i need a refresher...do i NAUI again or Padi...whats the difference?

[fnfalman]

If you've been NAUI certified before, then go PADI this time. That way you have two cards from two different agencies.

Yes, Jim is correct about latitudes given to the instructors by the agencies, but really, at the end of the day, PADI/NAUI/SSI curricula for Open Water certification are extremely similar.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Actually they are not. NAUI is more comprehensive and includes rescue skills, buddy breathing, and a few other items.

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[antattack]

I second the motion- Choose your instructor first, then your agency.
I second the other motion, NAUI open water curriculum has more bits in it than PADI.

My OW cert was NAUI, I refreshed and took PADI Certs all the way to Dive Master. I can confirm that the instructor is more important than the agency- unless you have a specific certification you are aiming for later in your diving career. For Example, NAUI has a very well respected Scientific Diver cert. It's really hard to earn. PADI has lots of fun certs if you want to collect cards- and they are recognized and have affiliates everywhere.

But- instructor first. That's my redundant $.02

 

[Quero]

Unless you go to the next level of certification, you won't receive a new card for a refresher course, which for PADI is called Scuba Review. In the PADI Scuba Review course, you go through an interactive booklet that reviews the dive theory topics presented in the Open Water course, and you may be given the opportunity to do a quiz that the instructor will go over with you just for good measure. Then you get in the pool or other confined water location and review all of the skills covered in the OW course. With that you're ready to do an open water dive. I agree with cocoajoe that at this point it's a good idea to get a private DM to guide your open water dive. What we call a "refresher" here is basically a closely supervised open water dive rather than a full Scuba Review/Tune-up course with theory and skills review. It sounds to me like what you are looking for is the Scuba Review. As I'm not a NAUI instructor, I don't know what such a course is called in the NAUI curriculum or what it entails.

 

[SeaCobra]

NAUI does not include buddy breathing, it is an optional skill that can be taught.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Thanks SC for the clarification. My NAUI S&P is older and I was going on what skills the instructor I was assisting during my crossover stated was required in his classes.

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[ScubaDocER]

As I'm not a NAUI instructor, I don't know what such a course is called in the NAUI curriculum or what it entails.

In NAUI, the course is called the Refresher Scuba Experience. The following includes what is offered :

Minimum requirements for the complete RSE Program are:

Exam. The participant is to pass an entry level scuba diver examination.

Skill Proficiency. The participant is to demonstrate scuba diving skill proficiency by satisfactorily performing all of the skills listed under “ScubaDiving” in the NAUI Scuba Diver Course Standards.

Dives. Water activities may be completed in confined water

 

[jar546]

klove,

By now you probably have already made a decision on what you want to do. I commend you for asking a great question like you did. As you can see from the majority of the responses, the instructor, not the agency is what is important. I will also tell you to find an instructor that you are comfortable with and who will ensure that you review your OW skills and are competent at them. Like someone else said, this is not rocket science. You do, however need to get comfortable in the water again with your gear.

Too much emphasis is put on agency and not enough on the quality of the instructor/shop.

Once you have your refresher completed, it will be time for you to dive to gain more experience and take additional courses to enhance your diving.

Welcome back to diving, have a great time and be safe.