For professional diving, you will need certification. You have many options for scuba certification programs depending on what you are looking for and what your budget is. PADI (SSI), NAUI, CMAS, CMAS and other popular certifications are all available to beginners. Find the right one for you. We offer some useful tips and suggestions to help you choose the right certificate program for your needs.
PADI
PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) is a professional organization for diver training and membership. John Cronin was the founder of the organization, as was Ralph Erickson. There are many requirements for certification, including knowledge about scuba diving safety, underwater navigation and dive operations. PADI is a course that teaches divers how they can safely and effectively supervise dives and the nuances involved in underwater navigation.
Students who have completed the PADI open water course will receive a rescue diver certification. There are five courses that require divers to be certified. They each have different learning outcomes and skills. Two of these courses must be Deep Dive Specialty Courses, while one must be Underwater Navigation Specialty Course. The three remaining must be selected from a selection. This certification is meant for rescue divers who need to be able to respond in an emergency situation underwater. It usually takes two to three full days of training. This includes theory, two open water dives, and a pool session.
SSI
When deciding which certification is right for you, a SSI course is a great choice. 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 one skill is too difficult, they can move on to another until they get it right. They can get their certifications in a matter hours with SSI because they can do it while they are on vacation.
SSI offers digital courses so that you can log your dives quickly. The manuals are available online or can be purchased or borrowed from a dive center. You can also get an e-certification card from SSI by creating an online profile. There are many costs, but the average cost for 2018 courses was 50 USD. A dive training course can be completed to upgrade your certification.
NAUI
The National Association of Underwater Instructors is an association of certified instructors in scuba diving. Their primary goal is to offer education and standards for scuba divers around the world. The NAUI certification permits you to teach scuba dive to non-professionals and meets international dive 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, Tillman and another Scripps Institute oceanographer received provisional diving certifications. In 1960, the film "Sea Hunt" starring Lloyd Bridges generated great interest in scuba diving as a recreational activity. 1960 was the year that the National Diving Patrol was created. Jacques-Yves Cousteau was 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. Although there is no single listing of accredited dive school, you should still be able search engines to find them. CMAS courses offer 5 days of dives and stress safety. CMAS certification is only available to those who are at least 16 years of age, have completed at least 25 dives and have a certified medical statement from a qualified diving physician. If you are already certified, you can take an SSI course.
A qualification you have from one agency may not be recognized by another. However, you can still enroll in a similar course at another agency. If you have some experience in diving, and would like to pursue more advanced courses, the table references can help. The table does not include all training agencies. You might need to start at the lower level if your CMAS 1 or 2 certification is required. In this case, you should seek advice from the new agency before making the decision.