Which Cert to get?

[mdsd]

cert agency isn't as important as the knowledge and patience of your instructor, it's better to learn the skills and not worry about the logo, you will always remember your open water instructor and the lessons learned in that class, especially OOA drill, get testimonials from other certified divers in your area, the good instructors will be known

 

[scubapro50]

BOY HAS THINGS CHANGED ...... I can remenber NAUI weekend in Galveston Texas back in the 60's .... people who wanted to "tryout" and receive a NAUI instructor card went Friday night to a lecture. On saturday morning a written test and that afternoon pool sections. Sunday open water tests and final written exam .... Cost was $100 and if you survived all three days you became an instructor. I can also recall PADI handing out instructor cards to anyone who wanted to crossover from NAUI or YMCA by taking a test and showing proper skills in the pool.

 

[emtdan]

I just found an early version of something i wrote earlier this year.

I will find the later version, and post that soon.

I go through and explain what I see as the pros and cons of each org.

 

[jbd]

I just found an early version of something i wrote earlier this year.

I will find the later version, and post that soon.

I go through and explain what I see as the pros and cons of each org.

I disagree with your observation of NAUI. While NAUI does have a technical part of the organization, the main portion of NAUI is recreational in nature. As such many of its training methods are very similar to methods used by instructors from all the rest of the agencies. Also the advanced ratings or certifications of NAUI and other agencies are widely accepted throughout the world.

Within all agencies you will have instructors that teach the barest minimum allowed and you will have instructors that far exceed the stipulated minimums of their respective agency.

For the beginning diver it is important to know what the basic course content is of each agency they have a choice in. For the thread originator the choice is apparently between NAUI and PADI. The basic differences between the two are in the area of skin diving skills and rescue skills. NAUI requires skin diving skills which PADI doesn't. NAUI requires recovering an unconscious skin diver as well recovering an unconscious scuba diver and includes the initiation of in water recusitation in each case. PADI does not require this. Which one is right or wrong depends on the individual deciding which course to take. There are other differences which are much more thoroughly recorded by Walter.

DIR by name, is much more related to GUE(Global Underwater Explorer)

 

[Dive-aholic]

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?

Almost all people know how they learn best. Just talk to some instructors. Ask some basic questions. Ask how they like to conduct their classes. After 15 minutes or so, you should have a general feeling about the instructor and whether you want to pursue more interaction. You don't have to know anything about diving to know if you're going to click or clash with someone and the style of teaching. That goes for any discipline.

 

[avpoh8]

Well it seems there is no right or wrong answer on this one for general diving. I am going to two of my LDS and I will ask each of the instructors Walter's questions and I will make my choice after that. Thanks for all of the information. This board is great!

 

[StSomewhere]

DIR by name, is much more related to GUE(Global Underwater Explorer)

And GUE doesn't offer an OW course, at least not at this point.

 

[emtdan]

Jbd, I see what you are saying, and will try to work it into the next version. I am trying to constantly revise this, and give it to everybody who asks me about cert.

 

[Walter]

Would you like some input for your next revision?

 

[jbd]

And GUE doesn't offer an OW course, at least not at this point.

I think they will have one out in the fairly near future. I'm not sure what has taken them so long since much of what was taught in the DIR-F class is easily incorporated into a regular OW course.