Scuba diving certification is important if you intend to become a professional diver. There are many options for certification depending on your preference and your budget. PADI (SSI), NAUI, CMAS, CMAS and other popular certifications are all available to beginners. Find the right one for you. These tips and tricks will help you select the right program for you.
PADI
PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), an organization for professional diver training and membership, is known as PADI. John Cronin and Ralph Erickson established the organization in 1966. The certification requires a wide range of training, including knowledge of safety, navigation, and dive operation. PADI courses teach divers how to safely and efficiently supervise a diving operation and explain the nuances and benefits of underwater navigation.
Students will be certified as a rescue diver after completing the PADI open-water course. This requires five dive courses with five different learning outcomes. Of these, two must be the Deep Dive Specialty Course and one must take the Underwater Navigation Specialty Course. The three remaining must be selected from a selection. The Rescue Diver certification is designed for individuals who are willing to rescue others in distress underwater. The course usually requires two to three days of training. It includes theory and two open water dives.
SSI
A SSI training course is a good choice for deciding which certification you should pursue. Both SSI and PADI require a certain level skill. PADI courses are more rigid and require the student to complete skills in a specific order, while SSI allows students more flexibility. If a skill is too difficult they can always move on to the next until they are proficient. 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 online courses that allow you to log your dives instantly. Manuals can be downloaded online, or they can be borrowed or purchased at a dive centre. SSI allows you to create an online profile and obtain an e certificate card. Prices vary, but most courses are around 50 USD. The next step is to complete a dive training program.
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, organized the first NAUI training program in Los Angeles. In 1958, he and another oceanographer at the Scripps Institute granted provisional diving certifications. In 1960, the film "Sea Hunt" starring Lloyd Bridges generated great interest in scuba diving as a recreational activity. The National Diving Patrol was established in 1960. Jacques-Yves Cousteau was elected its first president. Today, NAUI training programs are used by the Navy SEALs, NASA, and Walt Disney Resorts worldwide.
CMAS
Scuba diving enthusiasts on every continent need to look for dive schools that offer CMAS certificates. Although there is no single listing of accredited dive school, you should still be able search engines to find them. CMAS courses cover 5 days of diving. They emphasize safety and the need to have a buddy. You must be at minimum 16 years old and have completed 25 dives. A medical certificate from a doctor is required to be eligible for CMAS certification. If you hold an existing certification, the first step is to complete an SSI training course.
You can take a course equivalent in another agency if you hold a qualification from one agency, but not another. If you have some experience in diving, and would like to pursue more advanced courses, the table references can help. The table does not list all training agencies, so you may have to begin at a lower level if you hold a CMAS 1 or 2 certification. This is why you should get advice from the new organization before making any decision.