If you want to dive professionally, certification is necessary. 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 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.
Students will earn a rescue diver license after they have successfully completed the PADI openwater course. There are five courses that require divers to be certified. They each have different learning outcomes and skills. Of these, two must be the Deep Dive Specialty Course and one must take the Underwater Navigation Specialty Course. Three of the other courses must be chosen from a given list. Rescue diver certification is intended for those who wish to help in emergency situations underwater. It typically takes two to three days to complete the course, which includes theory and two open water diving sessions.
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 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 training so you can log dives quickly. Manuals can either be downloaded from the internet or obtained at a dive shop. SSI allows you to create an online profile and obtain an e certificate card. There are many costs, but the average cost for 2018 courses was 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 function is to establish standards and provide education programs for divers all over the world. A NAUI certification allows you to teach scuba diving to non-professionals, while meeting international dive safety standards. NAUI also offers training courses.
Al Tillman, a Scripps Institute of Oceanography peer, organized the first NAUI training program in Los Angeles. In 1958, he was joined by another Scripps Institute oceanographer to receive provisional diving certifications. The 1960 film "Sea Hunt", starring Lloyd Bridges, sparked a lot of interest in recreational scuba diving. In 1960, the National Diving Patrol began to be established. Jacques-Yves Cousteau, its first president, was appointed. Today, the Navy SEALs and NASA use NAUI training programmes worldwide.
CMAS
Scuba diving enthusiasts on every continent need to look for dive schools that offer CMAS certificates. 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. 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 already have a certification, the first step in obtaining SSI will be to complete a 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. 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. If this is the case, you should seek out advice from the new agency prior to making the decision.