For professional diving, you will need certification. There are many options for certification depending on your preference and your 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! 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 that offers training and membership. John Cronin & Ralph Erickson created the organization in 1996. The certification includes a range of training requirements including underwater navigation, scuba diving safety and dive operations. PADI teaches divers how safely and effectively to supervise a dive, and the nuances of underwater navigation.
Students will be certified as a rescue diver after completing the PADI open-water course. This requires five different dive courses with five distinct learning outcomes and skill sets. Two of these courses must be Deep Dive Specialty Courses, while one must be Underwater Navigation Specialty Course. The three remaining must be selected from a selection. The rescue diver certification is for people who want to assist in emergencies underwater. The course usually requires two to three days of training. It includes theory and two open water dives.
SSI
A SSI course can help you decide which certification is best for you. Both SSI and PADI require a certain level skill. PADI courses are more rigid, and require students to master skills in a specific order. SSI permits more flexibility. If they find one skill too difficult they can easily move onto the next until they have it perfect. They can even train while on vacation with SSI and get their certification in a matter days.
SSI offers digital courses, so you can log your dives easily. The manuals are available online or can be purchased or borrowed from a dive center. SSI can also issue an eCertification Card by creating an account online. The cost varies, but in 2018 most courses cost about 50 USD. A dive training course can be completed to upgrade your certification.
NAUI
The National Association of Underwater Instructors or NAUI is an association of certified Scuba Diving Instructors. They are responsible for providing education programs and standards to scuba divers across the globe. NAUI certification allows you teach scuba diving and meets international standards. NAUI offers training classes as well.
Al Tillman, a Scripps Institute of Oceanography peer, organized the first NAUI training program in Los Angeles. In 1958, he and another oceanographer at the Scripps Institute granted provisional diving certifications. In 1960, the film "Sea Hunt" starring Lloyd Bridges generated great interest in scuba diving as a recreational activity. The National Diving Patrol was established in 1960. Jacques-Yves Cousteau was elected its first president. The Navy SEALs, NASA and Walt Disney Resorts around the world use NAUI training programs today.
CMAS
Scuba diving enthusiasts from every continent should look for a dive school that offers CMAS certification courses. You can search for accredited dive schools online, even though there is not a central listing. CMAS courses cover 5 days of diving. They emphasize safety and the need to have 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 are already certified, you can take an SSI course.
You can take a course equivalent in another agency if you hold a qualification from one agency, but not another. 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 doesn't include information about all training agencies. This means that you may have to start at a lower grade if you already hold a CMAS 1 certification or 2. Before making a decision, it is advisable to seek the advice of the new agency.