NAUI vs PADI
- Thread starter Berdman
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From their website:
PADI would be largest...
Can't help with the comparo, I'm SSI..
PADI would be largest...
Can't help with the comparo, I'm SSI..
Hang on...let me get the marshmellows!
dzer0
Registered
They basically teach the same stuff. The real grit comes from the instructor which good and bad exist on both sides.
Berdman:
PADI = Put Another Dollar In
NAUI = Not Another Underqualified Instructor
But seriously, the last word in EACH acronym is INSTRUCTOR and the first three words don't matter. It's the instructor that has pro's and con's. Choose your instructor wisely and it doesn't matter which agency they are from.
The Horn
Contributor
INSTRUCTOR, thats all that matters
Both C-Cards will allow you to purchase air fills. Everything else depends on you.
Both C-Cards will allow you to purchase air fills. Everything else depends on you.
Pathfinder
Contributor
Well.....seeing as I was certified by NAUI I would have to say they are definately the greatest 
Dave
Dave
coach_izzy
Contributor
You may want to tell us where you live. There are several regional sub-forums here and I'm sure TONS of people would be more than willing to share their opinions.
Do as much research as you can on instructors. Whether they're from PADI or NAUI or other traditional agencies is irrelevant since they all have similar guidelines. It is how the instructor is that matters. If I were you, I would ask the more experienced divers. By experienced, I mean divers who have been in different environments and situations, and how they feel their training prepared them. "Experienced Divers" does not necessarily one who holds a plethora of specialty cards.
Telling you this from my own experience. I remember when I first got my OW I used to admire my instructor and think he was the Universe gift to divers. As I started moving to different levels and experiences, I started to realize that this instructor was not so hot. Granted, he has a TERRIFIC personality, but as diver, he's not really much. Curiously, the people who still regard him as the Dali Llama of bubble blowers, are the ones who will never think of diving waters below 80 F, with 100 feet visibility, and a divemaster...
Like I said, this a great place to get feedback... Good luck!
Do as much research as you can on instructors. Whether they're from PADI or NAUI or other traditional agencies is irrelevant since they all have similar guidelines. It is how the instructor is that matters. If I were you, I would ask the more experienced divers. By experienced, I mean divers who have been in different environments and situations, and how they feel their training prepared them. "Experienced Divers" does not necessarily one who holds a plethora of specialty cards.
Telling you this from my own experience. I remember when I first got my OW I used to admire my instructor and think he was the Universe gift to divers. As I started moving to different levels and experiences, I started to realize that this instructor was not so hot. Granted, he has a TERRIFIC personality, but as diver, he's not really much. Curiously, the people who still regard him as the Dali Llama of bubble blowers, are the ones who will never think of diving waters below 80 F, with 100 feet visibility, and a divemaster...
Like I said, this a great place to get feedback... Good luck!
N.A.U.I ---National Association of Underwater Instructors
P.A.D.I.---Professional Association of Dive Instructors
Coure requirements do differ somewhat but is nothing earthshaking or show stopping. The key is to find an instructor who will actually teach you to dive as opposed to just getting underwater.
There is an alphabet soup of dive agencies to choose from.
From personal perspective as an instructor I chose NAUI because of the rescue/diver recovery skills in the OW course. I also feel as though I have more flexibility with the NAUI curriculum compared to the PADI curriculum. These though are more issues to consider when becoming an instructor than when first learning to dive. When you are first learning to dive the quality of the instructor is fa more important than what agency banner he or she fly's.
One instructor on this message board (Walter)has posted a pretty good list of interview questions to ask of instructors. I agree with most of it. Its a good resource.
P.A.D.I.---Professional Association of Dive Instructors
Coure requirements do differ somewhat but is nothing earthshaking or show stopping. The key is to find an instructor who will actually teach you to dive as opposed to just getting underwater.
There is an alphabet soup of dive agencies to choose from.
From personal perspective as an instructor I chose NAUI because of the rescue/diver recovery skills in the OW course. I also feel as though I have more flexibility with the NAUI curriculum compared to the PADI curriculum. These though are more issues to consider when becoming an instructor than when first learning to dive. When you are first learning to dive the quality of the instructor is fa more important than what agency banner he or she fly's.
One instructor on this message board (Walter)has posted a pretty good list of interview questions to ask of instructors. I agree with most of it. Its a good resource.
The quote from the NAUI website is wrong. They are not the oldest or even the second oldest certification agency in the US, certainly not the world. LA County and YMCA are both older. They are, however, an excellent agency.
No, they don't.
That's a myth. Different agencies have very different standards and teach very different courses. Most instructors follow their agencies standards to the letter. When that happens, the agency is much more important than the individual instructor. There are rare instructors who add to standards and a couple agencies who even encourage the practice. NAUI is one such agency that actively encourages their instructors to teach more than standards require and allows instructors the leeway to actually add requirements. PADI, OTOH, actively discourages teaching above standards and does not allow its instructors to add requirements. PADI's requirements are lower than NAUI's.
dzer0:
No, they don't.
coach_izzy:
That's a myth. Different agencies have very different standards and teach very different courses. Most instructors follow their agencies standards to the letter. When that happens, the agency is much more important than the individual instructor. There are rare instructors who add to standards and a couple agencies who even encourage the practice. NAUI is one such agency that actively encourages their instructors to teach more than standards require and allows instructors the leeway to actually add requirements. PADI, OTOH, actively discourages teaching above standards and does not allow its instructors to add requirements. PADI's requirements are lower than NAUI's.
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