Sarahann:
Hullo,
Am a recently PADI certified diver.Would like to ask, speaking from a recreational angle,
a) Is it better to build up certifications e.g move to advanced ->speciality->rescue diver etc. Or simple dive and gain experience?
b)Which certifications are relevant/better,PADI,CMAS? Not sure of the other certifications.Not able to find comparison material readily.
Thanks
Sarah
a) Both are important - Diving, like most recreational activities, relies heavily on training your body to respond in certain ways to produce the desired results. We take classes to learn the proper techniques. Then we have to go out and dive in order to provide the repetitions required to develop the muscle memory our body needs to produce those responses. It's the same as with other sports, like skiing, golf, etc. ... you should come away from the class with a better idea of what constitutes better technique ... but then you need to get out there and practice the technique in order to get good at it. I'll add a third component ... mentorship. Those who are fortunate enough to hook up with more experienced dive buddies tend to learn faster, because their buddy provides feedback and coaching that helps them avoid developing bad habits while practicing.
b) You asked about certifications, but named agencies. They are not the same thing. Certifications that matter? I would say that after basic Open Water classes, the most important class you can take is Rescue ... because it focuses not just on what to do in an emergency, but more importantly, on how to recognize when a situation might ultimately lead to an emergency, so you can take action to avoid getting yourself into one. Advanced Open Water can be a good class, but that depends entirely on who's teaching it and how much effort they put into skills.
My advice on the first point is that after taking a class, get out and dive. Put some bottom time on your fins before signing up for the next class. Get comfortable with the things you learned ... then in your next class you can focus on the new skills you will be introduced to, rather than struggle with the ones you were supposed to have learned in the previous class.
My advice on the second point is to concentrate on finding an instructor who you are comfortable with, and who is putting real effort into what YOU want to learn. Don't get hung up on certification agencies ... there are good and bad instructors in all of them.
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
