see this as a great way for any company/instructor to make some extra bucks, take the referral student for 4 dives, do the skills as per the Global Referral form, sign it off and thats it.
Hell if I was an instructor Id be looking for these people.
5
stevenl
Diving Dude, I tried to confirm what you wrote, but: can not find it on the padi website, and according to the PADI Instructor Manual, it has to be a PADI referral.
What is not allowed for sure: <blockquote>Quote
<hr>do the skills as per the Global Referral form, sign it off and thats it.<hr></blockquote>The skills have to be done according to the PADI skills, not any other form.
6
quero
I believe that PADI instructors can register as instructors in the universal referral program. Registering as a referral instructor requires taking an exam, among other things, through one of the agencies afilliated with the UR progam. If a PADI instructor does register in this way and conducts a referral course, the certification is not issued by PADI, and not even by the PADI instructor, but instead by the instructor of the agency from which the referral originated. There are five agencies affiliated with the universal referral program: IDEA, NAUI, PDIC, SSI and YMCA. Since PADI does not participate in this program, it won't be found on the PADI website.
PADI does not accept referrals from other agencies. If a student wants a PADI instructor to complete his/her training following PADI standards (rather than the universal referral standards), the student will have to either 1) produce PADI referral documentation or 2) start all over and do the entire OW course.
There are many instructors who have teaching status with multiple agencies. When a PADI instructor is also an SSI instructor, for example, s/he can opt to teach according to the standards of either agency and issue the appropriate certification. When a PADI instructor registers as a referral instructor with the universal referral program and completes a student diver's training through that program, the instructor is not working as a PADI instructor, but rather as an instructor attached to the UR program, for which s/he has been rated by way of something like a crossover examination. I have no idea what the exam is like, how much the crossover costs, whether referral instructor status must be renewed annually, or anything else. Just that it's possible.
7
divingdude57
Steven, Some time ago a friend of mine did a SDI Global Referral with a PADI instructor. Before he did the course he printed off the web site about 5 or 6 pages that told him (the instructor) how to deal with non PADI referrals.
While they were in the pool checking out my friends skills, he did his pool training 4 months before, I was reading it.
This was about one year or a little more ago.
Has PADI changed it?
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