Thread: Why not a PADI diver number?

vrykolakas(s), does that mean you use 3 times the air the rest of us do?

The padi filing system keys on name and birthdate. It is unfortunately a very literal system and will give back "record not found" for any mismatch like presence or absence of a middle initial. __________________ http://www.atlanticdivers.com

I concur . . . the K __________________ init_countdown("Count down:", "10/16/2009 12:00 PM;Vortoberfest V"); VORTOBERFEST V Long after man is gone and his dams burst, the rivers will, once again, flow freely to the sea.

Considering I dive (most days) 3-4 dives per day (6 days/week), I guess I do.. __________________ I am so much cooler than you... my mom said so...

Using a name as the primary key in a DB is problematic, and I'm guessing PADI assigns a Psudo Key. Obviously PADI does link based on a name, and that can also be an issue. There are a lot of names that are not unique. They likely use name and other attributes to attempt to correctly link certs to one individual. I guess PADI figures that for students having correct linkage is not all that important. Keep in mind that the majority of...

PADI could salve the problem by just asking for a previous student number on all post OW cert forms. If you don't have one, or don't know it, no problem, but if you do you caould have all your PADI training under one "account" I don't think they want to change this though. The current system allows them to give the impression that every new cert is a new diver. __________________ " At least I know...

Your are issued a diver (actually certification) number and it is indeed preserved but since the recreational cards are processed automatically, it depends on certain factors: (1) your name and date of birth is entered exactly the same as prior certifications. Often a middle initial is missed in which case a new number is issued (2) you were cerrtified in the same regional office - PADI have offices that cover specific regions and they act...

Quote: The current system allows them to give the impression that every new cert is a new diver. This violates one of my rules of bureaucratic behavior -- never attribute a decision to intelligence when it can be explained by ignorance. The most likely explanation was that someone wrote the code years ago and assumed people would always write their name and birthday the same way and it would be easy to search (in case anyone actually wanted...

I don't understand why it could possibly matter if PADI issues the same number every time, a different number every time or no numbers at all. __________________ “'It’s the Instructor not the Agency' is a saying promulgated by the inadequate to cover their shortcomings." - Thalassamania "Walter....neither you nor I are very likeable anyway.." - Ana

To be fair, PADI is not alone on this... __________________ Rhone Man British Virgin Islands I am a lifelong supporter of Leisurepro - they have done more to make diving accessible than PADI ever has. “The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.” — Bertrand Russell