You need to be certified if you are going to pursue professional scuba diving. There are many certifications available depending on your interests and budget. Here are some popular certifications for beginners: PADI and SSI, NAUI and CMAS. Find out which one is right to you! You will also find some helpful tips and tricks on how to choose the best certification program for you.
PADI
PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) is a professional organization for diver training and membership. John Cronin & Ralph Erickson created the organization in 1996. The certification includes a range of training requirements including underwater navigation, scuba diving safety and dive operations. PADI courses teach divers how to safely and efficiently supervise a diving operation and explain the nuances and benefits of underwater navigation.
After the PADI Open Water Course, students can obtain a rescue diver certificate. This certification requires students to take five different dive courses, each with its own learning outcomes and skill set. Two must take the Deep Dive Specialty Course, and one must complete the Underwater Navigation Specialty Course. The other three must be selected from a list. The Rescue Diver certification is designed for individuals who are willing to rescue others in distress underwater. The course typically requires two or three days of training, which includes theory, a pool session, and two open water dives.
SSI
A SSI training course is a good choice for deciding which certification you should pursue. Both PADI and SSI courses require a certain level of skill. PADI courses require students to learn in a certain order. SSI offers more flexibility. If a skill is too difficult they can always move on to the next until they are proficient. They can even train while on vacation with SSI and get their certification in a matter days.
SSI offers a digital course so you can easily log your dives. The manuals can be ordered online or borrowed from a local dive center. SSI offers an ecertification card. You can get one by creating an online account. Although the cost of courses varies depending on when they are offered, most courses cost around 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 divers. Their primary mission is to create standards and education programs that are applicable to all scuba divers. You can teach scuba diving to people who are not professionals and meet international safety standards with a NAUI certification. NAUI offers training courses and teaches scuba diving all over the globe.
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. The 1960 film "Sea Hunt" starring Lloyd Bridges sparked great interest in scuba dive as a recreational activity. 1960 saw the founding of the National Diving Patrol. Jacques-Yves Cousteau became its first president. The Navy SEALs (NASA) and Walt Disney Resorts (Walt Disney Resorts) still use the NAUI training program.
CMAS
Scuba divers from every continent should seek out a school that offers CMAS courses. Although there is no central listing of accredited dive schools, you should be able to find one using a search engine. CMAS courses offer 5 days of dives and stress safety. CMAS certification requires that you are at least 16 and have dived 25 times. You also need to have a medical certificate from a diving doctor. If you have an existing certification, you will need to take the SSI course.
If you have a qualification but not from another agency, you may be able to enroll in an equivalent course at another agency. You can refer to the table below if you have some experience with scuba diving. The table doesn't include information about all training agencies. This means that you may have to start at a lower grade if you already hold a CMAS 1 certification or 2. If this is the case, you should seek out advice from the new agency prior to making the decision.