| Scuba diving is a passion shared by innumerable | | | | center for scuba diving. The institute boasts of a |
| people who are looking out for some adventure in | | | | number of celebrities on the Board of Advisors like |
| life. But every layman in scuba diving has got to hear | | | | Jacques Cousteau, Lloyd Bridges (TV Sea Hunt fame) |
| of certification requirements before going for the real | | | | along with divers renowned in the scuba diving world. |
| action. The certification is a mandatory procedure for | | | | Apart from these famous names NAUI-certified |
| every serious scuba diver. It is a process of obtaining | | | | schools are known for their instruction owing to their |
| a certificate for scuba diving from a recognized and | | | | highly qualified instructors with thousands of hours of |
| registered diving school. These schools host | | | | real-life underwater experience. Apart from adequate |
| professionally authorized instructors who take | | | | real diving experience the NAUI instructors are |
| courses in teaching scuba diving. Every interested | | | | required to attend and clear the exams of a number |
| scuba diver is required to invest the time and money | | | | of courses which cover every bit of technical diving |
| to get certified as it is dangerous and requires | | | | qualification be it recreational, sport, or professional. |
| technical expertise before attempting it. In addition to | | | | Through these courses the instructors acquire |
| potentially hazardous and fatal underwater creatures, | | | | knowledge in the physiology of underwater diving, |
| the conditions down there could be dangerous too. | | | | details of equipment, their usage, safety measures |
| There are risks of nitrogen narcosis and | | | | and so on. |
| decompression sickness and one needs to be | | | | The types of offered courses come in all forms, |
| prepared for any of these eventualities. | | | | catering to entry level for beginners to advanced |
| The two most recognized diver training organizations | | | | technical diving expertise. The training for students is |
| in the US are PADI - Professional Association of | | | | a blended combination of classroom theory sessions, |
| Diving Instructors and NAUI - National Association of | | | | self study and practical guidance in relatively safe |
| Underwater Instructors. These two institutes have | | | | areas like pools and open waters. The NAUI-certified |
| been in this profession for years and have a number | | | | instructors are hence the most qualified people to |
| of authorized and approved facilities across the | | | | instruct and train scuba divers aspirants. Similar is the |
| country. | | | | case for the PADI-certified courses and instructors. |
| NAUI was established in 1959 with its first recognized | | | | Together NSUI and PADI members teach most of |
| Instructor Certification course in 1960. The students | | | | the recreational divers and are known to issue almost |
| went on to become instructors, branches were | | | | a million divers' certificates each year. |
| formed and hence today NAUI is an established | | | | |