How Much Consideration Goes Into Your Choice of PADI/NAUI/SSI etc. for New Divers?

[Laserjock]

Ok, being that I have been reading this site for some time in hopes my wife and I will find the time to go ahead and get into a certification class I am maybe now a little confused.

Is there any place that has done a side-by-side-by-side comparison of the PADI/SSI/NAUI (and others) certification programs? I have seen now more than once in different threads subtle comments that seemed to suggest that PADI was almost a quickie or shortcut version of dive certification. Or at least that was my interpretation.

Just curious...

 

[boulderjohn]

Ok, being that I have been reading this site for some time in hopes my wife and I will find the time to go ahead and get into a certification class I am maybe now a little confused.

Is there any place that has done a side-by-side-by-side comparison of the PADI/SSI/NAUI (and others) certification programs? I have seen now more than once in different threads subtle comments that seemed to suggest that PADI was almost a quickie or shortcut version of dive certification. Or at least that was my interpretation.

Just curious...

Lots of people say that, but the reality is that there is very little difference among most agencies with their standards for OW dive certification. PADI's, SDI, and SSI's are almost identical. Individual shops and instructors will vary, and you will find cases in any agency in which someone does an unacceptable short cut. In the same town you can find shops with the same agency that have remarkably different instructional processes. Search around and find the one that makes the most sense to you.

 

[Dive the World]

When I got certified three years ago it was PADI - why? because at that point I didn't even know there were other agencies. NAUI? TDI? BSAC?

PADI has a great starbucks approach - you know what I am talking about.

Right now I am with a BSAC club and love it - even tough I have continued my training with PADI (Rescue) but will be focusing more on BSAC until I become and instructor with them and then jump over to PADI-

Can't deny PADI's marketing and awareness and presence.

 

[fjpatrum]

When I got my original OW cert I looked for PADI or NAUI as I didn't know about the other agencies. I honestly didn't care which agency I got trained with as long as it was recognized worldwide. I ended up with a PADI OW cert. Now I look more for instructor quality than agency. I did my Nitrox class online through TDI and I'll be doing my drysuit course with the same instructor. The only other course I see in my near(ish) future is rescue. I don't know if I'll do that through one of the local shops or go up to PA and talk with Jim Lapenta.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Ok, being that I have been reading this site for some time in hopes my wife and I will find the time to go ahead and get into a certification class I am maybe now a little confused.

Is there any place that has done a side-by-side-by-side comparison of the PADI/SSI/NAUI (and others) certification programs? I have seen now more than once in different threads subtle comments that seemed to suggest that PADI was almost a quickie or shortcut version of dive certification. Or at least that was my interpretation.

Just curious...

It's probably dated by now, but about 10 years ago one of our members (Walter) wrote a side-by-side comparison that got published on Divernet. PADI sued him ... they lost but it was still a lot of time and expense for him ... and I believe Divernet took it off their site. Haven't seen a reasonable comparison since ... just a lot of opinion and bluster.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Ok, being that I have been reading this site for some time in hopes my wife and I will find the time to go ahead and get into a certification class I am maybe now a little confused.

Is there any place that has done a side-by-side-by-side comparison of the PADI/SSI/NAUI (and others) certification programs? I have seen now more than once in different threads subtle comments that seemed to suggest that PADI was almost a quickie or shortcut version of dive certification. Or at least that was my interpretation.

Just curious...

That was done once years ago and the entity doing it was sued by PADI. Suit was thrown out but it seems to this point to have had the desired effect. People still had to hire lawyers, defend themselves, etc. If it were to be done now with the internet as it is anonymously it might fly and do new divers a great service. There are differences in OW training standards. Some of them are stark and can have major effects on diver training. What you need to do is call an instructor or shop from each agency you are interested in and ask them if you can come in and read for yourself those standards. Then ask how they meet or.exceed them in the class. I am happy to do this. I have standards for.seven agencies now in my library. They were not hard to get and updates I get via reading this board or from other instructors. Many instructors have never seen any except those from their own one or two agencies if they even have a second one so they will say they don't know, which is the truth, or that they are all the same, which is not. The only way you as a new diver can know is to see them for yourself. And they are not classified state secrets. I would be leery of anyone who told me they can't show them to you. My own belief as an instructor is that you have a right to know what you should be getting considering your life does indeed depend on it.
Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Paladin]

After diving for eleven years, I suddenly found myself in the position of needing a C-card to get my tank filled. PADI was all that was available but it did not matter. The card I got opened the door for air fills and that was all I needed.

 

[RJP]

I did my OW pool and classroom work with a shop that offered both PADI & NAUI instructors. The owner told me that quality of the instruction was the same. I chose PADI for two reasons:

• The PADI class was starting sooner than the next scheduled NAUI class
• Owner explained I would probably have more options to do referral check-out dives with PADI vs NAUI (I was getting certified in Feb for a March trip to Hawaii, and was NOT doing OW dives in NJ in Feb.)

 

[TMHeimer]

While our RV was being serviced I walked down the street and saw the shop. Had no idea what a PADI or NAUI was. As it turned out the choice was that shop (PADI) or an SSI one. PADI won because I saw them first.

 

[TracyN]

I chose PADI because it was the only agency that I knew existed. I really wouldn't recommend E-learning though as I feel I lost out on a lot of important information that only an instructor could impart.