Certification-Which One?

[gateway418]

Hello, Im new to the forum and to scuba diving in general. I have two dive shops in my area, One offers PADI and the other NAUI Certs. Does anyone have a suggestion on which cert to get? The positives and the negatives of either certs would be helpful. Thanks in advance.

 

[Montana Diver]

Welcome to SB.

Wow, I get to be the first one to answer this often asked question. It's all about the instructor!! I am PADI OW certified, however my LDS is NAUI. I went PADI since we are a very small market and I decided going into Winter that I wanted to start diving. The PADI e-learning program fir my hectic work schedule, allowing me to certify in Hawaii. I returned and started shadowing the OW class and learned several great pointers -- still the instructor based issue. The courses are fairly similar, however instructors vary. How convenient are the pool dives to you and where will the OW sessions occur.

I am certain others will chime in.

Good Luck and best wisshes in your diving career.

Dennis

 

[kaerius]

I don't think the agency differences are all that large(would be another thing if something like CMAS or SSI was in the mix, CMAS has mandatory buddy lines, and SSI has more theory but no CESA practice in open water). Personal advice: go talk to the instructors, and get the course from the one you feel more comfortable with.

 

[Crush]

I prefer NAUI over PADI.

A few comments:

1. NAUI and PADI recognize each other - as a NAUI OW diver you can take advanced PADI courses, and vice versa. If anyone tries to sell you on the "our school is more recognized" argument, run away screaming;
2. If price is a factor, be sure to compare the full price. A cheaper course may not include testing fees and course materials - the true price might be substantially more than the full price of what appeared to be the more expensive option; and
3. To me it doesn't mater how many divers they have certified. However, find out how many active divers they have in the LDS, and how often these divers meet to dive locally. This might give you the "in" with some divers that can mentor you and teach you to excel.

 

[OldNSalty]

Check not only the instructors but the package you are getting. Look at things like how flexible is the schedule, say if you have to miss a class. Where are the classes taught? Check out the pool. What is covered in the cost and do you need to fork out additional money above the class-like for rental gear or dive trip. Where will the qualification dives be done? How many classes/pool sessions are required-are you comfortable with the answer?

While in theory you could argue that any one agency in general is better for a specific course then another agency for the same course (and many people on here will be glad to argue that), the truth is that I would be less concerned about the agency then I am about the instructor and package for the price.

 

[ptyx]

CMAS has mandatory buddy lines

When did they introduce that? That doesn't sounds like a good idea.

 

[bjd001]

Definitely check into how long the class is. A class spread out over several weeks (maybe a few nights each week plus weekend dives) is generally better than one crammed into a weekend.

 

[Crush]

Definitely check into how long the class is. A class spread out over several weeks (maybe a few nights each week plus weekend dives) is generally better than one crammed into a weekend.

+1 to that

 

[bracko]

for me it was a case of which store i felt more comfortable at [got the best "vibe" from the training manager] mainly. both were roughly the same price and the one that i chose gave us the better price in the end and had a pool on site.

 

[NC Wreck Diver]

Both agencies are quality teaching organizations. I have to agree with everyone else. Check out the instructors. I have been NAUI certified for many years (they were great), and I now dive with a PADI shop, and a buddy who has been trained very well with his PADI instructors.

I also firmly agree that an OW course over weeks of theroy and pool time is extremely important. Don't rush it. Take your time with your instruction until you feel very comfortable. Ask questions when you need to. Any instructor worth their salt will make sure you understand every aspect of basic open water diving. Then, you will find out how much fun it is to advance your intelligence in the sport with 'advanced certifications' in the future.