Padi To Naui Crossover

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The difference Bob, is that the level of experience needed to assist in instructing students is much less with the NAUI certification than it is with PADI. The OP should not have any problem getting the NAUI AI Certification with his current experience....
 
Mark_J:
The difference Bob, is that the level of experience needed to assist in instructing students is much less with the NAUI certification than it is with PADI. The OP should not have any problem getting the NAUI AI Certification with his current experience....
True, but in this case you're quoting statistics that are required to get into the program, not to complete it. Furthermore, you quoted statistics for inequivalent levels ... because they happen to have the same title.

For equivalance, you need to look at what it takes to complete the course. And you need to compare equivalent courses.

To get past the Master Diver level the OP will have to demonstrate some pretty proficient diving skills. If he doesn't have those skills, the number of dives he's completed is meaningless. He'll also have to pass the Master Diver exam ... even an instructor from a different agency with hundreds of dives that wants to cross over to NAUI needs to do that. And it's not a slam-dunk exam ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)
 
Mark_J:
Perhaps you just missed that part...
No, but you weren't using it in that context.

Mark_J:
The difference Bob, is that the level of experience needed to assist in instructing students is much less with the NAUI certification than it is with PADI.

Are you sure? Maybe. I don't have the standards handy, but I did notice you posted entry requirements, not exit requirements. For example, I could post the following as PADI's Instructor requirements (taken from the link) you provided:

PADI Assistant Instructor certification
Certified diver for at least six months
60 logged dives (with experience in night, deep, and navigation)
Proof of CPR and first aid training within the last 24 months.

I could then post the YMCA Instructor requirements:

* completion of Phase I and II or current instructor with a nationally-recognized SCUBA certification agency
* 18 years of age or older
* current medical exam
* current CPR and First Aid
* current Oxygen Administration
* at least one year of diving experience since entry-level certification
* documented 100 logged SCUBA dives
* documented 15 hours of lecture experience
* documented proof of assisting with at least three separate open water class checkouts
* a complete classroom and pool teaching outline for entry-level SCUBA class you plan to teach
* S.L.A.M. Rescue Diver (or S.L.A.M. crossover if Rescue Diver from another agency)


I could then comment that the level of experience needed to instruct students is much less with the PADI certification than it is with YMCA. It wouldn't be fair to PADI because that is a requirement to begin training as an instructor. PADI also requires a minimum of 100 dives to actually be certified as an instructor.
 
Sorry,

in a NAUI facility, DMs (all flavors) are allowed to teach under the supervision of a current NAUI instructor. PADI has no jurisdiction in a NAUI course.

I went from being a PADI DM straight into being a NAUI instructor. Thank goodness my mentor had me teaching classes as he watched.

Dive-aholic:
As a PADI Master Diver you are not allowed to help teach classes. The shop is breaking standards by allowing you to do that. I'd look for a new shop.
 
NetDoc:
Sorry,

in a NAUI facility, DMs (all flavors) are allowed to teach under the supervision of a current NAUI instructor. PADI has no jurisdiction in a NAUI course.

I went from being a PADI DM straight into being a NAUI instructor. Thank goodness my mentor had me teaching classes as he watched.
Pete ... unless I'm missing something obvious here, I suspect you read the comment wrong.

He said Master Diver ... not Divemaster ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)
 
Hey Guys ,

In response to the helping out teaching the class, let me rephrase it to helping out in the pool doing poolwork and on dives. Is that ok to do?
 
NWGratefulDiver:
I agree with you about the experience, but I believe Walter's point is that about the only thing in common between PADI "Master Diver" and NAUI "Master Diver" is the name.

PADI Master Diver is attained by taking a certain number of specialty classes. NAUI Master Diver is a pretty comprehensive course that focuses a great deal on the mechanics and physics of diving ... and frankly, the NAUI Master Diver exam is tough. Regardless of how many dives you have, if you don't work at it you won't pass the exam. And unless you pass the exam, you don't move into any leadership classes.

I have seen DM's and Instructors from other agencies fail the exam ... because despite their knowledge and diving experience, most agencies don't put the emphasis on diving physics and physiology that NAUI does ... they focus more on the "how" than on the "why" ... and if you come into the class thinking that it'll be a breeze because of your experience, you probably are in for a surprise.

To answer the OP's question ... you don't have to take the NAUI Master Diver course to go to AI, but you do have to pass the Master Diver exam. If your instructor feels you have the requisite knowledge and experience, he (or she) can opt to give you the exam as part of the AI class. If you pass the exam, you can then focus on the leadership skills for AI.

In any event, Master Diver certified divers are not allowed (by NAUI Standards and Procedures) to assist in teaching a class. To do that you must be at least an AI. If all you're doing is schlepping gear or some other physical activity, I don't see any standards violation ... but any teaching, demonstration, or evaluation activity must be conducted by someone properly certified in a NAUI Leadership course ... and that is AI and above.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)
You are partly correct. With the Teaching Assistant specialty almost anyone can assist in classes. A TA card allows you to do almost everything the AI cert does except you don't count towards student ratios. As long as an instructor is present I can do almost any part of class.

Joe
 
NWGratefulDiver:
Pete ... unless I'm missing something obvious here, I suspect you read the comment wrong.

He said Master Diver ... not Divemaster ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)
I did misread it Bob, thanks for pointing that out.

However, while a Master Diver can not be used in determining ratios for a particular class, a NAUI instructor can allow a DM in training (or anyone he wants) to teach under his/her supervision. It's part of the freedom of being a NAUI instructor.

As for the differences between a NAUI and a PADI Master Diver, the chasm is huge. The knowledge needed to pass the NAUI MD exams exceeds the knowledge needed to pass the PADI DM exams. The NAUI DM course concentrates on leadership since the academics should have already been attained.
 
Let’s look at what the original poster said – His friends, who own a NAUI shop, want him to get an AI with them. They asked him to take the NAUI MD Course. We can debate back and forth should he take the MD course or shouldn’t he take it. Will he be repeating what he already knows??? It seems to me that if this is the way his friends, Instructors, want him to do it you have two choices 1) take the course and go for your AI, or 2) don’t take the course, don’t become an AI and keep diving as a PADI MD with your friends.

From NAUI’s S&P --- entry requirement for entry into the AI course: “Diver Certification as a NAUI Master Scuba Diver and NAUI Scuba Rescue Diver or their equivalent. Divers with evidence of equivalent training and experience may be enrolled provided they pass the NAUI Master and Rescue Scuba Diver written examination with a minimum scores of at least 75% on each.” (section 2.77).

Take the tests without the course if you want. I would be VERY surprised if you passed the MD without the course.
 
NetDoc:
Sorry,

in a NAUI facility, DMs (all flavors) are allowed to teach under the supervision of a current NAUI instructor. PADI has no jurisdiction in a NAUI course.

I went from being a PADI DM straight into being a NAUI instructor. Thank goodness my mentor had me teaching classes as he watched.

Pete;
Was there a "Prep" course thrown in?
Bill
 

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