Who Certifies?
- Thread starter ggk1988
- Start date
There are differences between them all just like anything. IMO go and talk to some of the local dive shops and kinda get a feel for the people. I've been in a lot of dive shops and it really is the customer service that stands out and that is how we ended up picking our dive shop. SOme dive shops are hurry up and get certified so they can get the money. Then there are some that want to make you a safe, prepared diver. I've had good and bad experiences in different shops, you just need to find one that works for you. I personally love SSI, but I also dive with PADI divers and have several friends that are PADI and SSI, all of which absolutely love their instructors and dive shops. Good luck!!
ryan115
New member
I have loved my NAUI cert. They are a little more conservative with dive time and a little more intensive in training than some other agencies. There moto is Safety Through Education. But I do feel as through I have learned more through my cert than some of my friends that have PADI and SSI
Glove
New member
YSCUBA (YMCA SCUBA program)
-certified instructor
CMAS (confederacion mondiale de actividades subacuaticas)
-certified instructor
PADI
-certified divemaster
SSI
NAUI
I promote YSCUBA and I stand behind the training I have gotten and that I give. My opinion is a little biased due to 'who' my instructors are.
My recreational instructor was one of the 1st 7 people to be certified to actually teach scuba here in the US.
(the oldest certifying agency in the US in a fire dept. in Ca.- they didnt teach recreational / public divers, next oldest is the YMCA)
Another diver that has taught me more than any books is a cave diver. Not the swollen headed technical diver, but a guy that has had to recover those swollen headed divers after exceeding their limits.
Both have given me a wealth of info.
Its not the agency- its the instructors.
-certified instructor
CMAS (confederacion mondiale de actividades subacuaticas)
-certified instructor
PADI
-certified divemaster
SSI
NAUI
I promote YSCUBA and I stand behind the training I have gotten and that I give. My opinion is a little biased due to 'who' my instructors are.
My recreational instructor was one of the 1st 7 people to be certified to actually teach scuba here in the US.
(the oldest certifying agency in the US in a fire dept. in Ca.- they didnt teach recreational / public divers, next oldest is the YMCA)
Another diver that has taught me more than any books is a cave diver. Not the swollen headed technical diver, but a guy that has had to recover those swollen headed divers after exceeding their limits.
Both have given me a wealth of info.
Its not the agency- its the instructors.
dcombs44
New member
http://www.padi.com/padi/common/dcnr_distance/default.aspx
click on start diving and then where to learn.
click on start diving and then where to learn.
David P
Premium Member
LA County
NAUI
PADI
SSI
TDI
GUE
If you can, get LA County cert, but be prepared to work for it
It is more the instructor than the agency, that said the majority of dive shops are PADI and alot of shops push the two weekend certs. The instructors are told that if they follow the program to the letter and something happens to a student, the agency is on trial, not the instructor, but if they add anything not in the book.... so you get a lot of text book instructions...
NAUI gives their instructors more freedom. My NAUI instructor made up his own tests, when we corrected the tests many of us had different answers. We were asked why we chose a certain answer and if our logic was sound and their was obviously thinking behind our choice, we were right.
TDI has a sister company that does open water certs, but TDI is based more on continuing education, nitrox, advanced nitrox, deco, trimix, blah blah blah. Major instrucot freedom, crappy books!
Dont know much about SSI, one shop out here that is SSI and I would never take a class there or buy anything.... owner and employees give off very bad taste. Not thrilled when you get special cards after x amount of dives though. I know of people with literally hundreds of dives that I will never dive with again!
GUE Global Underwater Explorers.... whew where to begin? alot of online debate here... milataristic/no nonsense hardcore training. You take their first class Fundimentals of Diving knowing you are not going to pass. You will develope "spot on" bouancy control, situational awareness, propulsion techniques (never flutter kick) including swimming backwares and spinning in circles with out ever using your hands. After you get certified and get comfy in the water I highly recomend this class. The downfall, it may be hard to find an instructor, they only allow certain types of gear(backplate with wings, short stiff bladed fins like jets, 7 foot primary regualtor with backup bungied as a necklace) you see how effortless you instructor moves in the water with such a high level of control, you spend a lot of time in the water practicing your skills.
NAUI
PADI
SSI
TDI
GUE
If you can, get LA County cert, but be prepared to work for it
It is more the instructor than the agency, that said the majority of dive shops are PADI and alot of shops push the two weekend certs. The instructors are told that if they follow the program to the letter and something happens to a student, the agency is on trial, not the instructor, but if they add anything not in the book.... so you get a lot of text book instructions...
NAUI gives their instructors more freedom. My NAUI instructor made up his own tests, when we corrected the tests many of us had different answers. We were asked why we chose a certain answer and if our logic was sound and their was obviously thinking behind our choice, we were right.
TDI has a sister company that does open water certs, but TDI is based more on continuing education, nitrox, advanced nitrox, deco, trimix, blah blah blah. Major instrucot freedom, crappy books!
Dont know much about SSI, one shop out here that is SSI and I would never take a class there or buy anything.... owner and employees give off very bad taste. Not thrilled when you get special cards after x amount of dives though. I know of people with literally hundreds of dives that I will never dive with again!
GUE Global Underwater Explorers.... whew where to begin? alot of online debate here... milataristic/no nonsense hardcore training. You take their first class Fundimentals of Diving knowing you are not going to pass. You will develope "spot on" bouancy control, situational awareness, propulsion techniques (never flutter kick) including swimming backwares and spinning in circles with out ever using your hands. After you get certified and get comfy in the water I highly recomend this class. The downfall, it may be hard to find an instructor, they only allow certain types of gear(backplate with wings, short stiff bladed fins like jets, 7 foot primary regualtor with backup bungied as a necklace) you see how effortless you instructor moves in the water with such a high level of control, you spend a lot of time in the water practicing your skills.
joesynodontis
New member
I think the more information a certificantion company can give you will be more beneficial, especially if you want to go all the way to a dive master...........does that make sense?
