Which Cert to get?

[avpoh8]

Looking for my first class. We have shops that do Padi and Naui. Is there a diffence in the certs?

 

[boney]

I believe there are some differences between the PADI and NAUI courses (some one who knows more will likely pipe in) but the big thing you want to look for is a good instructor... if you do a search on the board I think there was an article a while ago on things to look for... Good luck!!!

 

[avpoh8]

I have that post about questions to ask. They are very good questions!

Is there any drawbacks to having one or the other? Is one better than the other?

 

[em13]

i was discussing this a lot
Padi is the more known and accepted one worldwide.
You'll never have problems with diving and renting stuff at a diveshop with a Padi Certificate and within the US it's the same for NAUI I guess. But in Europe almost nobody knows NAUI. So it can happen to you, that they dont accept your certificate ( if its NAUI)
The lessons you'll learn within your course are allmost the same. None of them is better.
Half of my group was certified NAUI half of it was certified PADI taking the same lessons, just filling out a different exam sheet.
I only know 1 diving school in Germany teaching NAUI.
PADI you'll find here erverywhere.

France is an exception in Europe they almost only accept CMAS.....but after two dives critical watching us, the believed, that we are able to dive, even with a Padi Cert.

Hope its helpful.....

EM13

 

[Dive4air]

From what I know, the learning and teaching of either one will be the same. However, PADI is more broadly accepted and recognized, especially internationally. Think of it this way...both a VISA and American Express are credit cards that allow you to do the same thing, but VISA is just accepted more broadly especially in those out of the way little places.

Goodluck and enjoy your bubbles.

 

[avpoh8]

Sounds like Padi is the way to go.

 

[StSomewhere]

No no no!

A NAUI cert is good anywhere. Your profile doesn't say where you are from and you don't really say where you plan to dive, but NAUI is probably one of the most highly respected agencies. Your NAUI c-card will be valid worldwide. Its not like a boat from a PADI affliated dive op is only going to take PADI c-cards, it doesn't work that way.

I personally compared a number of agencies and decided on NAUI, only to find that there aren't any NAUI instructors anywhere near me. So I found a PADI instructor (not diveshop, instructor) with literally decades of experience to do my certification through. There are threads you can search for that have excellent questions to interview an instructor. Probably will be in the Similar Threads section at the bottom of this page.

Edit: Here is Walter's post I was looking for:
http://www.scubaboard.com/showpost.php?p=798976&postcount=4

 

[Dive-aholic]

avpoh8, talk to the instructors at the LDSs near you and decide based on what they tell you. All certs are good, but not all instructors are.

 

[NauticalbutNice]

Hello old familiar can of worms

Seriously though, look around your local LDS's, talk to some of the instructors, ask some questions and make your decision based on that. A good instructor should give you what you need, regardless of agency.

Have fun!

Nauticalbutnice :fruit:

For excellent ideas of how to judge a diveschool, check out this thread:

http://www.scubaboard.com/t80144-.html

 

[avpoh8]

No no no!

A NAUI cert is good anywhere. Your profile doesn't say where you are from and you don't really say where you plan to dive, but NAUI is probably one of the most highly respected agencies. Your NAUI c-card will be valid worldwide. Its not like a boat from a PADI affliated dive op is only going to take PADI c-cards, it doesn't work that way.

I personally compared a number of agencies and decided on NAUI, only to find that there aren't any NAUI instructors anywhere near me. So I found a PADI instructor (not diveshop, instructor) with literally decades of experience to do my certification through. There are threads you can search for that have excellent questions to interview an instructor. Probably will be in the Similar Threads section at the bottom of this page.

Edit: Here is Walter's post I was looking for:
http://www.scubaboard.com/showpost.php?p=798976&postcount=4

I live in Louisiana. I plan to dive in Jamaica at either Sandals or Couples. When I get back to the states I will dive out of Destin, Florida or near that area.