You need to be certified if you are going to pursue professional scuba diving. 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 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 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 the PADI Open Water Course, students can obtain a rescue diver certificate. Five different courses are required to complete this certification. Each course has five learning outcomes and five skill sets. Two must take the Deep Dive Specialty Course, and one must complete the Underwater Navigation Specialty Course. The list must include the three other options. For those who are interested in helping in emergency situations underwater, rescue diver certification may be required. It typically takes two to three days to complete the course, which includes theory and two open water diving sessions.
SSI
When deciding which certification is right for you, a SSI course is a great choice. Both SSI and PADI require a certain level skill. PADI courses require students to learn in a certain order. SSI offers more flexibility. They can continue learning until they master a skill they don't like. 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 digital training so you can log dives quickly. 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. The cost varies, but in 2018 most courses cost about 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. Their primary function is to establish standards and provide education programs for divers all over the world. The NAUI certification permits you to teach scuba dive to non-professionals and meets international dive safety standards. NAUI offers training courses and teaches scuba diving all over the globe.
The first NAUI training course was held in 1959 in Los Angeles by Al Tillman, a peer at Scripps Institute of Oceanography. In 1958, Tillman and another Scripps Institute oceanographer received provisional diving certifications. Scuba diving was popularized by Lloyd Bridges' 1960 movie "Sea Hunt". In 1960, the National Diving Patrol began to be established. Jacques-Yves Cousteau, its first president, was appointed. Today, NAUI training programs are used by the Navy SEALs, NASA, and Walt Disney Resorts worldwide.
CMAS
Divers on all continents should find a CMAS-certified dive school. 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 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 are already certified, you can take 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. The table below can be used to refer to scuba diving experience and if you are interested in more advanced courses. You may need to start at a lower level, if you have a CMAS 1 or 2 certificate. You should consult the new agency in this instance before you make a decision.