Dont see much here about PADI certification. Are they a thing of the past?
PADI is the largest certification agency in the world.
My wife is looking to certify. Which program is the best?
Best is a matter of opinion. I think you should follow the advice I give here.
scuga:They are still around and may be the most recognized scuba certification agency worldwide.
That's a tad misleading. The other agencies are just as well recognized around the world. Regardless of which agency there will be no issues with recognition. Dive operators make their living by taking people to dive. They try to recognize every agency they can. If you show up with a card from "Fred's Diving" you may have a problem.
LIVES4SHARKS:Before anyone goes crazy in this thread...please remember the TOS and that this is a flame free zone!
Maybe you jumped the gun a little. Just because some folks believe PADI has low standards is no reason to think they will jump in and start running PADI down. I think that is extremely unlikely to happen.