Why would you choose an e-learning course when it could be more expensive than the standard course after paying the fee’s?

The reason is simple, for more convenience, you can complete all the classroom portion of the course at your own pace prior to arrival, so no classroom whilst on holiday. All you need is a high speed internet connection.

At the moment you can do this for the Open water, Advanced open water, Nitrox or enriched air specialty, Digital Photography, Rescue diver, Dive Master and Dive Theory. There is even the Scuba Tune up on line.

have also introduced the e-learning gift pass, you can customize this for special occasions, such as birthdays, holidays, weddings etc, as you are even able to provide a personal gift message to the recipient.

So if you are trying to think of a different present this may be the answer.

Congratulations…… you have just completed your Advanced Open Water Course.

So how do you show this to Dive Centres around the world?

Your certification card is proof that you’ve successfully completed your training. This will arrive through the Post system to your home address. Once you have the card you are ready to start diving.

If you’re like most divers, you never miss an opportunity to go scuba diving.

If you loose the card, what can you do?

• Replace the card
• Contact Scuba Cat and ask them to do a Check for you then continue your education and get a new certification as a result!

You may also want to replace your card if:

• You damage it .
• You changed your name. (You’ll need a copy of legal documentation of name change.)
• You are upgrading from any Junior Diver certification.
• You would like to replace your existing card with a new Project AWARE Edition Certification Card.

• You want to collect fun limited edition certification cards!

You can easy replace your card online at .com. It will be with you in about 3 weeks. You can also print a temporary card if you cant wait that long.

It’s a little bit harder to change your name, contact first and let them have an email showing the legal documentation. They will change your name on their system; you can then order the new card online. Sound like too much admin? Again why not take the next course?

The future is coming….

As with everything else this small card is going electronic.

The eCard uses the power of the smartphone (initially available for Apple, and Android smartphones) and will be hosted, managed and displayed using the Application.

The eCard will be proof of certification.
Security of the eCard was one of s primary concerns, so QR coding (a specific, two-dimensional code) is integrated to make authentication straightforward and easy.

The eCard will be available for new certifications and replacement cards starting in fourth quarter 2011.

Divers will have the options of a eCard, plastic certification card or both.

John Cronin and Ralph Erickson founded in 1966. The two friends met one evening, over a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label, and started to pursue their dream to create a Scuba certification agency that was different than the one that had certified Ralph. They were concerned about the professionalism of the current agencies.

John and Ralph knew there had to be a way to make it easier and safer for people to take their first breaths under water.

John wanted “professional” to appear in the name, and Ralph came up with “association of Diving Instructors” after a few more drinks was born.

Professional Association of Diving Instructors

It started from small beginnings, in a basement in a suburb of Chicago, based solely in the USA but grown massively over the years and is today a multi-national association of scuba diving professionals. is the world’s largest organization for recreational diver training and education.

It is estimated that 7 out of 10 recreational scuba divers are trained and certified by Instructors using educational materials and program standards.

is represented in over 175 countries and territories.   Over 130,000 individual Members operate worldwide and there is a global network of more than 6000 Dive Center’s and Resorts.

presently certify close to 1,000,000 divers annually around the globe. As at today they only require 108,600 more to hit  20 million certifications of recreational divers, this is a massive achievement, if you are lucky enough to be the 20 millionth there is a great prize up for grabs.