NAUI, PADI, SSI.....Any scuba divers on here?
 

I am getting ready to go for my open water certification and was wondering about your experiences with the different national organizations: NAUI, PADI, SSI and others?

If you start with one organization such as NUAI and you later want to take a PADI advanced diver course in a foreign country, do they recognize each other's accreditation? For example, I'd like to get my wreck dive certification while I am on vacation. Do I need to find an instructor accredited with the same organization that gave me my initial certification?

Your advice will be appreciated.

When I got certified many moons ago.

Naui and Padi did recognize eachother. In fact at the time they were somewhat combined in the schools somehow. I took the course at a dive shoppe in Anaheim.

Having a wreck license would be for the hardcore wrecks. Maybe going a little deeper for a little longer. For small ship dives 40 or so feet under are fine w/o a special license. I've been down a bit farther for a small boat in Catalina.

Cool thing to do thats for sure.

go with PADI.
Its #1. never had any problems since 96.
Had my cave diving done 2 years ago.

Definitely the way to go from my experience.

Do as much reef diving as you can in the next 5-10 years, it will soon all be bleached and dead. Think I'm kidding? Nope, unfortunately :Oh crap The Great Barrier Reef was a major let down. Fiji is still far enough removed to get some good diving in, as is the Seychelles.

I'm a certified NAUI, PADI and SDI/TDI Instructor. Also certified SDI/TDI Rebreather instructor. You will have no problems, all the organizations work together. NAUI and SDI/TDI instructors have much more leeway in teaching to local conditions. But all are good. Just make sure you keep a current log book for all your dives and DAN insurance as well, especially if you are traveling.

Funny to see this thread this morning, as I am getting my basic PADI cert this weekend.

I'm a PADI instructor and PSS trimix diver. It doesn't really matter what course you take, they are all very similar and recognized in the world. You can always change to PADI. Most important thing is you get a good instuctor who does his job properly.

Go with PADI.