Which Cert to get?

[Walter]

You will not have any trouble getting either card accepted anywhere in the world. PADI is not more widely accepted. Do not make your decision based on that. Base your decision on which course will give you the better training. While there are differences in agency requirements, you can't use that information to decide which course will be best without lots of additional information. Also keep in mind, there may be better classes at local colleges or from independent instructors in your area.

 

[Dive-aholic]

Hello old familiar can of worms

There are a lot of those on this Board...and will always be...

Maybe we should have an old can forum...

instructor v agency
lds v lp
ear equalization

...

 

[jbd]

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

Read Walters post above. Pretty much all certification cards are accepted world wide. NAUI, PADI, SSI, YMCA, PDIC, SDI, and many more all have websites. Check them out. As Walter noted, you might be better off finding an independent or college based program. Then again, some independents aren't all that good either. Its important to interview the person who is potentially going to be teaching your class. Find out how much time is allowed for practice and developement of skills. Diving is about buoyancy control, not just a few mask clearing and regulator recovery skills. If the course requires good buoyancy control for sucessful completion and certification then you have probably found a good course. If you get the impression that you will end up figuring out how to dive on your own after certification---keep looking.

 

[RonFrank]

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

IMO finding a good instructor is key. Beyond that some other things to consider, is what do you plan to do with this in the future.

Even that is not all that important at this point as PADI accepts NAUI certs, and VersaVisa.

If you think you may want to instruct, or IOW's go pro, than choosing an agency is maybe more important. However if you just want to learn to dive, choose an instructor (or set of instructors/LDS) not an agency.

An example... I won't bother with the agency, but while we were inbetween checkout dives, and instructor and DM were doing the Navigation Skill for their OW checkout dive. The instructor started by having his DM pass out the compasses, and then said, "So how many of you have used a compass?". About half the class raised heir hands....What??? They are taking a navagation skill and they have NOT worked with a compass either in the class or in the pool? I did not have time to focus on that class any longer as our dive briefing began, but I wondered how many other skills were getting taught on the fly.

Ron

 

[IlikeItwetPls]

If you are YMCA Scuba certified they give you the CMAS card for 25.00

YMCA SCUBA CMAS

 

[NauticalbutNice]

There are a lot of those on this Board...and will always be...

Maybe we should have an old can forum...

instructor v agency
lds v lp
ear equalization

...

Don't forget drysuit vs bc buoyancy, bp/w vs jacket, snorkel or no snorkel....

Nauticalbutnice :fruit:

 

[mike_s]

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.

I've got different certifications in different stuff from both PADI and NAUI. I've NEVER had any trouble with anyone not taking my "c-card" from either certification agency.

As for Couples in Jamacia, I was there a few years ago and had my NAUI card with when I dove there.... Had no problems. (or as they would "noooo problem mon")

Also Destin has both NAUI and PADI shops. So no worries there either.
ScubaTech in Destin even claims pretty much to do them all according
to the main page on their website they are:
SSI-PADI-NAUI-IANTD-SDI-IDEA-NASE-PDIC-YMCA



As for which is the "better" cerfication agency? You'll always have some people argue that one is better than the other. It's kinda like Rednecks and pickup trucks. Some will only drive Ford and the others Chevy and they aren't even willing to look at the other one.

Find the one that has an instructor that you are most comfortable with and you feel that you can become a better diver with.

-mike

 

[Azza]

I hear a lot of you saying to find a good instructor but if you have never dived, or know zilcho about diving, how do you know what makes a good instructor?
I was lucky in that I have had some really good instructors and as a dive professional, and experienced diver, I know what constitutes a good instructor, however I know people out there who have had crap instructors but didnt know untill it was too late.

So what is your advice/checklist for finding a good instructor?

 

[StSomewhere]

I hear a lot of you saying to find a good instructor but if you have never dived, or know zilcho about diving, how do you know what makes a good instructor?
...
So what is your advice/checklist for finding a good instructor?

Go back up to posts #7 or #9, they have links to posts by Walter that describe in detail how to interview a potential scuba instructor.

 

[kidspot]

I asked this same question while looking for an instructor. I finally came to the conclusion so many have put forth here - choose an instructor, not an agency. That said, what I liked about my NAUI instructor was that NAUI gave him more flexibility in the way he taught the course - for better or worse he felt they stay out of the instructors way more so than PADI. So he was free to teach and set his own requirements for the class to a large degree - this is why he continued to maintain his NAUI instructor cert and let his PADI drop. Again - it's a small point and I would have gone PADI if I knew of a better instructor.

Tim