| These are three of the world's best and largest | | | | non-profit diving membership association, and |
| diving training organizations that offer scuba diving | | | | organized solely to support and promote Dive Safety |
| courses and classes. | | | | through education, which has now become the |
| PADI or Professional Association of Diving Instructors | | | | second largest diver training organization. Their |
| ( | | | | training programs include Skin Diver through Instructor |
| In the recreational diving membership organizations, | | | | Course Director, with several number of specialty |
| PADI is the world's largest, with offices in Australia, | | | | courses including Search and Recovery Diver, Scuba |
| Canada, Switzerland, Japan, Sweden, the United | | | | Rescue Diver, Nitrox and technical diving , to name a |
| Kingdom, New Zealand and the United States. PADI | | | | few. |
| started in 1967 and the main corporate headquarters | | | | NAUI also includes Technical courses, Leadership |
| is located in California, and is known as PADI | | | | courses and Recreational courses. Recreational |
| Worldwide. | | | | courses include Skindiver, SCUBA Diver, Experienced |
| PADI offers Open Water Diver course, the most | | | | SCUBA Diver and Advanced SCUBA Diver. NAUI's |
| widely accepted and esteemed diving certification in | | | | certification class is for people above 8 year-olds and |
| the world. One of the popular entry level trainings | | | | you don't have to be an accomplished swimmer. For |
| PADI offers is the Discover Scuba Diving program, | | | | younger kids, there is also a "Snorkeling for Kids of |
| accessible at any PADI Dive Center or Resort. Basic | | | | All Ages" non-certification class. |
| concepts and scuba skills are taught here under the | | | | SSI or Scuba Schools International ( |
| supervision of PADI Professionals in pool or pool-like | | | | SSI is also a worldwide diving training organization |
| conditions. Though minimum age requirement is 10 | | | | that specializes in business support for dive |
| years old, younger kids can also attend the "junior" | | | | businesses that was established in 1970. It is, in fact, |
| courses. | | | | the largest school-based training agency in the world |
| The entry level training emphasizes on practical | | | | with various regional centers, and its certification is |
| safety issues instead of theoretical concepts such as | | | | widely accepted throughout the world. They have a |
| the physics and chemistry of diving. The Discover | | | | SSI Facility Search feature on their website if you |
| Scuba Diving program is followed by the PADI | | | | need to get region-specific information. |
| Specialty Diver and PADI Rescue Diver programs for | | | | The beginner programs offered by SSI include Scuba |
| people who want to continue. These include | | | | Ranger, Try Scuba, Passport Diver, Open Water |
| advanced training and additional skills specific to | | | | Diver, Snorkeling, and Scuba Skills Update. In order to |
| personal interests. After each course is completed, a | | | | reach SSI's highest recognition level in diving - the |
| certificate is issued which is widely accepted | | | | Platinum Pro5000 Diver award, you have to go |
| throughout the world as proof of proficiency. PADI | | | | through a number of intermediary such as Stress and |
| issues almost 946,000 certifications each year. | | | | Rescue Diver, Specialty courses, Continuing Education |
| NAUI or National Association of Underwater | | | | Ratings, and advanced programs such as Dive Leader |
| Instructors ( | | | | Education System, including Dive Control Specialist |
| NAUI Worldwide was established in 1959 as a | | | | and Open Water Instructor. |