How did you choose your first agency?

[SailNaked]

Would it have mattered to you if the local dive operation was only offering SDI or Naui or Padi or XX brand as long as you could then get your tanks filled and go diving?

 

[mikemill]

The on-base dive shop ran by MWR was a PADI shop. Didn't put much thought or caring into the agency.

 

[Brewski]

Went to the local YMCA on my cousins recommendation. wouldn't have cared anyway. Agency doesn't matter.

 

[Cave Diver]

I didnt know anything about agencies when I took my OW. I called around and then went in and talked face to face with an instructor that gave me a good impression over the phone. He answered all my questions and was excited and passionate about diving, so I chose him to teach me.

 

[Walter]

What should matter is getting a good education and becoming a safe diver.

Ask questions.

 

[SharkDiver36]

I chose NAUI originally because it required more of me.

I stayed with NAUI becuase as an Instructor I am free to alter and make the course my own as long as it meets or exceeds the standards. I could make the course as "hard" or "soft" as I wanted to.

I can spend extra time on any subject I feel is important to me and include it in the Course itself, the confined water, or open water. I'm not confined by NAUI to only do "this"....which is what another Agency does....

My courses are my courses. I want the divers to know more than the minium, I want them to do more than the minium, and I hope they want the same thing.

Diving and teaching to dive is more than the minimums and knowledge is power.

NAUI Open Water, Advanced Diver, Rescue, Master Diver and you'll know just about everything from a recreational standpoint of a solid foundation in both knowledge and skills.

I also know and understand that ALL AGENCIES have great, average and so-so instructors.

That aside, it was the actual curriculum that finally made me chose NAUI in 4 courses versus a dozen other courses to get the same information thru other agency(s). It was just more challenging.


Long winded...but NAUI.

 

[Blackwood]

I didn't choose my first agency. I went with one of two local shops, both of which were PADI exclusively.

 

[Tigerman]

I didnt choose agenzy, I chose instructor and that choice was largely based on availability..

 

[piikki]

I didn't choose my first agency. I went with one of two local shops, both of which were PADI exclusively.

Same here. Between those two I chose based on schedule offered, price and "the feel of the place". Probably pretty much in that order too as the price was fairly similar and there was not much of a feel offered (instructors not available for a meet and greet before course).

Later I learnt there actually was a shop hidden in the woods that offered non-PADI training too but as I did not even know of the shop it did not enter the equation. Noway would I have traveled just after an agency at that point.

 

[ktownhero]

I chose PADI just based on circumstance, but I have to say that now that I'm learning more about diving I'm more attracted to what I've seen in NAUI courses -- they seem more involved. I'm starting the NAUI shore diver course tomorrow.