If you want to dive professionally, certification is necessary. There are many options for certification depending on your preference and your budget. PADI, SSI and NAUI are just a few of the popular certification programs available for beginners. Find the one that is right for your needs! These tips and tricks will help you select the right program for you.
PADI
PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), a professional organization, is for diving training and membership. John Cronin was the founder of the organization, as was Ralph Erickson. There are many training requirements to become certified, including diving safety, underwater navigation, as well as dive operations. PADI is a course that teaches divers how they can safely and effectively supervise dives and the nuances involved in underwater navigation.
After completing the PADI open water course, students will complete a rescue diver certification. There are five courses that require divers to be certified. They each have different learning outcomes and skills. Two of them must be Deep Dive Specialty Courses and one must be Underwater Navigation Specialty Courses. Three of the other courses must be chosen from a given list. This certification is meant for rescue divers who need to be able to respond in an emergency situation underwater. Two to three days of training are required, including theory and two open-water dives.
SSI
A SSI course can help you decide which certification is best for you. Both SSI, and PADI, require a certain level. PADI courses are more rigid, and require students to master skills in a specific order. SSI permits more flexibility. If a skill is too difficult, students can switch to the next one until they succeed. With SSI, they can also do the training on vacation while on vacation, which means they can get their certification in a matter of days.
SSI offers digital training so you can log dives quickly. The manuals can be ordered online or borrowed from a local dive center. SSI also offers an e-certification card. To get one, you can create an online profile. There are many costs, but the average cost for 2018 courses was 50 USD. After completing the course, you can upgrade your certification to a higher level by taking a dive training class.
NAUI
The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) is an association of certified scuba diving instructors. Their primary mission is to create standards and education programs that are applicable to all scuba divers. NAUI certification lets you teach scuba divers to non-professionals while also meeting international safety standards. NAUI offers training classes as well.
Al Tillman (a Scripps Institute of Oceanography peer) held the first NAUI training class in Los Angeles in 1959. In 1958, he and another oceanographer at the Scripps Institute granted provisional diving certifications. The 1960 film "Sea Hunt" starring Lloyd Bridges sparked great interest in scuba dive as a recreational activity. In 1960, the National Diving Patrol was founded, and Jacques-Yves Cousteau was named as its first president. The Navy SEALs, NASA and Walt Disney Resorts around the world use NAUI training programs today.
CMAS
Scuba diving enthusiasts from every continent should look for a dive school that offers CMAS certification courses. You can search for accredited dive schools online, even though there is not a central listing. CMAS courses provide 5 days of training and emphasize safety. CMAS certification can only be obtained if you are 16 years or older, have at least 25 dives, and have received a medical report from a licensed diving doctor. If you have an existing certification, you will need to take the SSI course.
You can take a course equivalent in another agency if you hold a qualification from one agency, but not another. The table references below will help you if your experience is in scuba diving. This table doesn't list all training agencies. If you are a CMAS 1 and 2 certified diver, you might have to start at a lower level. In this case, you should seek advice from the new agency before making the decision.