Nitrox: Which agency to use?

[kelemvor]

NAUI does tables for the nitrox class. No idea if they take HSA cards, but if you don't have any luck with TDI then give them a call. 800-553-6284

 

[rangerdanger]

Good afternoon Koi Watcher, many of the above responses sound pretty good. I did my nitrox certification program through NAUI, the instructor is a disabled veteran, and quite an accomplished diver to boot. I picked the NAUI course specifically because NAUI places an emphasis on education and training to support safety. My course required two separate ocean dives, using Nitrox, in addition to several hours of classroom presentation using the two most regular mixes of gas EAN32 and EAN36 (at least in recreational diving). In addition to the classroom instruction, table calculations and dives you also had to demonstrate proficiency in gas analysis; you were required to confirm your own cylinder fills with respect to MOD, MIX and DOSE. See if you can find a reputable NAUI dive center in your area. If you have no luck, let me know and I'll have my center find one.

Best of luck

 

[SeaCobra]

Hi there,
I own a NAUI facility in Avondale, PA, would be glad to help if I can. 610-268-8500

 

[Jim Lapenta]

There ya go. Jeff has your answer.

---------- Post added October 2nd, 2013 at 04:32 PM ----------

"When PADI was contacted, they stated they do not recognize HSA as eligible for their continuing education classes"

Now that is just ignorant and a shame. Lousy way to treat anyone who worked as hard as you did. And you are right, you're more qualified and better trained than many of their new OW divers.

 

[bentcaver]

I am currently working with PADI about another issue like this one. I am working with PADI to see what we are able to do and have been asked to provide more information. PADI has not totally said no. I will let all know progress.

And Jim Lapenta, ​PADI is not discounting anyone's efforts to enjoy the underwater world. No matter what initials your training agency has, they all can put out divers that may not be totally ready for real word diving. It is not the training agency, it is the instructor.

 

[WheelsUSN]

Someone suggested PADI to me. This has two issues: 2) PADI doesn't recognize my HSA certification for their continuing education classes (at least according to one location in PA which has been good to me and which I respect).

"When PADI was contacted, they stated they do not recognize HSA as eligible for their continuing education classes"

Now that is just ignorant and a shame. Lousy way to treat anyone who worked as hard as you did. And you are right, you're more qualified and better trained than many of their new OW divers.

Unless I missed it somewhere in the thread it doesn't look like PADI was actually contacted, just a PADI shop in PA. As a PADI instructor I would follow the guidance in my instructor manual:

Prerequisite Certifications
You may accept divers with certifications through other training organizations into a PADI course using this general guideline, and after conducting a knowledge and skill preassessment.

Qualifying Certification Description
2.PADI Open Water Diver—proof of an entry-level scuba certification with a minimum of four open water training dives.

Unless someone can show an actual communication from PADI saying that an HSA certification is not acceptable I would tend to believe that the shop in PA got it wrong, not that PADI is refusing to honor the cert.

 

[bentcaver]

I am a PADI Instructor and have contacted PADI directly and was initially told that an HSA cert does not meet the qualifications to take a continuing education course.

For a list of other certification agencies is held by PADI and anyone can call to see if any agency is on the acceptable list.

With that said, PADI is trying to work with me to see how we can make this happen.

 

[Dr. Lecter]

I am a PADI Instructor and have contacted PADI directly and was initially told that an HSA cert does not meet the qualifications to take a continuing education course [because . . .].

Can you fill in the blank? Between what Wheels and the OP have said, I don't see what about the HSA cert is deficient. I don't doubt that there's some other PADI reg it doesn't meet, but it would be nice to know which one(s).

 

[bentcaver]

As soon as PADI gives me an answer I will be sure to post.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I am currently working with PADI about another issue like this one. I am working with PADI to see what we are able to do and have been asked to provide more information. PADI has not totally said no. I will let all know progress.

And Jim Lapenta, ​PADI is not discounting anyone's efforts to enjoy the underwater world. No matter what initials your training agency has, they all can put out divers that may not be totally ready for real word diving. It is not the training agency, it is the instructor.

But the agency can say what instructors can and cannot do. Are you allowed to have OW students bring an unresponsive diver up from depth as the op was required to do? I'd also like to hear what other items impressed his wife so much.

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