Difference between PADI and NAUI OW course?

[swimmer_spe]

So, I dove with a fellow OWC diver recently.

I think we have the same number of dives. I say I think, because, well, he does log his dives, but does not number them.

He did not understand basic signals like how much air left. In fact, he simply told me "ok"

He did not understand that if we loose sight of each other, we do not just continue at depth.

He is NAUI, I am PADI certified. Is this an incompetent diver, or just how the different certification bodies work?

 

[Diver0001]

In terms of the end result it depends. Do you like to buy your eggs 12 at a time or a dozen at a time.

In terms of main stream agencies, the instructor is 99% of the equation. The agency is actually pretty irrelevant and differences usually amount to the order in which things are taught as opposed to any mind-blowing differences in standards or content.

Assuming that your friend is diving in the way he was trained then it sounds to me like he just made an unfortunate choice of instructors. Sadly some instructors are more concerned with getting things done on time than getting things done right but I consider it impossible that what you noticed has anything to do with NAUI as an agency. It would be the result of one individual instructor not doing his job.

R..

 

[herman]

I agree but I would suggest another possibility is your buddy was taught the proper way to dive but did a brain dump the minute he got his C card. NAUI has always had a good reputation, while it's possible they had a very slack instructor, as an agnecy they are well respected. An instructor must present the proper information, it is up to the student to learn AND retain it, there is little an instructor can do to ensure the latter.

 

[ScubaSteve1962]

Did you guys do a buddy check, and go over a few basic signals before the dive? As you should have been taught in PADI OW training?

 

[Badge353]

Did you guys do a buddy check, and go over a few basic signals before the dive? As you should have been taught in PADI OW training?

That is what I was going to ask.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

So, I dove with a fellow OWC diver recently.

I think we have the same number of dives. I say I think, because, well, he does log his dives, but does not number them.

He did not understand basic signals like how much air left. In fact, he simply told me "ok"

He did not understand that if we loose sight of each other, we do not just continue at depth.

He is NAUI, I am PADI certified. Is this an incompetent diver, or just how the different certification bodies work?

It sounds to me like either his instructor didn't do a very good job of teaching, or your friend decided not to follow his training once class was over. On the other hand, you and your dive buddy should always be discussing signals prior to the dive, to make sure you're both on the same page.

Functionally, there is almost no difference between what PADI and NAUI teach at the OW (what NAUI calls "Scuba Diver") level. The major difference is in how they teach it. PADI's course is more structured ... NAUI provides the outline for course content and leaves it up to the instructor to decide the best way to present it. PADI focuses more on the mechanics ... the "how" ... of diving. NAUI focuses more on the philosophy ... the "why". AFAIK, NAUI adds only one "skill" at that level that PADI doesn't ... which is bringing an unconscious diver to the surface. PADI teaches this skill at the Rescue level.

From a practical perspective, a reasonably-trained NAUI Scuba Diver and a reasonably-trained PADI Open Water diver should be able to dive together quite compatibly ... basic skills and communication are pretty much standardized at that level.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[swimmer_spe]

Did you guys do a buddy check, and go over a few basic signals before the dive? As you should have been taught in PADI OW training?

We did a buddy check, including what to do if separated and the various signals.

 

[Badge353]

We did a buddy check, including what to do if separated and the various signals.

Then sounds like your buddy just brain farted in the water and did his own thing. If he didn't dive the plan as outlined in pre-dive I wouldn't use him as a buddy anymore.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I'd be a bit more lenient and use it as an excuse for a learning experience. New divers can often "forget" what they were trained to do in the excitement of the dive. This would be a good time to have a constructive debrief after the dive and discuss what you liked about the dive and what you didn't like. Good divers do this at pretty much every level of diving ... so it's a good habit to get into.

If your buddy, over the period of a few dives, shows a tendency to take the results of a debrief less seriously than you're comfortable with, then I'd consider that perhaps we're not compatible dive buddies ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[261311]

I think the part where OP said he didn't understand that if they lost sight of each other they just "continue" is being missed. This really seems buddy related. As in, he needs a whole lot of retraining where he's paying attention. Predive planning should go similar to discussing that you will search for x time you're both comfortable with for buddy if separated, if unfound, surface. It's not "why, I don't get that. Lets dive anyways". How did you get separated anyways (or did you)?