NAUI v PADI

[Robinhood]

I believe all PADI instructors are required to teach their students the crawl exit, even for a flat beach with no surf at all.

In the other agencies, the instructors will probably have more flexibility, and adapt the course for the circumstances.

My own view of the crawling exit is that it is good to know, but should not be taught as the primary beach exit. And if a beach requires a crawing exit, then it is not an appropriate beach for open water students to be learning to dive at.

The performance requirement does not mention anything about forcing the crawl. Everything is relative to the type of environment you are and plan to dive in. Alot of the northern CA coast requires a beach entry with surf..hence, the crawl. I teach here in Florida with no beach entry and no surf...no crawl!

 

[zboss]

have you talked to the instructor? asked for credentials? asked others about them?!

Most new divers don't know what a good credential for an instructor is. To new divers, most instructors - even bad ones - can make monkey pee sound like a nice cool glass of lemonade on a hot summer day. I would say... tell us where abouts you live and the actual dive shops you have looked at... more than likely you will find someone on this board that knows a bit about that shop - good and bad.

 

[H2Andy]

ya... that's why credentials is just one aspect of the process. they should also talk
to others locally (or on this board, as you suggested), and talk to the instructor, just
to see if this is someone you feel comfortable with. it's amazing what a fifteen minute
conversation will reveal about a person

 

[SubMariner]

Also when I did my NAUI OW class I didn't have to do the PADI crawl. We call it that on account of all the PADI classes at Monterey who have to crawl out of the water on their hands and knees as one of their drills. Not dignified at all.

This is obviously a local practice by a few Instructors who just happen to be affiliated with a particular agency (PADI).

IOW, "crawling out of the water on [their] hands and knees" is NOT a PADI skill.

Meanwhile back to the original question, and a not-so-original answer: go for the Instructor; the agency is irrelevant.

 

[pipedope]

When I learned to dive in SoCal crawling up the beach was a standard skill.

We didn't do it all the time but there were plenty of times when the surf dictated that technique.
The real fun one was doing surf rescue in AOW when the instructor did not count the task done until you and your buddy were on dry sand, crawling and dragging.

Here in FL I rarely see conditions that would call for crawling, especially here on the Gulf side.

 

[CincyBengalsFan]

I've had to use the crawl down at Venice and Naples beaches in Florida. It was about 10 days after a storm and the surge was still above the norm. Otherwise we could have walked in and out easily.

 

[pipedope]

Yep,
If the surf and/or surge makes standing up and removing fins difficult or dangerous then crawling up the beach is a good plan.

No surf or surge? Stand up, remove fins, walk out.

 

[pasley]

Both PADI and NAUI are good agencies. One (PADI) has a stardardized instruction so all PADI divers get the same type of training. NAUI allows more freedom to the individual instructor. Both have great instructors, and walking idiots depending on who you get.

Just my $0.02.

 

[graat]

The main dive shop I am looking at is Knight Diver in Edgewood, Maryland. They are straight PADI. However a local athletic club (The Areana in Bel Air/Churchville, Maryland) is offering a NAUI cert. as well. Any knowlege of either?

Thanks again for all of the usefull information

 

[CincyBengalsFan]

Go with the PADI. It's mainstream. Have you ever been to the Caribbean or the Keys? How many non-PADI dive shops do or did you see?