Initial Certification

[Rick Murchison]

From my experience, which is long - whether or not it is "considerable" is open to debate - I have "C" cards at various levels from YMCA, NAUI, PADI, NASDS, SSI, IANTD, and NSS-CDS.
My personal favorite for the OW training program is SSI.
That said, the most important factor in choosing your training is the instructor. Second most important is the organization immediately behind the instructor - the dive shop. Then come the facilities available to the instructor and the shop, and finally the agency.
Rick

 

[Mario S Caner]

I too hold various levels of certification cards from various training agencies... but, I am an Instructor for PADI, TDI and SDI. I plan on finishing up the top 5 with my NAUI and SSI Instructor programs this summer. Yes, different agencies have different standards, they have slightly different ways of approaching things, which is precisely why I intend to be able to teach them all! I enjoy teaching though don't do it for a living any longer, this will give me the opportunity to sit my friends and future buddies down and tell them about the differences and let them choose whichever suits their needs.

Mario

 

[Beachchck]

Holy cow!!! I thought I knew where I would take the course at.....I live in AZ. Have visited 4 different SCUBA outfits that teach the course. We have decided on the one that gave the best customer service, answered allll of our stupid questions and comments without looking at us like "they are stupid", and really seemed to want us to learn because its "something your gonna kick yourself in the as* for not doing sooner", etc etc . It happens to be PADI and all the ones I have checked in AZ are.
After reading every single post on this subject, thinking of checking out addtl outfits just cuz now. The one I went with and took the Discover Scuba course with was great and will probably use for the full course. I definitly intend on keeping up with addtl courses and reading about it(thats all I do) and looking at the board, this board has helped me more in the last couple of days I joined, than any other yahoo club or other site. Just want to say thanks, Pam

 

[Iguana Don]

Pam,
I am glad that you have made an informed decision. That is the whole purpose of this Board "Before You Dive".
Your statements have made mine and everybody elses efforts worth while.
Keep us posted on your classes and come back often, we look forward to hearing from you.

Don #1