Scuba diving certification is important if you intend to become a professional diver. There are many scuba certification options available, depending on your needs and budget. Here are some popular certifications for beginners: PADI and SSI, NAUI and CMAS. Find the right one for you. Here are some tips and tricks to help you choose the right certification program.
PADI
PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), a professional organization, is for diving training and membership. John Cronin and Ralph Erickson established the organization in 1966. There are many training requirements to become certified, including diving safety, underwater navigation, as well as dive operations. 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 list must include the three other options. The rescue diver certification is for people who want to assist in emergencies underwater. Two to three days of training are required, including theory and two open-water dives.
SSI
When deciding which certification is right for you, a SSI course is a great choice. Both PADI and SSI courses require a certain level of 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, students can switch to the next one until they succeed. They can also get their certification while on vacation through SSI.
SSI offers digital training so you can log dives quickly. The manuals are available online or can be purchased or borrowed from a dive center. SSI allows you to create an online profile and obtain an e certificate card. The cost varies, but in 2018 most courses cost about 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 purpose is to provide standards and education programs for scuba divers worldwide. NAUI certification allows you teach scuba diving and meets international standards. NAUI offers training classes as well.
The first NAUI training course was held in 1959 in Los Angeles by Al Tillman, a peer at Scripps Institute of Oceanography. In 1958, he was joined by another Scripps Institute oceanographer to receive provisional diving certifications. In 1960, Lloyd Bridges' film "Sea Hunt", which starred him, generated a lot of interest for scuba diving as an recreational activity. 1960 saw the founding of the National Diving Patrol. Jacques-Yves Cousteau became its first president. Today, NAUI training programs are used by the Navy SEALs, NASA, and Walt Disney Resorts worldwide.
CMAS
Scuba diving enthusiasts from every continent should look for a dive school that offers CMAS certification courses. Although there is no central listing of accredited dive schools, you should be able to find one using a search engine. CMAS courses are equivalent to 5 days of diving and emphasize the importance of safety, including the use of 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 already hold another certification, the first step will be to complete an SSI course.
If you have a qualification from one agency but not from another, you can enroll in an equivalent course in another agency. If you have some experience in scuba diving and are interested in pursuing more advanced courses, you can use the table references below. You may need to start at a lower level, if you have a CMAS 1 or 2 certificate. This is why you should get advice from the new organization before making any decision.