continuing ed.

[scubabrn]

I'm wondering..... is going the NAUI route(my original cert) ie: master diver, inst. trainee etc etc the way to go? Or would the SSI route be right? My thinking is in SSI one is qualified for advancement with a cont. ed class and some dives, it just seems cheaper. I know this post sounds kinda wacko, I just want the most punch for my dollar. Diving is VERY taxing on my income.

 

[amascuba]

The quetion you should be asking yourself is:

What do you want out of your class?

An easy way to get a card?

Do you want to actually learn something?

If you want to learn something I would talk to the instructors at either store and see who you would prefer to take the class with. It's too easy to just do the dives, take a test and get a card. It actually takes some work to learn why you do the things the way you do though.

 

[Louma]

Also, what do you want to do. You mentioned Instructor. Is that where you want to be? SSI and NAUI will both get you there. The major difference - If you are an SSI Instructor you can only teach out of an SSI LDS. As a NAUI Instructor you can teach at a store or anywhere else you want to. I am NAUI and teach private lessons to the rich and famous out of my (or there) house. Great job and I make money.

 

[ChrisA]

I'm wondering..... is going the NAUI route(my original cert) ie: master diver, inst. trainee etc etc the way to go? Or would the SSI route be right? My thinking is in SSI one is qualified for advancement with a cont. ed class and some dives, it just seems cheaper. I know this post sounds kinda wacko, I just want the most punch for my dollar. Diving is VERY taxing on my income.

Are you looking to become and work as an instructor? if so most jobs are for PADI. But then you can "cross over" after becomming a NAUI instructor and be certified by both agecies and be even more emplyable.

But the instructor and the dive shop s/he works for matters more then the agency. I've seen several AOW classes all the same agency. One is the absolute minimum. The students read the book on thier own and did five dives while the instructor mostly supervised. Other AOW classes do letures and pool work and spread the trainningout. Same c-card at the end.

Two examples of what's "Out There"....

I have about 220 logged dives and have PADI Rescue and Nitrox. But this Saturday I start this class
http://www.lascuba.com/adp.html They bring in experts to give each leture. For example a Bay Watch lifegard boat and its crew for rescue and a real marine biologist to teach marine biology, Last year they had an MD who runs a hyperbaric chamber teach that subject and so on. We should do about 20 ocean dives and several full days in the pool and lectures. In the LA County system the next step is instructor. But LA County is a very small agency and they only train 20 or 30 advanced divers a year. At one time LA County was the _only_ scuba training agency and they ran about 300 students through this same summer program.

After I'm done with this I'm looking to get into this series
http://www.latecdivers.com/training.html

Both of the above are very small groups compared to PADI, NAUI or SSI and I'm sure there are outfits like them in areas outside of So Calif. I know there are some in FL. You have to hunt them down.

Asking here is fine but to find good trainning you will need to ask other experianced divers in your local area -- trainning is local, no way around that..