Diver Certification

[gonz]

I am a scuba diver since 1977.
I followed a course that included 20hours of theory plus 40hours of practice in Padova (Italy).
I have completed more than 400 dives, between ocean and sweet water. I have been inside caverns and sunk ships and I own two sets of equipment but I do not have a PADI certification.
How can I get one?
Diving equipment rental and tours are available, but nobody will take me out if I do not present a certification, please advice.

[Megan]

Hi Gonzalo,

You can earn a PADI Open Water Diver certification in as little as three days. You may ask, "why should I take this course if I already know how to dive?" Well, it sounds like you need a certification card of some kind, and a PADI Open Water Diver certification is perhaps the most recognized scuba certification in the world. During the course, you will take some tests on dive theory and you will demonstrate 20 basic scuba skills both in the pool and in the open water. It sounds like you have a significant amount of dive experience already, so demonstrating these skills should be easy. Do you have any credentials from the dive training you did in Italy? If so, you might qualify for the shorter Scuba Review course. Please speak with a PADI Professional for more information. Here is a link to our online directly of PADI Dive Centers and Resorts worldwide.
http://www.padi.com/english/common/search/dcnr/