Certification for Scuba Diving

There are two major organizations that handle most scuba diver certifications, NAUI and PADI. NAUI is the National Association of Underwater Instructors ( HYPERLINK "http://www.naui.org" www.naui.org) is a United States-based SCUBA diver training organization concerned with promoting dive safety through education. NAUI was founded by Albert Tillman and Neal Hess in 1959. In August 1960, NAUI’s first Instructor Certification Course was held at the Houston’s Shamrock Hilton Hotel with 72 candidates.

PADI, The Professional Association of Diving Instructors ( HYPERLINK "http://www.padi.com" www.padi.com), is the world's largest recreational diving membership and diver training organization founded in 1966 by John Cronin and Ralph Erickson. PADI members, including dive centers, resorts, educational facilities, instructors, and divemasters, teach the majority of the world's recreational divers. PADI operates offices in Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Japan, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Other associations include:

• SSI - Scuba Schools International
  http://www.divessi.com/
  
• PDIC - Professional Diving Instructors Corporation
  http://www.pdic-intl.com/
  
• YMCA Scuba
  http://www.ymcascuba.org/
  
• BSAC - The British Sub Aqua Club
  http://www.bsac.com/
  
• CMAS - Confederation Mondiale des Activites Subaquatiques
  http://www.cmas.org/

Scuba diving certification is a necessity when planning a scuba trip. Most dive shops and trip operators will not rent equipment to or take non-certified divers out. Certification can be obtained prior to going on your trip or handle at the location, as most any reputable on-location dive shop will offer certification courses. Completion of a certification course assures trip operators and other divers that you are a knowledgeable and competent diver who understands the process and who will not be a detriment to the trip.

Open Water Diver Certification courses are the most popular and common certification course taken and is the course most often taken for vacation scuba trips. It is geared for beginners and teaches scuba safety, equipment usage and basic skills. From here there are several other advanced diver certifications designed to improve your skills like Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver and Master Scuba Diver.