OP
dpspaceman
Contributor
That's what I unserstood
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Is not aow a prereq for rescue and surely masterdiver and deep diver so without aow you cant get DM
Put Another Dollar In is more widely known and has a ridiculous amount certs for every conceivable underwater activity.Meaning a PADI instructor may have more opportunities to teach.
NAUI & PADI Adv required minimum of 6 dives.
Assuming I work my way up the NAUI chain to instructor, can I easily get my PADI instructor?
Another thing to look at. Which agency will let you teach solo. >>>> by that I mean with out being attached to a shop. Hypothetically the nauii is a better cert but there is no nauii shops in area so you cant teach.
If you go the PADI route and are looking at Rescue Diver or more, why not skip the AOW class, and focus on 5 specialties (deep, peak buoyancy, navigation, plus two of your choice, I'd recommend night as one of them), plus rescue diver? That will save you the costs of the AOW class at least. I think that it would work. I'm just going through my DM program with PADI right now.
I think that I am able to do AOW and Rescue via NAUI and then do my Divemaster via PADI.
Someone asked why I would want to switch to PADI? Simply for commercial purposes if I intend to teach at some point. It will be easier to find a shop that has PADI students vs. NAUI. Atleast in South Florida.
The $275 price seems quite good. I don't know why the price is that low - it might be good to talk with someone who has completed the course. The prices are NOT a reflection of either agency, as much as of the shops that are offering the courses. There are operators in various areas that approach market share simply on the basis of extraordinarily low pricing for courses. In some cases, the diver gets what they pay for - in quality - and in a few instances they get a good product at a remarkably low cost. For the record, a high price doesn't guarantee quality, either. But, I am usually just a bit 'curious' when a course if offered at a distinctly below market price.. . . the advanced course for NAUI where I live is $275 including tanks, weights and 6 dives. The Advanced course through PADI is $350+ pp. . . . Not sure why I can't find similar deals on the PADI side.
You can generally cross over between most agencies with reasonable effort (I am not particularly comfortable with 'easily'), albeit with some expense. I am not sure I would pursue Instructor through one agency with the specific intention of crossing over, but perhaps that has worked for some people.///////////////////Assuming I work my way up the NAUI chain to instructor, can I easily get my PADI instructor?
As a PADI instructor I will offer the advice that there is some value in going through the PADI system enroute to being a PADI DM/Instructor. Do you want the first PADI AOW or Specialty class you ever see to be the first one you are asked to TEACH?
Remember, as with any agency, being a PADI DM or Instructor is not about how well you dive, it's about how well you understand and implement the PADI approach to dive leadership.
When I did my PADI IDC there were several folks crossing over from being instructors with other agencies. They all struggled. Not because they weren't good divers. They simply weren't familiar with "the PADI way" having never seen it before.
If you think you want to teach French... study French. Don't take German for three years and then switch second semester of your Junior year.
Another thing to look at. Which agency will let you teach solo. >>>> by that I mean with out being attached to a shop. Hypothetically the nauii is a better cert but there is no nauii shops in area so you cant teach.
PS - you might be interested to know that few people offer as many "Certs for Every Occasion" as David Ochs... NAUI's Chairman of The Board. "Jr. Recreational Hookah Diver"? Really?
Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of David's approach (he also charges roughly 5x the average price for his courses) but let's not be so silly as to pretend that any agency has sole claim to offering a wide range of certs that meet/create obvious market demand.