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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
^^THIS^^Rather than mixing agencies, mix instructors. You will get varying perspectives and hear about different experiences, varying views on dive gear and varying philosophies on a number of different dive related issues.
What agencies offer Master Diver training? It looks like NAUI offers a non professional Master Diver package. Offering all the diving of the DM class but not the working professional part, where PADI master diver is just a pay and get a card type of thing after rescue diver.
I have no interest in working as a DM or instructor. What would be the best classes to get my diving to a DM level of diving?
where PADI master diver is just a pay and get a card type of thing after rescue diver.
The possible downside is that if you have your heart set on being a PADI Master Scuba Diver, you must have taken the required classes from PADI. Most other agencies let you mix and match for their equivalent rating (if I recall correctly, one agency actually has a course for it, perhaps a pretty good one, but for most agencies it’s just pay money to get a card, as long as you’ve done the prerequisites). As it happens, the Master Scuba Diver rating doesn’t actually mean much. I qualify for it (but haven’t paid for the card), and that’s a pretty good sign it’s way too easy to get.
I'm thinking that for Master Scuba Diver SDI lets you take some specialties from other agencies, as long as you've taken something from them? And same with SSI.I'm pretty sure that the only PADI classes required for the PADI Master Scuba Diver are the specialties. On the description for the OWD, AOW, and Rescue it says "or qualifying certifications."
And if that is the case that is inline with SDI and IANTD.