Diving related Organizations

There are a number of scuba and related organizations around the world. Most of them have high standards and provide comprehensive diver training. Is there enough difference that it really matters which on you are certified through?

The agencies around the world pretty much meet the same basic standard for open water scuba instruction. Open water courses include a syllabus of diving theory (physics, physiology, and so on) along with practical skills. Classroom or homework supports the student whether a rookie or experienced diver who is looking for more.

Some agencies allow leave the number of lecture hours and pool sessions at the instructor’s discretion. Also, it is not uncommon to see some instructors exceed an agency’s minimum standards. In my humble opinion being restricted to teach just the minimum, no more, no less especially when the instructor is a seasons diver is cutting short the exposure one may experience.

Regardless of which organization you choose, what is important is the instructor. It is the instructor who makes majority of the difference, not the agency and its standards. To help Agencies from time to time will send our surveys to students. It helps the agency know whether the instructor has performed needed skills as well as the quality of instruction. It is a way for agency to monitor and maintain not only control their instructors with quality assurance programs, but also get a better picture of how to do better.

Does it matter which agency trains you?  The bottom line is, it is the instructor who makes the difference, not the agency.

There are many very good and reputable dive-training agencies. Most are listed below:

ANDI American Nitrox Divers International

74 Woodcleft Avenue
Freeport, NY 11520
USA
Tel: 516-546-2026
Fax: 516-546-6010
andihq@aol.com

BSAC The British Sub-Aqua Club

BSAA British Sub Aqua Association

CMAS Confederation Mondiale des Activites Subaquatiques (World Underwater Federation)

DAN Diver’s Alert Network

HSA Handicapped Scuba Association International

1104 El Prado
San Clemente, CA 92672-4637
USA
Tel: 714-498-6128
Fax: 714-498-6128
hsa@hsascuba.com

IAHD – International Association for Handicapped Divers

IANTD International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers, Inc.

IANTD – International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers
2124 NE 123 Street, Suite 210
North Miami, FL 33181-2939
USA
Tel: 786-704-9722
Fax: 509-355-1297
iantd@iantd.com

IDEA – International Diving Educators Association

IDEA – International Diving Educators Association
Headquarters
P.O. Box 8427
Jacksonville, FL32239
USA
Tel: 904-744-5554
Fax: 904-743-5425
ideahq@bellsouth.net

NACD National Association of Cave Diving
Membership Committe,
P.O. Box 14492
Gainesville, FL 32604
info@safecavediving.com
http://www.safecavediving.com

NASE National Academy of Scuba Educators

NASE Worldwide
8137 North Main Street
Jacksonville, Florida 32208
Tel: 888 903-NASE (6273)

NAUI National Association of Underwater Instructors

NAUI – NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF UNDERWATER INSTRUCTORS
9942 Currie Davis Dr., Suite H
Tampa, FL 33619-2667
USA
Ph. (800) 553-6284
Ph. (813) 628-6284
Fax: 813-628-8253
nauihq@nauiww.org
training@nauiww.org

NOAA National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration

NSS-Cave Diving Section
NSS-CDS Administrative Office
P.O. Box 38057
Tallahassee, FL 32315-8057
USA
Ph. 850-536-0351
Fax. 407-292-0848
cds@caves.org
http://www.cavediver.org/
The NSS Cave Diving Section is the largest cave diving organization in the United States with members in almost every state.

PADI Professional Association of Dive

PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) Worldwide Headquarters
30151 Tomas St.
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688-2125.
Tel: (949) 858-7234
Toll Free within the US (800) 729-7234
Fax: (949) 267-1261

PDIC Professional Diving Instructors

P.D.I.C. INTERNATIONAL
1554 Gardner Avenue
Scranton, PA18509
USA
Tel: 717-342-1480
Fax: 717-342-1276
info@pdic-intl.com

PSA – Professional Scuba Association

SSI Scuba Schools International

SSI – Scuba Schools International – Headquarters
2619 Canton Court
Fort Collins, CO 80525-4498
USA
Tel: 970-482-0883
Fax: 970-482-6157
usa@divessi.com

TDI Technical Diving International

Technical Diving International (TDI)
9 Coastal Plaza Suite 300
Bath, ME04530
USA
Tel: 207-442-8391
Fax: 207-442-9042
worldhq@tdisdi.com

Graduate Certifications and Memberships Offered to Accomodate All Industry Employers
	ACUC – American and Canadian Underwater Certifications, Inc. is a worldwide diver training organization originally formed as the Association of Canadian Underwater Councils.
	CMAS – The Confederation Mondiale Des Activities Subaquatiques (World Diving Federation) The organization was founded in 1959 and by now it comprises over 130 federations from 5 continents.
	DAN – Divers Alert Network is an international nonprofit diving safety organization and assists in the treatment of underwater diving accidents plus provides member Instructor’s with oxygen training.
	IANTD – International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers, Inc. founded in 1985, is the first diving instructor certification agency to train Enriched Air Nitrox (EANx). In 1991 IANTD extended its range of certification to Deep Air and all breathing gases other than air.
	NAUI – National Association of Underwater Instructors was formed in 1960 for trained underwater educators. NAUI has grown to become the world’s largest democratic underwater educational association. The Institute at Hall’s is an officially sanctioned “Professional Development Center” for NAUI.
	PADI – Professional Association of Diving Instructors is the world’s largest diver training organization. PADI training is handled through specially selected employees of the Institute.
	RAID – Rebreather Association of International Divers is currently one of the newest and fastest growing diving organizations in the world. Known for their outstanding Internet study materials, RAID developed totally modern and innovative courses with the ease of home study curriculums.
	SDI – Scuba Diving International grew out of a sister company TDI – Technical Diving International. SDI Instructors reflect a new, fresh, innovative approach to diver training.
	SEI – Scuba Educators International is an organization made from the YMCA Scuba Instructor membership. YMCA shut down their scuba agency in 2009. This new organization continues to provide the highest level of community-oriented education for previous divers, instructors and YMCAs.
	SSI – Scuba Schools International has been serving divers for over decads. It continues to be one of the fastest growing and innovative diver, instructor and diving business training agencies in the diving industry. The Institute is an officially “Recognized Institution” for SSI.
	TDI – Technical Diving International is a training and diver and instructor certification agency specializing in programs beyond the traditional boundaries of recreational diving.
	IDEA – International Diving Educators Association was originally established in 1952 as part of the FSDA – Florida Skin Divers Association. FSDA was and still is a large group of politically active dive clubs. FSDA was changed to IDEA in 1978. IDEA is represented in over 30 different countries.
	PDIC – Professional Diving Instructors Corporation is an international SCUBA training and certification agency founded in the 1960s. PDIC offers diver training from the open water level to instructor.

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