Expert: Trace Malinowski - 2/1/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hello My name German Solano I'm studen at Embry-Riddle University, Right now I'm taking a class about Resech methods, and I would like to do an investigation about Scuba Diving, but I need to collect data for the Scuba Diving licenses, can you help me, Where can I find this information.
Regards.

ANSWER: I'm not exactly sure what type of data you are seeking to collect regarding scuba diving licenses. In the United States and some other countries scuba diving is self-regulated and not controlled by the government as a whole. As a student at Embry-Riddle, I'm sure you are familiar with how the Federal Aviation Administration oversees aviation and aspects such as flight training and skydiving. However, the diving industry in the United States more or less oversees itself. The Recreational Scuba Training Council with members from various diver training agencies such as IDEA, PADI, PDIC, SDI, and SSI work together to augment training standards for diver safety. Divers can earn certification cards from various agencies including those that belong to the RSTC as well as other agencies such as NAUI, ACUC, BSAC, CMAS and others. The practice of technical diving including cave diving, deep diving, mixed gas diving, rebreathers, etc., finds agencies like GUE, TDI, IANTD, ANDI, NSS-CDS, NACD, and others providing certifications as well as many recreational diving agencies like PADI, PDIC, SSI, and NAUI. Specific questions may be addressed to each agency. The Divers Alert Network (DAN)compiles statistics on accidents, number of divers participating in the sport, and other useful data. The Dive Educators and Manufacturers Association (DEMA) compiles industry-related data concerning business and marketing demographics. Without knowing specifically what you are hoping to research, i can only start you off with this information, but I hope it helps.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi, thaks for answer me, WEll right I need to know, who issued the scuba diving licenses, and I need to know HOw many licenses are issued per year, and a record of the issued licenses for at least 10 years ago.
regards.

Answer
The certifications are given to divers who have met the minimum standards set forth by each training agency for the level of certification attained. Divers may possess many levels of certification cards from the same agency or multiple agencies. Some agencies provide data on issued certifications while others do not since the number of certifications can help competing agencies assess the business power of the competition. Often the numbers are inflated when statistics are provided. You may try contacting the training agencies directly and asking for their help in your research. DEMA and DAN may provide information that could be helpful and probably would be more willing. After 9/11, the FBI looked into certified divers as potential terror threats and you may be able to attain some of their findings through the Freedom of Information Act. Records of specific licenses (certifications) are not available for privacy reasons and there isn't any one agency that holds records. The FBI had to do a lot of leg work collecting information. I'm sure obtaining information on pilot's licenses would be pretty easy through the FAA, but in the sport of scuba diving you'll have a lot of work to do to gather the information you seek. Good luck!