Certification Agency Poll

[astrofunk]

It was NAUI for OW, and it'll be NAUI at least up through Rescue Diver. (I'm planning on continuing education in the next six months or so.)

I just read DIR Fundamentals (because I was curious -- not because I'm committing), and my NAUI instructor meets all the criteria listed therein. Good for Jim! I see no reason to change now...

 

[raviepoo]

SSI, PADI, and soon to be Naui and TDI. I have nothing against PADI training. In fact, I think the PADI OW class is more rigorous than my SSI OW class.

 

[erichK]

Dee once bubbled...
Stone...No, you can't edit it yourself. I added CMAS, IANTD and ANDI.

If you see that someone has any to add, send me a PM...I may not see the post.

The ACUC, formerly the ASSOCIATION OF CANADIAN UNDERWATER COUNCILS,
restructured and incorporated in 1986 as American Canadian Underwater Certifications, popularly known as ACUC International should also be listed which claims to have over 2,000 professionals teaching our programs in over 43 countries around the world and is a founding member of the World
Recreational Scuba Training Council, and whose certifications and levels are cross recognized by the CMAS, should also be listed.

I have taken their courses twice, and their certification, which ends with four cold water dives in quarries or lakes with very limited visibility, certainly should be recognized.

The courses are excellent and quite demanding, and more club and safety than equipment and profit oriented.

erichk

 

[caymaniac]

I voted as a SSI member but I too carry my NASDS card, I was informed that if I paid $50.00 I could get the SSI card ( that's alot of air!), I think I'll keep my card. Also I'm "tdisdi" nitrox certified, another non-listed, but I don't know if this certification is considered just TDI.

Dive Safe
Caymaniac

 

[TCDiver1]

Padi, basic OW thru instructor

Andi, nitrox, before Padi scrambled into nitrox, the Andi course was good

Tdi, rebreather, again before Padi jumped on, and again the Tdi course was excellent

IMO most of you have it right when you say the LDS & instructor, not the agency, have the most to do with quality training.

I guess i'm missing something here when i read about weekend OW courses. In my experience meeting minimum required standards for Padi requires approx. 40 hours of time, plus or minus some when considering class size & logistics. Thats four days minimum in my book.

I know of no certifying agency that recommends teaching a full OW course in two days. Can someone shed some light on where this is coming from?

 

[ScubaScott]

Glad to see ACUC finally made the board - it only took about 5 months......... and yes, I'm one of the two on the poll. Our numbers are almost the same as PADI........

Gedunk - I don't know of any certifying agencies that promote weekend certs. I do know many instructors and LDS that will do it in a weekend - several not to far from us in (Ontario for sure). Is it right? Don't think so, but thats a whole different thread....

SS

 

[TCDiver1]

No doubt! A weekend is not enough time IMO to adequately complete Padi's OW requirements. I'm sure most other agencies are the same. Even with some of the media learning options like the CD-ROM, a weekend is not nearly enough time.

By the way, and this is no diss, i've been around awhile & never heard of ACUC. What is it, where & when did you get your cert?

 

[ScubaScott]

By the way, and this is no diss, i've been around awhile & never heard of ACUC. What is it, where & when did you get your cert?

Gedunk - just head back up the page here to erichk's post (he has more history on ACUC than I), and I think my original post for this thread is back on page 2.

When I was certified, the instructor told us ACUC was known "world wide". I think she must have been having a "PADI" moment, because very, very few charters, shops or divers have even heard of ACUC, nevermind knowing what the acronym stands for. I think ACUC is getting larger in Canada, but not so sure of the rest of the world.......

I would sure like to get to a DIR-F course.......

SS

 

[TCDiver1]

ScubaScott once bubbled...


Gedunk - just head back up the page here to erichk's post (he has more history on ACUC than I), and I think my original post for this thread is back on page 2.

When I was certified, the instructor told us ACUC was known "world wide". I think she must have been having a "PADI" moment, because very, very few charters, shops or divers have even heard of ACUC, nevermind knowing what the acronym stands for. I think ACUC is getting larger in Canada, but not so sure of the rest of the world.......

I would sure like to get to a DIR-F course.......

SS

Some peoples worlds are smaller than others! Coming from a small Michigan town, i understand that. If not for some time in the Marines & scuba travel, Michigan & of course the Canadien Soo would be my world. Went to college in the UP & spent some time in your area, nice country!

Don't know much about DIR except what i read on this board but it sounds like an interesting approach to diving. I'm not aware of anyone in our area that is teaching it. For me, i've made the decision to stay away from teaching tech related classes & subjects. Too many tech wanna be's out there who have no business taking on the additional risks and when your teaching for a LDS you always seem to get into the argument with the owner who wants to sell gear to anyone who will buy it, capable diver or not.

I plan on looking more into this DIR concept myself. Who knows, it may change my mind on some things.

Have not dove Superior yet this year, how is the vis & temp?

 

[ScubaScott]

We've managed to get this thread off topic again! Not the first time, and I'm sure it won't be the last. This past weekend in Superior, the water was a balmy 65-66 deg. and vis at Mamanse Harbour was probably 40-50'. Vis closer to town here was about 20-30', temp about the same - 66 or so.

To get somewhat back on topic here, go back to page 4 of this thread and read Seahunters posts. He is a BIG believer in the weekend course, while myself and some others are not. He's from Toronto and I know the shop he's involved with-I may have met him, but I'm not sure. That's not at all relevant. He's got some interesting opinions on weekend traning courses......

I'll send you a PM in a little while - gotta do some work......

SS