Diving under the sea is a whole new world that feels like you’re visiting another planet. There is so much to see and explore from coral reefs to sunken ships, and marine life. But as excited as I was to explore it all, I knew that I had to undergo scuba diving training to be a certified diver. The question was: which agency should I choose? In this article, I’ll briefly explore some of the leading scuba agencies and the level of certifications that they offer.
PADI: The Gold Standard
When it comes to scuba diving, PADI is the most well-known and respected agency. It stands for the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, which has been in the business for over 50 years. PADI has an extensive network of dive shops and instructors worldwide, and it provides a range of courses that are easy to follow, including Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, and Rescue Diver. The PADI dive certification is recognized globally and is a good choice for a diver who wants to dive almost anywhere in the world without any trouble. With PADI, you can be assured that you’re undergoing well-structured scuba training.
Scuba Schools International (SSI): An Excellent Alternative
Scuba Schools International (SSI) is another prominent player in the dive industry. Founded in 1970, it boasts having more than 30 dive centers in over 110 countries. SSI offers a range of courses, including Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, and Divemaster. One of the significant advantages of SSI is that they evaluate their divers continuously, and they can start their journey online. They offer one-of-a-kind rewards programs for their certified divers and regularly organize dive trips for club members. SSI may not have the same level of recognition outside the United States as PADI, but it offers excellent scuba training that’s recognized by dive shops and instructors globally.
National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI): Where It All Began
The NAUI was founded in 1960, and it established itself as the world’s first organization dedicated to scuba diving. NAUI offers a range of courses, including the Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, and Dive Master. NAUI certification is recognized worldwide and has a reputation for producing competent and confident divers. Even though NAUI is lesser-known than PADI and SSI, it is still an excellent choice of an agency to undergo scuba diving training.
Conclusion
Choosing a scuba diving agency is a matter of personal preference. The agencies I’ve mentioned in this article are all excellent options for divers, and each one provides high-quality training backed by decades of experience. If you’re new to scuba diving, PADI is an excellent place to begin, and you’re guaranteed to learn the necessary techniques that will have you dive with confidence. For those seeking a more interesting training plan or supplementary training, SSI and NAUI are perfect alternatives. Overall all three of these scuba diving training agencies are a fantastic group to get you from zero to hero in scuba diving, and with any of these choices, you’re on your way to being a safe and confident scuba diver!
