PADI or NAUI??

[TB2Scuba]

I am looking to get SCUBA certified in the next month and I was wondering which is a more widely accepted certification PADI or NAUI?? I have two friends that are PADI certified that said many more places accept that than NAUI and that I should go with PADI. The only two dive shops within 100 miles of me both use NAUI so I would probably have to go a ways to get PADI certified. I will be mostly diving in Florida but I want to be able to dive if I go to the Caymans or Bahamas or something like that on occasion. So does it really matter, is one more widely accepted than the other? Any info on this would be greatly appreciated.

[Jon]

Go for the instructor and not the agency. I've known really good, and REALLY bad, instructors from both of those agencies and it really comes down to the person your taking your course from. Many instructors I know are certified for both.

Both cards will be accepted world wide, although some destinations will require you to do a checkout dive with them once you get there- even if you are an instructor trainer! They do this because C-cards don't always mean that much and they can tell much more about a diver after 5 minutes in the water than by paging through all the C-cards in the world.

Good luck,

Jon

[TB2Scuba]

I just dont want to go somewhere and not be able to rent equipment from a dive shop cause they do not accept a NAUI certification.

[calicojack]

I agree w/Jon. They are both widely accepted. Get the best Instructor. I am NAUI since 1978 and have never been questioned. Wife is PADI since 1988 - same story.

[Deepwater]

Ask your instructors from both agencies for a diving resume. I always hand one to my students before they start so that they can decide.

These days is unfortunate to find many dive shops will do anything to compete in the dive industry and offer heavily discounted thus devalued education. Alot of its to do with selling equipment too as they belive the cheaper you can sell diving activity for , the more equipment sales you can generate.

You also find that quite a few instructors in the dive industry who will offer to train for cheap and sucumb to the "less for less" trend and that their wages fall below the minimum wage pay in most countries.

So ask yourself,

1. How often does the instructor dive and teach?
Do they just do training dives and go home, or take a few days and do some of their own diving.

2. Does the Instructor update and upgrade his education?
Do they do refresher courses, additional dive courses from other agencies? or do they fall under the " I-am-instructor-thus-dive -God" title?

3. Their personal dive history? Are they newly certified instructors with 30 dives or hardened divers who have been diving for years and have 100+ dives under their belts.

4. Instructors physical appearance and health?
Would you allow an overweight instructor who smokes to teach you and your family? Or some beach bum who smoke dope in his hut all day?

Remember, in the grand scheme of things, the discount structure is there but you always get what you pay for.

Hope this helps.

Ali Fikree

BSAC Instructor
NAUI Instructor

[island_sands]

Jon's and Ali's advice about hit it on the head. Check out the dive centre facilities as well and the conditions of where they will take you diving. Do they include boat dives in the price or is it all shore diving, what exactly do you get for your money? Dont hesitate to put it here for us, we might be able to advise whether you are getting your money's worth or not.

You could also do all your pool work and theory in Florida and your open water dives in Cayman or Bahamas which is a cool option to do.

[Deepwater]

Originally Posted by island_sands

Jon's and Ali's advice about hit it on the head. Check out the dive centre facilities as well and the conditions of where they will take you diving. Do they include boat dives in the price or is it all shore diving, what exactly do you get for your money? Dont hesitate to put it here for us, we might be able to advise whether you are getting your money's worth or not.

You could also do all your pool work and theory in Florida and your open water dives in Cayman or Bahamas which is a cool option to do.

Ooops , yes sorry, forgot about that. Have a look at the facilities and surroundings. Ask if they service their compressors and equipment on an YEARLY basis, NOT when it konks out.....at 35m Is the boat in questionable condition or is it well kept.

Stay away from centres or schools that offer "Advanced Diver for an additional $50 " or "Get Your Scuba Rescue in a weekend" type selling tactics.

Remember, there is no problem with investing in your education.

I have seen and met countless divers that will go out of their way to buy the latest equipment but will complain when thay have to spend money on training and education that could help save theirs or their buddys lives.

Last note before I head back into the plant ,the more you put into diving, the more you get out of it. Whats the most annoying thing a car salesman encounters? An educated customer Look at the different agencies websites, email them, then make your mind up.

Ali

[Deepwater]

I have the NAUI & BSAC Standards and syllabus. If you have any , and I mean any doubts or questions, please dont hesitate to contact me.

I also looked at the PADI syllabus which is pretty good as well but dont have them.

Good Luck!!

-Ali