PADI vs NAUI certifications, and onto AOW

[David P]

one difference I noticed is the dive tables. PADI is quite liberal in the SIT as opposed to NAUI.

 

[Walter]

Those who would like the list of differences, send me a PM with your e-mail address, I'll send it to you.

 

[DiveGolfSki]

In case anyone's interested, here's another view on the differences:

http://www.cdnn.info/editorial/padi-scuba-diver/padi-scuba-diver.html

 

[NC myerssl]

I've seen the threads to this on-going conversation and several people have mentioned the most important fact, it's the instructor. But I have not seen any comments on which organization does a better job training the instructor. It would make sense to look at the differences at the instructor level as well. Especially for newly certified instructors.

Just my thoughts on this proverbial question

 

[Whitelightnin]

NAUI does not require one to repeat the dives done in AOW as specialty dives. In PADI if one completes peak performance buoyancy in AOW it does not count as a speciality dive towards master diver..

Sorry, but this is not correct. Any dives you do in AOW can count towards the specialty rating. It is up to the instructor if he counts it or not. Everyone I have talked to does allow it.
James

 

[filauri]

By an instructor that is certified both PADI, and NAUI is that 1) NAUI does allow more freedom from the instructor stantpoint. What that actually means I have no idea. 2) NAUI does not require one to repeat the dives done in AOW as specialty dives. In PADI if one completes peak performance buoyancy in AOW it does not count as a speciality dive towards master diver..

I could be wrong on both counts, but that is what I have been told by instructors in our area.

What I have been also told and I believe is that the two programs are more similar than otherwise, and that the instructor is what makes the difference, and of course, what the student puts into the training.

In PADI if one completes peak performance buoyancy in AOW it does not count as a speciality dive towards master diver..

About this.. i think you should realy be careful in your post! don't talk about what you don't know! sorry but int PADI AOW every adventure dive that you make counts to your speciality so if you don´t get credit for it.. your instructor or dive center are not updated or your getting robbed..

 

[IceDiverInCA]

one difference I noticed is the dive tables. PADI is quite liberal in the SIT as opposed to NAUI.

NAUI tables (Navy based one) are very conservative.

NAUI also has RGBM which I personally think is useful only for deco dives.

PADI tables on the other hand, are all messed up. Their table 1 is conservative but their table 2 (SI table) is so liberal to the point where PADI would allow longer bottom times on repetitive dives than the Navy tables would. Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe PADI still goes by 60fpm ascent rate?

Also, I heard that SDI doesn't even teach tables?

 

[tachyon]

PADI Master Diver- 5 Specialties and then pay for the Master Diver card (I believe)

This is incorrect.

Master diver is AOW + 5 specialties + Medic First Aid + Rescue Diver

Also, remember that PADI offers the Advanced Open Water certification, which requires 5 specialty dives, or the Advanced Plus certification that requires 9 specialty dives.

My LDS offers credit for the AOW dive when you do a specialty course; and vice versa. They're not obligated to accept dives that are supervised by other instructors, but usually will accept them. It's at the discretion of the instructor signing off on your AOW certificaion.

According to the way I read the matrix, a PADI Master Diver is qualified to BEGIN the Divemaster program by virtue of fulfilling all of the Prerequisites although PADI shows the 'Professional' track branching before that.

Tachyon

 

[filauri]

This is incorrect.

Master diver is AOW + 5 specialties + Medic First Aid + Rescue Diver

Also, remember that PADI offers the Advanced Open Water certification, which requires 5 specialty dives, or the Advanced Plus certification that requires 9 specialty dives.

My LDS offers credit for the AOW dive when you do a specialty course; and vice versa. They're not obligated to accept dives that are supervised by other instructors, but usually will accept them. It's at the discretion of the instructor signing off on your AOW certificaion.

According to the way I read the matrix, a PADI Master Diver is qualified to BEGIN the Divemaster program by virtue of fulfilling all of the Prerequisites although PADI shows the 'Professional' track branching before that.

Tachyon

Sorry Tachyon but the Advanced Plus certification level does not exist any more.. you have the adventure diver wich is 3 adventure dives and the Advance Open Water diver that are 5 Adventure dives (deep and navigation are obligatory and you can choose 3 more) every adventure dive can count as the first dive of the speciality.

 

[geraldp]

How does SSI compare? What about SDI?

SSI seams to concentrate on experience (i.e. # of dives) for their advanced ratings.

• Open Water Diver = A snorkel/Swim plus 4 Dives

SSI has 3 Continue Education Ratings:

• Specialty Diver = Any two Specialties plus 12 Dives
• Advanced Open Water Diver = Any 4 specialties plus 24 Dives
• Master Diver = Any 4 Specialties plus Stress & Rescue Diver Specialty, plus 50 Dives

After Master Diver they have two additional titles for working with students:

• Dive Control Specialist
• Open Water Instructor

In addition to this they have Levels of Recognition:

• Level 1 = 5 Dives
• Level 2 = 12 Dives
• Level 3 = 24 Dives
• Level 4 = 50 Dives
• Level 5 = 100 Dives = Century Diver
• Level 6 = 200 Dives
• Level 7 = 300 Dives
• Level 8 = 400 Dives
• Level 9 = 500 Dives = Gold 500 Diver
• Level 10 = 1000 Dives = Platinum 1000 Diver
• Pro = 5000 Dives = Platinum Pro 5000 Diver

This is all from my personal experience plus info gleaned from their website. So now for my Opinion (since this is ScubaBoard, after all: I like the fact that SSI requires you to have a minimum number of dives to reach their advanced ratings. However I really like the way other agencies assign a "mentor" to work with you to achieve the Advanced and Master ratings, including coming up with a list of specialties that work best for you.

I am an SSI Master Diver (Level 4), and I got that way just because I signed up and paid for a bunch of specialties (including Stress & Rescue), then completed 50 dives. Now personally I chose some good specialties, but I could have chosen some bonehead ones and still made Master Diver. SSI doesn't really care as long as I pay money for the specialties and pass they'll give me my certification (although I did come pretty close to not passing my Stress & Rescue specialty). Again it comes down to the instructor as to how good my education was, and ultimately how good a diver I am.

Jerry