Advanced OPEN WATER - PADI or NAUI

[Sharkbait24]

Hi Everyone -
I was wondering if it makes much of a difference whether taking PADI or NAUI for the advanced course. I have a PADI OW certification.

Specifically, if I wanted to go on advanced dives in Bali or the Caribbean or similar international places, would I be able to participate with either of these certifications?

Also, if I took NAUI Advanced, could I take the PADI Wreck course?

I appreciate your input.

Thanks!

 

[HammerNoMore]

Hi Everyone -
I was wondering if it makes much of a difference whether taking PADI or NAUI for the advanced course. I have a PADI OW certification.

There are some differences but the biggest difference is the instructor. Pick the one you like best.

Specifically, if I wanted to go on advanced dives in Bali or the Caribbean or similar international places, would I be able to participate with either of these certifications?

The "Advanced" course should be looked at as more of an option to gain a little experience. It doesn't make you an "Advanced" diver, experience does that. There may be some wierd exceptions but for the most part there are no places you are going to find that will not allow you to do a dive without anything more than an "Open Water" card. Though if the dive truely is advanced a good dive op will evaluate your skills before taking you there.

Also, if I took NAUI Advanced, could I take the PADI Wreck course?

Yes, assuming you are 15 years or older which you probably have to be for a NAUI Advanced anyway.

James

 

[Tom R]

From now on your training should be all about the instructor.

 

[Diver0001]

Hi Everyone -
I was wondering if it makes much of a difference whether taking PADI or NAUI for the advanced course. I have a PADI OW certification.

Specifically, if I wanted to go on advanced dives in Bali or the Caribbean or similar international places, would I be able to participate with either of these certifications?

Also, if I took NAUI Advanced, could I take the PADI Wreck course?

I appreciate your input.

Thanks!

If, by advanced dives, you mean dives deeper than 18 meters then either cert will do. NAUI has a limit of 40 metres, PADI has a limit at the AOW level of 30 metres.

If you cross back into the PADI system then I think your instructor is required to perform a skills evaluation.

Also, when picking elective dives for the NAUI AOW cert you should consider taking things that correspond to the PADI system if you intend to cross back again. It will just make things easier. The required dives for NAUI also form the basis for the PADI AOW. For the record I think the following elective dives (NAUI) correspond to the PADI AOW

Search and recovery
Boat diving
Non-penetration wreck diving
Diving in surf or currents (Maybe = padi drift...?)
Altitude diving
Diving for photos or video
Using dive computers

Hope that helps.

R..

 

[jbd]

I agree with Tom R. What agency isn't the point at this level. If you have two or three instructor available to you then interview each of them and get some idea of what you can expect to get from their individual course. Hopefully you will pick the course that offers substance and has high performance standards. The NAUI instructor is required to do an in water evaluation of your basic diving skills before starting training. Most likely instructors from other agencies are required to do the same.

I know divers who have training from 2 or 3 different agencies and I know there are many instructors who are certified to teach for 3 to 5 agencies. Its all scuba diving and its all governed by the same laws of physics.