I got my initial training from the military. When stationed in Hawaii the local dive shops would not accept my military cert so I took the OW PADI course. The instructor was a Army Scuba instructor that also was PADI. Worked hard during the course and no short cuts were taken. Took the PADI AOW and Rescue from the same instructor. I am glad I did. During my 45+ years of diving I have always been wiling to learn from divers from other disciplines.