Yes. We need to see evidence of your previous training and this is especially important if you are taking the Divemaster course or the IDC. On the PADI application form for the Divemaster course you are required to provide information about your Advanced and Rescue diver certifications. If you took these courses with PADI, all you are required to do is fill in the information from your certification cards. However, if you took equivalent courses through another training agency (for example, SSI, NAUI, NASDS, BSAC, CMAS), you are also required to submit copies of these certifications to PADI along with your application form.
On the PADI application form for the IDC you are required to provide information about your basic Open Water Diver certification all the way up to Divemaster. If you took these courses with PADI, all you are required to do is fill in the information from your certification cards. However, if you took any equivalent courses through another training agency, you are also required to submit copies of these certifications to PADI along with your application form.
If you have lost or misplaced one of your PADI certification cards it will be easy for us to verify the information by calling PADI. However, if you have lost or misplaced a card from another training agency you should contact them yourself and ask them to provide you with evidence of the training you took through them. A letter or FAX from them confirming your certification will be sufficient to meet our requirements.
If you are coming from another country, it is very important to resolve problems with your certification cards before you get here. Once you arrive in Florida it may be difficult to contact the relevant agency in your country. If you have any questions regarding problems with your certification cards, please contact us for advice.