For professional diving, you will need certification. Various scuba certification programs are available to you depending on your preferences and your budget. PADI (SSI), NAUI, CMAS, CMAS and other popular certifications are all available to beginners. Find out which one suits you best! You will also find some helpful tips and tricks on how to choose the best certification program for you.
PADI
PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) is a professional organization for diver training and membership. The organization was founded in 1966 by John Cronin and Ralph Erickson. There are many training requirements to become certified, including diving safety, underwater navigation, as well as dive operations. PADI courses teach divers how to safely and efficiently supervise a diving operation and explain the nuances and benefits of underwater navigation.
After completing the PADI open water course, students will complete a rescue diver certification. Five different courses are required to complete this certification. Each course has five learning outcomes and five skill sets. Two of these must be the Deep Dive Specialty Course. One must also take the Underwater Navigation Specialty Course. The remaining three must be chosen from a list. Rescue diver certification is intended for those who wish to help in emergency situations underwater. It usually takes two to three full days of training. This includes theory, two open water dives, and a pool session.
SSI
A SSI certificate is a great option when deciding on the right certification. Both SSI as well as PADI courses require a level of skill. PADI courses have a more rigid structure and require the student complete skills in a specified order. SSI is more flexible. If they find one skill too difficult they can easily move onto the next until they have it perfect. With SSI, they can also do the training on vacation while on vacation, which means they can get their certification in a matter of days.
SSI offers digital training so you can log dives quickly. Manuals are available online and can also be bought or borrowed at a dive center. SSI can also issue an eCertification Card by creating an account online. There are many costs, but the average cost for 2018 courses was 50 USD. Afterward, you can upgrade to a higher level of certification by completing a dive training course.
NAUI
The National Association of Underwater Instructors, (NAUI), is an association of certified scuba divers. They are responsible for providing education programs and standards to scuba divers across the globe. NAUI certification lets you teach scuba divers to non-professionals while also meeting international safety standards. NAUI also offers training courses.
Al Tillman (a Scripps Institute of Oceanography peer) held the first NAUI training class in Los Angeles in 1959. He and another Scripps Institute Oceanographer granted provisional diving certifications in 1958. In 1960, the film "Sea Hunt" starring Lloyd Bridges generated great interest in scuba diving as a recreational activity. In 1960, the National Diving Patrol began to be established. Jacques-Yves Cousteau, its first president, was appointed. Today, the Navy SEALs and NASA use NAUI training programmes worldwide.
CMAS
Divers from all continents should search for schools that offer CMAS certification. While there isn't a single list of certified dive schools, it is possible to search the internet for one. CMAS courses are equivalent to 5 days of diving and emphasize the importance of safety, including the use of a buddy. CMAS certification can only be obtained if you are 16 years or older, have at least 25 dives, and have received a medical report from a licensed diving doctor. If you have an existing certification, you will need to take the SSI course.
If you have a qualification in one agency, but not in another, you are eligible to enroll in an identical course in another agency. You can refer to the table below if you have some experience with scuba diving. The table doesn't include information about all training agencies. This means that you may have to start at a lower grade if you already hold a CMAS 1 certification or 2. Before making a decision, it is advisable to seek the advice of the new agency.