Certification scuba diving is essential if you plan to pursue scuba diving professionally. There are many scuba certification options available, depending on your needs and budget. PADI, SSI (NAUI), CMAS, and many more are the most popular certifications for beginners. Find out which one is right to you! We offer some useful tips and suggestions to help you choose the right certificate program for your needs.
PADI
PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), an organization for professional diver training and membership, is known as PADI. John Cronin and Ralph Erickson established the organization in 1966. There are many training requirements to become certified, including diving safety, underwater navigation, as well as dive operations. The PADI course teaches divers how to safely and effectively supervise a dive and explains the nuances of underwater navigation.
Students will be certified as a rescue diver after completing the PADI open-water course. There are five courses that require divers to be certified. They each have different learning outcomes and skills. Of these, two must be the Deep Dive Specialty Course and one must take the Underwater Navigation Specialty Course. The remaining three must be chosen from a list. For those who are interested in helping in emergency situations underwater, rescue diver certification may be required. Two to three days of training are required, including theory and two open-water dives.
SSI
A SSI certification course is a great choice when deciding what certification you want. 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. They can continue learning until they master a skill they don't like. They can also train on vacation with SSI so they can obtain their certification in a matter weeks.
SSI offers digital training so you can log dives quickly. Manuals can be downloaded online, or they can be borrowed or purchased at a dive centre. SSI can also issue an eCertification Card by creating an account online. Prices vary, but most courses are around 50 USD. You can then upgrade to a higher certification level by taking a diving training course.
NAUI
The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) is an association of certified scuba diving instructors. They are responsible for providing education programs and standards to scuba divers across the globe. NAUI certification allows you teach scuba diving and meets international standards. NAUI offers training courses and teaches scuba diving all over the globe.
Al Tillman from Scripps Institute of Oceanography held the first NAUI training session in Los Angeles, in 1959. In 1958, Tillman and another Scripps Institute oceanographer received provisional diving certifications. In 1960, the film "Sea Hunt" starring Lloyd Bridges generated great interest in scuba diving as a recreational activity. 1960 saw the founding of the National Diving Patrol. Jacques-Yves Cousteau became its first president. The Navy SEALs, NASA and Walt Disney Resorts around the world use NAUI training programs today.
CMAS
Scuba divers from every continent should seek out a school that offers CMAS courses. While there isn't a single list of certified dive schools, it is possible to search the internet for one. CMAS courses provide 5 days of training and emphasize safety. 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 already hold another certification, the first step will be to complete an 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. This is why you should get advice from the new organization before making any decision.