You need to be certified if you are going to pursue professional scuba diving. Various scuba certification programs are available to you depending on your preferences and your budget. Here are some popular certifications for beginners: PADI and SSI, NAUI and CMAS. Find out which one suits you best! Here are some tips and tricks to help you choose the right certification program.
PADI
PADI is a professional association for divers training and membership. John Cronin and Ralph Erickson established the organization in 1966. There are many requirements for certification, including knowledge about 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 earn a rescue diver license after they have successfully completed the PADI openwater course. This certification requires students to take five different dive courses, each with its own learning outcomes and skill set. Two of these must be the Deep Dive Specialty Course. One must also take the Underwater Navigation Specialty Course. The list must include the three other options. This certification is meant for rescue divers who need to be able to respond in an emergency situation underwater. Two to three days of training are required, including theory and two open-water dives.
SSI
A SSI certification course is a great choice when deciding what certification you want. 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 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 courses, so you can log your dives easily. 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. Although the cost of courses varies depending on when they are offered, most courses cost around 50 USD. The next step is to complete a dive training program.
NAUI
The National Association of Underwater Instructors or 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.
Al Tillman from Scripps Institute of Oceanography held the first NAUI training session in Los Angeles, in 1959. He and another Scripps Institute oceanographer were granted provisional diving certificates in 1958. 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. The Navy SEALs, NASA and Walt Disney Resorts around the world use NAUI training programs today.
CMAS
Scuba divers from every continent should seek out a school that offers CMAS courses. Although there is no single listing of accredited dive school, you should still be able search engines to find them. CMAS courses offer 5 days of dives and stress safety. CMAS certification requires that you are at least 16 and have dived 25 times. You also need to have a medical certificate from a diving doctor. If you already have a certification, the first step in obtaining SSI will be to complete a 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. The table does not list all training agencies, so you may have to begin at a lower level if you hold a CMAS 1 or 2 certification. If this is the case, you should seek out advice from the new agency prior to making the decision.