Mix and match agencies/certs?

[NCK]

Is there any reason not to mix and match agencies for different certs? I'm PADI OW certified, say I find an advanced OW class that's from another agency that will customize the class to what I want (more deep dives, and perhaps just more days and more training). Does it matter if my AOW isn't PADI then I do rescue with padi and so on?

Thanks

 

[Marie13]

Plenty of us do that. Just don’t expect on dives/specialties from SDI, for example, to be accepted by PADI for AOW. I’ve had friends try it and it didn’t work.

 

[shurite7]

Is there any reason not to mix and match agencies for different certs? Does it matter if my AOW isn't PADI then I do rescue with padi and so on?

No, it does not matter.

 

[jgttrey]

What they said.

Plus, I think you answered your own question. Go wherever you get the best and most appropriate training. You're already certified. At this point, the training is about expanding your skills and comfort, not getting a piece of plastic, let alone a piece of plastic from one agency versus another.

Part of the reason you're probably seeing that discrepancy is you may be comparing apples to oranges. AOW doesn't mean the same thing to every agency. PADI AOW requires 5 dives in different specialties, but not completion of the actual specialties. It's just a sampler. SSI would call that "Advanced Adventurer" not AOW. SSI AOW is based on completion of the specialties, not just one sample dive from each.

 

[NCK]

What they said.

Plus, I think you answered your own question. Go wherever you get the best and most appropriate training. You're already certified. At this point, the training is about expanding your skills and comfort, not getting a piece of plastic, let alone a piece of plastic from one agency versus another.

Part of the reason you're probably seeing that discrepancy is you may be comparing apples to oranges. AOW doesn't mean the same thing to every agency. PADI AOW requires 5 dives in different specialties, but not completion of the actual specialties. It's just a sampler. SSI would call that "Advanced Adventurer" not AOW. SSI AOW is based on completion of the specialties, not just one sample dive from each.

I spend half the year where the most popular dive is a 30m wreck with decks at 20-24m. I'd like to find a class where I would be most prepared for that kind of diving. Not just a single deep dive.

And I go to Tahoe (6200ft) every year with family who are divers and it might be fun to do the altitude class with them. (Tahoe dive center is SSI).

Thanks

 

[rhwestfall]

Unless trying to go "pro", (and even then, early on doesn't matter) it isn't a big deal.

from my Bio:

Scuba Diver - Open Water: YMCA - May 1988
Advanced Open Water: PDIC - August, 1996
EANx Diver: NAUI - January, 2012
Scuba Rescue Diver: NAUI - June, 2012
Master Scuba Diver: NAUI - September 2013
Technical EANx Diver: NAUI - May 2016
Decompression Techniques Diver: NAUI - May 2016
Ice Diver: SDI - March 2017
Visual Inspection Procedures: SDI - June 2017
Air Fill Station Operator: SDI - June 2017
Technical Gas Blender: PADI - October 2017
Solo Diver - SDI - October 2017
O2 Service Technician - TDI - November 2017
CPROX Administrator - SDI/TDI - March 2018
Project AWARE - Dive Against Debris - PADI - April 2018
EDGE/HOG Equipment Service Clinic: TDI - April 2019
Deep Six Equipment Service Clinic: TDI - April 2019
Helitrox Diver: NAUI - in process 2015.....

I sought out people I wanted to train under, not specifically an agency.

YMMV

 

[jadairiii]

IMHO there is a benefit from taking classes from different agencies. You get a more rounded education and different perspectives. I've run the gambit, NAUI (4 courses, 2 different instructors), PADI (1 course, 1 instructor), IAND (1 course, 1 instructor, IANTD (5 courses, 2 different instructors, GUE (3 courses, 3 different instructors) then back to IANTD (1 class, lots of instructors).

 

[sea_ledford]

The disadvantage is you'll never remember all the buddy check/descent acronyms!
BWRAF, SEABAG, SOTEED, ABCDE, AABBCCDDE, and the winner for the worst... ORCESD.

 

[NothingClever]

Seek out the best training you can afford regardless of the organization’s name.

Hard to know what’s goof training and what’s just marketing and empty assertions.

Best to stick around here for a minute and find a mentor who can help you ask the right questions of potential instructors.

 

[boulderjohn]

I spend half the year where the most popular dive is a 30m wreck with decks at 20-24m. I'd like to find a class where I would be most prepared for that kind of diving. Not just a single deep dive.

I don't believe there is any agency that does not offer what you want. In the case of PADI, there is one deep dive in AOW, but you can do the entire deep dive specialty as well, which is 4 dives.