I got my regular OW cert from PADI and have only gone on a few dives since. However, the local PADI shop isn't my favored LDS. I much prefer and have patroned the local SSI shop more often. Is it an issue to start doing specialties like nitrox, deep water and rescue classes with SSI if I have a PADI OW card?
Mixing Certification Agencies
- Thread starter Ith
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No problem what so ever. From what I know, every agency accepts the basic recreational certifications of other agencies. Some times the courses that are prerequisits will be slightly different, but I think it is a great idea to get certs from different sources.
Go with the best instructor you can find, they are going to make more of a difference than the agency or the shop.
Go with the best instructor you can find, they are going to make more of a difference than the agency or the shop.
The agency that you must stick with does not apply until you decide to become a dive professional. Then the track from Divemaster to Dive Con/Assistant Instructor to Instructor typically is expected to be within the same agency.
Any class below that level can be from any agency with a pre-recresite class from any agency.
Any class below that level can be from any agency with a pre-recresite class from any agency.
Not entirely true. Each agency that I am aware of has a crossover path for leadership courses. It may mean repeating a skill or two and buying some new books, but not overly difficult. I am a NAUI Course Director and if a PADI AI wanted to become a NAUI Instructor, that is not a problem. They would have most of the prerequisites already, they would need to acquire the NAUI material and study up, pass the NAUI Master Diver exam. Then we do the Instructor prep course followed by the NAUI ITC.
The only time you have to stick with one agency is at the level of Course Director, I can only be a Course Director for NAUI, no other agency. I can (and do) have an instructor rating from another agency.
Jeff
NAUI 10880
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