For professional diving, you will need certification. There are many scuba certification options available, depending on your needs and budget. PADI, SSI (NAUI), CMAS, and many more are the most popular certifications for 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, Ralph Erickson and Ralph Erickson founded the organization in 1966. The certification requires a wide range of training, including knowledge of safety, navigation, and dive operation. PADI training teaches divers to safely and effectively manage a dive and how to navigate underwater.
After completing the PADI open water course, students will complete a rescue diver certification. This requires five dive courses with five different learning outcomes. Two of these courses must be Deep Dive Specialty Courses, while one must be Underwater Navigation Specialty Course. Three of the other courses must be chosen from a given list. For those who are interested in helping in emergency situations underwater, rescue diver certification may be required. 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 one skill is too difficult, they can move on to another until they get it right. They can also get their certification while on vacation through SSI.
SSI offers online courses that allow you to log your dives instantly. The manuals can be ordered online or borrowed from a local dive center. SSI also offers an e-certification card. To get one, you can create an online profile. While the price of each course varies, in 2018, most courses were around 50 US dollars. A dive training course can be completed to upgrade your certification.
NAUI
The National Association of Underwater Instructors, (NAUI), is an association of certified scuba divers. Their primary goal is to offer education and standards for scuba divers around the world. A NAUI certification allows you to teach scuba diving to non-professionals, while meeting international dive safety standards. NAUI offers training courses and teaches scuba diving all over the globe.
Al Tillman, a Scripps Institute of Oceanography peer, organized the first NAUI training program in Los Angeles. 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. In 1960, the National Diving Patrol was founded, and Jacques-Yves Cousteau was named as its first president. The Navy SEALs, NASA and Walt Disney Resorts around the world use NAUI training programs today.
CMAS
Divers from all continents should search for schools that offer CMAS certification. 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 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.
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 does not include all training agencies. You might need to start at the lower level if your CMAS 1 or 2 certification is required. This is why you should get advice from the new organization before making any decision.