CMAS One, pls help

[Gunrock0811]

hello. first of all i'd like to say that i'm very new to the scuba scene. Only thing i have experience on is snorkeling

I'v been interested in getting certified the past year and a half and all i'v heard about is PADI. I have friends who have decades of diving and all they talk about is getting PADI certification.

Now, i'm currently here in the beautiful islands of the Philippines keeping myself warm while back home its been icy cold. As i looked scuba certificating course here i encountered CMAS which i'v never heard of and only found out more about it through this forum. At first i thought of CMAS as nothing more than a resort type certification to dive, but as i have learned it's more. Its an older association compared to PADI. More in depth training and such. Anyway, i don't know what to do now. I'v only known of PADI back home and i know PADI is known and accepted all over but still not that sure about CMAS coz there isn't much talk about it. I'v trolled this forum, looking for answers and i only see CMAS gets thrown in the threads here and there. There isn't much under CMAS section.

i'v talked to the ppl at the training area which teaches both PADI and CMAS. From what i'v seen PADI cost more but the CMAS is more in depth. CMAS course consist of basically everything that's under the CMAS Americas One star dive course. When they showed me their course sheet it was so identical to that of the CMAS Americas. Even the instructor prefers to teach one on one because he said he can focus more on teaching 1 student all that has to be taught compared to a group. there is just too much to teach.

i'm still debating on which one to take just because i know PADI is common and CMAS is only about 2 weeks old to me. CMAS One, for me getting CMAS certified here in the Philippines be the same as getting certified back in the USA? is it common to see paying less for CMAS courses compared to PADI? What i was told here is that CMAS is an older type of scuba training compared to PADI that's y it cost less(25%) but from what i see it's more intense. I mean, i will learn to do more on One Star compared to a PADI AOW(IMO).

Also, how hard is it to get PADI certified(if i choose to) with a CMAS cert? Do i have to go through PADI courses or just show my credentials and pay for a PADI card?

thank you very much for your time. i'll probably have more questions to ask u as the time goes on. no pressure but i'll just wait for ur insight about these b4 i enroll to any class.

again, thank you very much.

-ed

[Jim Lapenta]

CMAS is accepted all over the world. In some places it may be more common than PADI. Go with the course that gives you the best education. More knowledge is never a bad thing.

[Walter]

I agree with Jim, grab the CMAS class and don't look back. A CMAS c-card will be accepted everywhere, you don't need a PADI card to dive. CMAS is one of the certifications I respect the most.

[Standingbear56]

Ditto with the advice given by Jim and Walter. I teach both CMAS and PADI. CMAS is much more intensive and all inclusive than PADI. Even in the CMAS 1 Star course, you will be learning things that PADI only teaches as specialties, such as peak buoyancy control. In CMAS it is considered a basic skill. Same with some rescue skills.
If you truly want a PADI cert in addition to a CMAS qualification, you can get one, but trust me, you will have no need for it. If you want to spend extra money on a dive qualification, spend it on a CMAS 2 Star program.
Take care & Safe Diving,
George

[CMAS One]

hello. first of all i'd like to say that i'm very new to the scuba scene. Only thing i have experience on is snorkeling

I'v been interested in getting certified the past year and a half and all i'v heard about is PADI. I have friends who have decades of diving and all they talk about is getting PADI certification.

Now, i'm currently here in the beautiful islands of the Philippines keeping myself warm while back home its been icy cold. As i looked scuba certificating course here i encountered CMAS which i'v never heard of and only found out more about it through this forum. At first i thought of CMAS as nothing more than a resort type certification to dive, but as i have learned it's more. Its an older association compared to PADI. More in depth training and such. Anyway, i don't know what to do now. I'v only known of PADI back home and i know PADI is known and accepted all over but still not that sure about CMAS coz there isn't much talk about it. I'v trolled this forum, looking for answers and i only see CMAS gets thrown in the threads here and there. There isn't much under CMAS section.

i'v talked to the ppl at the training area which teaches both PADI and CMAS. From what i'v seen PADI cost more but the CMAS is more in depth. CMAS course consist of basically everything that's under the CMAS Americas One star dive course. When they showed me their course sheet it was so identical to that of the CMAS Americas. Even the instructor prefers to teach one on one because he said he can focus more on teaching 1 student all that has to be taught compared to a group. there is just too much to teach.

i'm still debating on which one to take just because i know PADI is common and CMAS is only about 2 weeks old to me. CMAS One, for me getting CMAS certified here in the Philippines be the same as getting certified back in the USA? is it common to see paying less for CMAS courses compared to PADI? What i was told here is that CMAS is an older type of scuba training compared to PADI that's y it cost less(25%) but from what i see it's more intense. I mean, i will learn to do more on One Star compared to a PADI AOW(IMO).

Also, how hard is it to get PADI certified(if i choose to) with a CMAS cert? Do i have to go through PADI courses or just show my credentials and pay for a PADI card?

thank you very much for your time. i'll probably have more questions to ask u as the time goes on. no pressure but i'll just wait for ur insight about these b4 i enroll to any class.

again, thank you very much.

-ed

Ed - Do yourself a favor and take the CMAS course. You will not only be a better diver but you will be safer and enjoy diving as a life long activity. To learn more about CMAS check out our website Welcome to CMAS AMERICAS OFFICIAL WEBPAGE you will see that CMAS is the pre-eminent diver association. Captain Cousteau himself oversaw the organizations founding in 1958-59. CMAS is represented in over 100 countries and is more respected than any other training bar none. You would not need to get a PADI card because in order to get the same level of training from PADI you get in the one star course would require taking their openwater, advanced open water and several of their specialty courses. That is how much they have watered down their courses.
Hopefully this will help you in your decision making process. If you have any further questions feel free to continue this thread.

Stay Wet,
Frank
Frank J. Toal Jr., President
CMAS AMERICAS

CMAS One

[Gunrock0811]

Jim, walter, george and frank.

thank you very much. that's the kind of stuff i wanted to hear. i just don't want to take this class and later find out i won't be able to use it. another reason i want to get certified is because i can use it at work. I now work on tugboats in the NY harbor and being a certified diver can earn me extra checking under boats and whatnot.

i'll probably keep this thread active and update it with how my class is going. will be heading to the dive center today to poke around and ask more questions (^_^). hopefully i'll be able to start early next week! it will be a whole week training. again, thanx alot.

semper fi,
-ed

[Wisnu]

Not all dive shops in my region (south east asia) familiar with CMAS. I never fail to dive with my CMAS card but sometime need to explain before they can accept it. I also PADI AOW now, and have to say the CMAS curriculum is much better.

Cheers

[Standingbear56]

Jim, walter, george and frank.

thank you very much. that's the kind of stuff i wanted to hear. i just don't want to take this class and later find out i won't be able to use it. another reason i want to get certified is because i can use it at work. I now work on tugboats in the NY harbor and being a certified diver can earn me extra checking under boats and whatnot.

i'll probably keep this thread active and update it with how my class is going. will be heading to the dive center today to poke around and ask more questions (^_^). hopefully i'll be able to start early next week! it will be a whole week training. again, thanx alot.

semper fi,
-ed

Hi Ed,
Trust me, you will have no problems with the CMAS card, and you will never regret taking the course.
When you get back to NY, look me up if you need a dive buddy.
Take care,
George

[Gunrock0811]

ALRIGHT! just got my physical certificate done today, a requirement for the course. Will be starting in a day until the end of next week(sunday)! woohoo! What's also great about this is that the instructor allowed for my wife to sit in on the class/course(except the OW part that is) which will be awesome coz she is thinking of getting certified as well. hopefully what she will see will encourage her and go for it in the future as well. (^_^)

[Standingbear56]

Congratulations Ed! Glad to hear you are going for it! Hope you and your wife have a great time! Hopefully she will be joining you in your adventures.
Please stay in touch, and let us know how things are going.
Take care, and welcome to diving and CMAS!
George