Throughout my dive career, the one thing my NAUI instructors (including ITs and CDs) "bragged" about is the academic freedom NAUI offers their instructors. The picture they paint of PADI is that PADI instructors has to follow a very strict progression in terms of how they teach and the order of topics within the courses.
However, knowing some PADI instructors myself (some of the current PADI CDs who are also current or former NAUI CDs), they paint a different picture. They explained that as long as you teach what you need to within the course, it doesn't matter how you present them or the order it is being presented.
Can current PADI CDs weigh in on this?
Also, for those who are familiar (by that definition, I refer to those who are immersed in both the NAUI and PADI culture, not simply belonging to NAUI and hearing about PADI), what exactly does the "Academic Freedom" NAUI touts that PADI is lacking?
However, knowing some PADI instructors myself (some of the current PADI CDs who are also current or former NAUI CDs), they paint a different picture. They explained that as long as you teach what you need to within the course, it doesn't matter how you present them or the order it is being presented.
Can current PADI CDs weigh in on this?
Also, for those who are familiar (by that definition, I refer to those who are immersed in both the NAUI and PADI culture, not simply belonging to NAUI and hearing about PADI), what exactly does the "Academic Freedom" NAUI touts that PADI is lacking?