NAUI or PADI Divemaster?

[enzo181]

Hey guys... in a month or so I will be taking a divemaster course through my university. The class is listed as a NAUI Divemaster/AI but the instructor said he would be willing to certify me in PADI if I would prefer.

I have all of my certifications in PADI... so my question is -- Which divemaster certification, NAUI Divemaster/AI or PADI Divemaster, is regcognized as a higher certification and will be better recognized. I am looking to work abroad this summer and I need to take whichever course it better recognized worldwide and viewed as the higher ranking certification. My instructor suggested NAUI and told me it is a better course than the PADI DM because it includes the Assistant Instructor labal. What do you guys think?

Also, how long does it take to become a PADI OW and AOW instructor and what are the prereqs/skills needed to start the training?

PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS THINK!! THANKS!

--Ryan

 

[enzo181]

O yea, I forget to add... The instructor said the NAUI and PADI DM courses were fairly close which is why he doesn't mind certifying me in either. Would it be a bad idea / waste of time and money (on books) to take both courses at once if he were willing to certify me in both (I doubt it but if it is worth it I will ask)?

 

[MurkyRockDiver]

This should be an interesting thread.....

 

[Oriskany Divemaster]

Go with PADI

No. NAUI. Go with NAUI.


No. No. PADI's better.

But NAUI's really good too. But PADI is easier to spell, and NAUI doesn't really mean anything, unless you're in Hawaii. And I once had a girlfriend who's name was Patty, which kind of sounds like PADI. But in fourth grade, she moved to Maui...so I really can't help you, except to say that I am both a NAUI and PADI DM.

 

[liuk3]

I like Coke better than Pepsi.

 

[Divedoggie]

If you want to work as a Divemaster and/or an AI, and you have an LDS that would like to use your services, then go with the Agency which that LDS represents.

If you just want the cert for the sake of a cert, then there are certainly others on this board who will strongly recommend one agency over the other.

If you like your Instructor, and he is willing to certify you with either agency, then get certified with both, and check back here to give your opinion on which is better.

 

[texdiveguy]

Forget doing either and GO diving!!


If not then go PADI!

 

[tedj01]

To compare correctly:
Naui DM to Padi A/I
Naui A/I to Padi DM

Padi DM is of lower rating than Naui DM

 

[BeachJunkie]

PADI is more common throughout the world and will therefore make finding work a bit easier (or so I've gathered by the 732 similarly based threads on here) They also have a pro section that helps you find work if you aren't already affiliated with a LDS. So, See if he'll do both, if not. Go padi. Just my .02

 

[Oriskany Divemaster]

To compare correctly:
Naui DM to Padi A/I
Naui A/I to Padi DM

Padi DM is of lower rating than Naui DM

PADI is more common throughout the world and will therefore make finding work a bit easier (or so I've gathered by the 732 similarly based threads on here) They also have a pro section that helps you find work if you aren't already affiliated with a LDS. So, See if he'll do both, if not. Go padi. Just my .02

I must apologize in advance because I was not able to identify with which agencies you both were Divemasters, so please accept my apology for not researching your postings further. Plus, it's late and I've been drinking...but I know that if you're both DMs from which ever agency, then I know that you realize you must know it doesn't matter who holds your certificate. Whether NAUI or PADI or WGAS*, I understand that you both know that all that matters is you have your DM ticket. I know this because of your overwhelming experience in the dive world.

I don't get too almighty on most topics but in this case, I do. Beach, it's like me telling you which is better for CQB, an M3 or and MP5. (I preferred the MP5) And Ted, while I appreciate your shyness (no vitals) it leaves you a little hollow. So if you're going to pontificate, please have the experience to back it up.


*Who gives a ****