When i did my OW, then AOW and nitrox certs, i was sent a PADI membership application form along with the cert card. Recently when getting an NACD cavern cert i was offered membership with the NACD, this wasnt the case with TDI who i also got cert through. Whilst getting DAN insurance i also picked up membership. I understand that these diving organisations offer a magazine, some special offers or discounts off stuff they offer and fund research and such things to further diving interests, but i was wondering what each of the various typical diving organisations actually offer their members and what beneficial work they do towards the further of diving??
PADI - i believe they run a project AWARE, some kind of fish surveying, they offer a magazine and some special offers.
DAN - i believe they fund research as well as operate the 24hour hotline with dues, then tehre is the magazine, of course the insurance is what gets your backside out of a bad situation.
NSS-CDS - i know they have bought some springs in FL (although not many seem to be diveable) to protect them from development, i guess the same as others in terms of magazines and publications - i am not a member nor have i had training with them.
NACD - seems like they offer a magazine and some discounts on publications that they produce, not sure what else they offer though.
So what do people get for their membership dues from these organisations (either directly of in benefit to diving in general)? What other organisations are there that are at least nationwide (if not worldwide - ie not within a state) and offer reasonable benefits or fund research or the forwarding of diving in general? I think that REEF also has membership and they use the dues to fund clean up projects, fish surveying and the like as was seen in SE FL as well as other places earlier this year. Do any of the other major/minor agencies or other interested organisations use membership dues to support worthy causes???
PADI - i believe they run a project AWARE, some kind of fish surveying, they offer a magazine and some special offers.
DAN - i believe they fund research as well as operate the 24hour hotline with dues, then tehre is the magazine, of course the insurance is what gets your backside out of a bad situation.
NSS-CDS - i know they have bought some springs in FL (although not many seem to be diveable) to protect them from development, i guess the same as others in terms of magazines and publications - i am not a member nor have i had training with them.
NACD - seems like they offer a magazine and some discounts on publications that they produce, not sure what else they offer though.
So what do people get for their membership dues from these organisations (either directly of in benefit to diving in general)? What other organisations are there that are at least nationwide (if not worldwide - ie not within a state) and offer reasonable benefits or fund research or the forwarding of diving in general? I think that REEF also has membership and they use the dues to fund clean up projects, fish surveying and the like as was seen in SE FL as well as other places earlier this year. Do any of the other major/minor agencies or other interested organisations use membership dues to support worthy causes???
