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. We have highlighted some of the most popular certification programs for beginners: PADI, SSI, NAUI, CMAS and more. Find out which one is right to you! We offer some useful tips and suggestions to help you choose the right certificate program for your needs.
PADI
PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), a professional organization, is for diving training and membership. John Cronin, Ralph Erickson and Ralph Erickson founded the organization in 1966. The certification consists of a variety of training requirements, including the knowledge of scuba diving safety, underwater navigation, and dive operations. The PADI course teaches divers how to safely and effectively supervise a dive and explains the nuances of underwater navigation.
Students will be certified as a rescue diver after completing the PADI open-water course. This certification requires students to take five different dive courses, each with its own learning outcomes and skill set. Two of them must be Deep Dive Specialty Courses and one must be Underwater Navigation Specialty Courses. The remaining three must be chosen from a list. The rescue diver certification is for people who want to assist in emergencies underwater. It usually takes two to three full days of training. This includes theory, two open water dives, and a pool session.
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 strict and require that students complete skills in a particular order. SSI, however, allows for more flexibility. If one skill is too difficult, they can move on to another until they get it right. They can also train on vacation with SSI so they can obtain their certification in a matter weeks.
SSI offers digital courses, so you can log your dives easily. Manuals can either be downloaded from the internet or obtained at a dive shop. SSI also offers an e-certification card. To get one, you can create an online profile. 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 is an association of certified instructors in scuba diving. They are responsible for providing education programs and standards to scuba divers across the globe. The NAUI certification permits you to teach scuba dive to non-professionals and meets international dive safety standards. NAUI offers training classes as well.
Al Tillman, an oceanographer at Scripps Institute of Oceanography, held the first NAUI training course in Los Angeles in 1959. In 1958, he and another oceanographer at the Scripps Institute granted 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. 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 single listing of accredited dive school, you should still be able search engines to find them. CMAS courses can be equivalent to five days of diving. CMAS emphasizes safety and the necessity of using a buddy. 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 hold an existing certification, the first step is to complete an SSI training course.
If you have a qualification but not from another agency, you may be able to enroll in an equivalent course at 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. 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.