Padi vs naui

[ScubaDan3]

So I am wondering the major difference between PADI VS NAUI. I am about to go get cert with my girlfriend and I would like to know what Cert to choose from. I have a instructor who is both and he told me the do the research. I am trying to find them and can not find anything on the differences any help would be great.


Thanks guys

Dan

 

[RJP]

So I am wondering the major difference between PADI VS NAUI. I am about to go get cert with my girlfriend and I would like to know what Cert to choose from. I have a instructor who is both and he told me the do the research. I am trying to find them and can not find anything on the differences any help would be great.


Thanks guys

Dan

Are you using that instructor either way?

If so, it doesn't matter.

Unless you think he's not going to teach you something from one agency if you get a card from the other.

:d

You'll hear the phrase "it's not the agency, but the instructor that matters" bandied about here when people ask from which agency to get their certification. You've highlighted the one instance where that is 100% for sure absolutely true.

 

[ScubaFeenD]

Might want to find another instructor if his way of answering questions is "you do the research."

Anyway, no real difference except that NAUI, I think, requires one more dive than PADI. I think NAUI stresses free diving a bit more than PADI, but I dont have enough experience to know for sure.

 

[pir8]

You can't find much difference because there isn't all that much. PADI requires 4 dives for their Open H2O course, NAUI requires 5 and requires a Rescue scenario in their course. The Instructor is really the important thing. Number of dives per course doesn't really matter to me since I generally do 6 dives in my course as I'm allowed to do 3 dives a day and it is required to take, so you might as well get your moneys worth out of me. When I did the NAUI Crossover my Trainer used the PADI slates for his NAUI classes.

 

[japan-diver]

NAUI does require a extra dive, includes rescue training that PADI does not, the NAUI written exam is a bit more in depth than PADI's but in this case I would ask the instructor what is the difference as to how you teach a NAUI course as opposed to a PADI course. NAUI allows its instructors to add content to a course so there is the possibility that a NAUI course could differ greatly from a PADI course. In our course we add Rock Bottom gas management calculations, hazardous marine life (local) and a section on weather and dive site choosing for the local divers so they can make informed decisions about which shore sites are divable during certain sea/weather conditions.

 

[signsmithllc]

if your looking try looking SDI-TDI they are abit more on the tech side of things

 

[RJP]

if your looking try looking SDI-TDI they are abit more on the tech side of things

Why might that be a reason to choose them?

 

[japan-diver]

SDI which is the recreational agency of SDI/TDI is no more tech than PADI- NAUI or any of the recreational agencies

 

[Walter]

NAUI requires you to swim, although there is no specific distance requirement. PADI allows you to snorkel instead of swimming. PADI requires 200 yds if you swim, 300 yds if you snorkel.

NAUI requires either 4 SCUBA dives and 1 skin dive or 5 SCUBA dives. PADI requires 4 SCUBA dives.

A NAUI instructor can have no more than 10 students in open water regardless of how many AIs or DMs he may have assisting. A PADI can have 12 with 2 assistants.

NAUI requires an underwater swim of 50 ft. PADI does not.

NAUI requires you to breathe through a flooded snorkel. PADI does not.

NAUI requires you to orally inflate your buddy's BC. PADI does not.

PADI requires no mask breathing. NAUI does not.

NAUI requires you to remove a simulated cramp from your buddy. PADI does not.

PADI requires breathing from a free flowing regulator. NAUI does not.

PADI requires you to disconnect your LPI on the surface. NAUI does not.

PADI requires snorkel/regulator exchanges. NAUI does not.

NAUI requires simulated rescue breathing. PADI does not.

NAUI requires bringing a simulated unconscious victim from 10 ft. PADI does not.

NAUI requires students to figure air consumption. PADI does not.

PADI requires students to learn buoyancy control using oral inflation. NAUI does not.

NAUI allows its instructors to add requirements. For example, while NAUI does not require no mask breahing, I've never heard of a NAUI instructor who didn't require the skill. PADI does not. While a PADI instructor can teach additional material, he cannot require you to learn it. For example, a PADI instructor could decide it's a very good idea for Open Water students to learn to rescue an unconscious diver from the bottom of the pool and he is free to teach the skill. If a student doesn't want to learn that skill, the instructor cannot refuse to certify the syudent on that basis.

 

[Octopusbrain]

Walter lists a great breakdown, however I would be less concerned with the differences and more concerned with the Instructor. In my experience, a good instructor goes so far beyond the requirements that any differences between agencies would be moot. Look for smaller class sizes and don't be in a hurry to just get your card. Take the time to make sure YOU are comfortable with the material, it might save your life.