who is the best?

[Mtrewyn]

who has the best programs? Padi, Naui, Ssi, etc. is there any real difference? Or are they all the same?

I thought In the past some schools were not accepted in some other countries, so if you were going to travel you had to plan right.

I'm thinking about moving to the pro realm and want to go with a good school, what do you all think?

[ScubaToys Larry]

One of the oldest debates in the Scuba World! I've been an instructor for 4 different agencies, and of them all, I prefer Naui from the flexibility it has... but does that make it better??

I'm sure the main answer, and really the accurate one, is the instructor makes a much bigger difference than the acronym on the card.

[wxboy911]

Larry covered it perfectly-pick and instructor first and then get your card from what ever agency the instructor is affiliated with. The instructor will make the most difference. I had a great one and will be looking to take AOW and rescue from him next season.

[Ramgib]

A great instructor makes all the difference.

[RonFrank]

Originally Posted by Mtrewyn

who has the best programs? Padi, Naui, Ssi, etc. is there any real difference? Or are they all the same?

I thought In the past some schools were not accepted in some other countries, so if you were going to travel you had to plan right.

I'm thinking about moving to the pro realm and want to go with a good school, what do you all think?

Another vote for the no agency is *best* it's who you get as an instructor.

One thing to consider if you ever plan on going pro is that PADI is the largest. I will likley do DM and go farther, and I would use PADI for one reason alone, there are 10 or more PADI shops in our area, and I think one each of SSI, and NAUI. If I go pro with something other than PADI, then I have very little choices in OPS that I can work for if I'm NOT a PADI instructor.

Independents seem to like NAUI because it allows some flexibility and independence from the LDS.

[Mtrewyn]

as Naui can you work an any shop? Is that what I'm getting?
If not what makes them more flexible?

[coralcrazed]

Originally Posted by ScubaToys Larry

One of the oldest debates in the Scuba World! I've been an instructor for 4 different agencies, and of them all, I prefer Naui from the flexibility it has... but does that make it better??

I'm sure the main answer, and really the accurate one, is the instructor makes a much bigger difference than the acronym on the card.

I agree I'm padi cert. but have heard from many that there is no real diff. the diff. is in th einstructors for sure but let not forget that it takes two to learn. YOU must want to take in as much as possible and keep learning. that is what we are all here for.

What I personally did was take myconfined water dives and written here at home and do my open water section on vacation. BUT I paid extra to have personal one on one dive instruction from the instructor. I would recommned that method to anyone for several reasons. one, you get differnt advie from diffrent instructors and you will also enjoy your dive more. If you are like me (like to dive to see the corals and fishies) than save your open water section for a better dive spot... the instructor was cool. after each dive test he allowed some exploring and also allowed extra time with th nav part (compas) I asked to learn more so he showed me. I can go on and on. one other thing is take the AOW at one point which I plan to do at one point or another.

[ScubaToys Larry]

Originally Posted by Mtrewyn

as Naui can you work an any shop? Is that what I'm getting?
If not what makes them more flexible?

By more flexible, they are talking about during a class, what the instructor is allowed to do. For example, Padi instructors have a specified list of skills that must be done in a certain session. If I am teaching a PADI class, I must do this skill before that skill.

Where that gets to be an issue, let's suppose I have a student on their first day that is doing good with their skills, but is having some ear equalizing issues. If teaching a naui course, I can leave them out of the deep end for the day and work on no mask skills, but with Padi, I can't go on to the other skills until I complete the ones in Module 1 that would require that we go to the bottom of the deep end where my student would experience a painful diving experience.

So it's that type of flexibility - what order you want to put skills in based on the students ability or the logistics you are faced with while training instead of a pre-set order you have to follow.

There are a few other differences like Naui requires some underwater swimming, more snorkeling skills, basic rescue ability etc in the open water course that Padi does not - but in the end... it's all blowing bubbles!

[kroorda]

I agree with Larry! Pick an instructor that you are comfortable with. Then go with whatever agency he/she is affiliated with.

[Mtrewyn]

Originally Posted by ScubaToys Larry

Where that gets to be an issue, let's suppose I have a student on their first day that is doing good with their skills, but is having some ear equalizing issues. If teaching a naui course, I can leave them out of the deep end for the day and work on no mask skills, but with Padi, I can't go on to the other skills until I complete the ones in Module 1 that would require that we go to the bottom of the deep end where my student would experience a painful diving experience.

That seems to be the rub with every teacher that I've ever dealt with Scuba or otherwise, They all want to teach in the order that works for the student, but most of the time they have one reason or another that they can't. Seeing that I learn in odd ways some times, I would like to have that flexibility in learning or teaching.