{"id":270,"date":"2022-09-27T11:57:21","date_gmt":"2022-09-27T11:57:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/?p=270"},"modified":"2023-07-27T03:56:34","modified_gmt":"2023-07-27T03:56:34","slug":"diving-types-certifications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/diving-types-certifications\/","title":{"rendered":"Different Types of Diving and Certifications"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Diving is a difficult skill which is\ngained through practice and lessons from teachers who are experts themselves at\nit. The training is focused on providing skills that enable the diver to\nnavigate the waters without issues and to avert any problems that may arise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When one has passed the tests for a\ncertain level of diving, they\u2019re issued with a certificate that\u2019s specific to\nthat type of diving. With there being many organizations in charge of training\nand certification, knowing what each one stands for is important for a diver\nwho intends to explore a certain type and depth of water body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reason for the certification is to\nprove their qualifications when seeking employment, filling diving cylinders,\nbooking for a diving trip or even when hiring diving equipment. A qualified\ndiver is issued with a diving certification in the form of a card called a\nC-card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

History of Diving Certification <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The need to certify divers before they went into the water came about due to the two divers who died while using diving equipment owned by the University of California in 1952.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Diving
Scuba Diver<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Robert Gordon Sproul, the university president, would enact the rule that only divers certified by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) would be given the diving equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The concept would be picked up by the US government with the creation of the Los Angeles Underwater Instructors Program. This was the very first training program in the United States. The idea quickly spread worldwide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the certification card (C-card)\nwill be given to a diver after undergoing the needed training and proving that\nthey can dive safely. Among the details on a typical C-card include the\nfollowing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • The name and logo of the certifying body. <\/li>
  • The name and picture of the certified person. <\/li>
  • The certification serial or reference number. <\/li>
  • Date of certification. <\/li>
  • Type of certification. <\/li>
  • Instructor\u2019s name and registration number. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    These details are always standard and\nunderstood by resorts, charter boats and other parties no matter the certifying\nbody. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Types of Diving Courses and Certifications <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    While the certifications for divers are\nlarge in number, the levels of certification can be put into 12 categories with\nfrom a beginner to the highest professional. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The levels include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Junior PADI Scuba Diver or PADI Scuba Diver<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    As a certified PADI scuba diver, you\u2019re\nallowed to dive a distance of up to 12 meters or 40 feet. However, you must at\nall times be accompanied by a professional diver for safety purposes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. Junior Open Water Diver or Open Water Diver<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    As an open water diver, you\u2019re certified\nto scuba dive on your own. As such, the course is focused on giving you\nautonomy through learning the proper equipment management skills and how to\nhandle disasters. The swimming depth is 40 feet for children and 59 feet for\nadults. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    3. Advanced Open Water Diver<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    With this certification, you\u2019re allowed\neven more autonomy as a diver. You can dive as deep as 100 feet. You can also\nhandle more complex diving situations compared to an open water diver. Still,\nyou need supervision to an extent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    4. Rescue Diver<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The next level of diving is that of a\nrescue expert. This level entails learning disaster management skills in the\nwater and is among the most developed given that many situations entailing\ndivers facing problems. Most stages of diving will also have rescue skills for\nwhen a professional rescue diver isn\u2019t readily available. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    5. Master Scuba Diver<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The master scuba diver is the highest\nlevel of recreational scuba diving. Before earning the certification, you must\nhave several other certifications especially in rescue diving and deep sea\ndiving. Night, deep and wreck diving are also recommended for this\ncertification. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    6. Dive Master<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    As a certified dive master, you\u2019re able\nto join the diving industry in leadership roles such as leading diving\nexpeditions and training others to attain diving skills. You can also work with\ndiving instructors to provide diving lessons for others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    7. Assistant Instructors <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Assistant instructors are sourced from\ncertified dive masters and their role is helping instructors perform their\nduties. They can also offer theoretical courses to their students as the\ninstructor deals with the practical aspects of the courses. As an assistant\ninstructor, you can also evaluate the performance of your students for the\nsurface exercises. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    8. Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Becoming an open water scuba instructor\nrequires getting certified through undertaking the Instructor Development\nCourse (IDC). You\u2019ll be trained by the course director of that specifIc\ninstitution. After passing this course, you can train, examine and even award\ndiving certifications to your students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    9. Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    To qualify for the title of master scuba\ndiver trainer, you must have undertaken and passed at least 5 PADI Specialty\nInstructor courses and certified at least 25 divers in your career as a\ntrainer. Besides that, you can directly undertake the master scuba diver\ntrainer course. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    10. IDC Staff Instructor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The IDC staff instructor is an assistant\nto the course director. They help course directors design and teach courses to\nother instructors below them. Their work is supervised by course directors and\nit\u2019s focused on theory as well as practice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    11. Master Scuba Diver<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    To become a master scuba diver, you must\nhave participated in 3 PADI seminars, taught 10 Emergency First Response\ncourses, and issued 150 PADI certifications. As such, a master scuba diver is\nboth an expert in teaching and diving themselves. High levels of experience are\nrequired for this certification. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    12. Course Director<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    At the very top of the certification\nladder is the course director. They teach instructor development courses\ndesigned by PADI and other accredited agencies around the world. They attain\ntheir certification through the Course Director Training Course and are\nassisted in their work by the staff instructors described above. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    These certifications are standardized\nthe world over. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Diving Certification Institutions and Agencies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    To learn more of the certifications\navailable for the budding diver, there are various internationally recognized\ninstitutions which offer training and certifications. A certificate from one\nagency is often recognized by the others hence no need to obtain certifications\nfrom more than one agency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    They\u2019re as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Professional Association of Diving Instructors\n(PADI)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    PADI was founded in 1966 in the United\nStates as an institution to improve the existing training programs. These\nprograms had become redundant as they made it very hard for budding divers to\nget certified. PADI would quickly rise in popularity until it became the most\npopular training agency not only in the United States but the world over. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Courses were created for various diving\ndivisions such as freediving, scuba diving and many others. This was a welcome\ndeviation from the universal course existing with other certifications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The courses by PADI differed from the\nexisting courses as they were based on performance rather than theoretical\nskills in the existing courses. Divers are trained and tested based on their\nmastery of motor skills, practical knowledge, physics, safety, chemistry,\nphysiology and other disciplines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    At the moment, PADI centers have trained\nand certified up to 70% and 55% of divers in the United States and the world\nrespectively. They train and certify various diving categories such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    • Advanced Open Water Diver<\/li>
    • Open Water Diver<\/li>
    • Master Scuba Diver<\/li>
    • Rescue Diver<\/li>
    • Adaptive Support Diver<\/li>
    • Divemaster <\/li>
    • Scuba Diver<\/li>
    • Adventure Diver<\/li>
    • Assistant Instructor<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Many more certifications are offered by\nthe ones listed here are the most popular ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      2. British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      The British Sub Aqua Club was established\nin 1953 with its headquarters in the United Kingdom. It\u2019s presently the largest\ndive club in the world given it\u2019s membership of more than 50,000 from around\nthe world. The UK government also recognizes it as the official body in charge\nof diving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The BSAC carries out its operations\nthrough schools and independent dive clubs around the world. Among its most\nimportant lessons are on safety given the cold waters and poor visibility\naround the United Kingdom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Among its certifications include the\nfollowing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      • Sports Diver<\/li>
      • Ice Diver<\/li>
      • First Class Diver<\/li>
      • Ocean Diver<\/li>
      • Dive Leader<\/li>
      • Advanced Diver<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        This institution offers almost all the\navailable diving courses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        3. Scuba Schools International (SSI)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        The Scuba Schools International is a\nretail-based organization focused on the quality of diving training around the\nworld. It was founded in the United States in the 1970s and has grown to over\n2,200 dealers around the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        It has online theoretical courses which\nare tested through hands-on tests and further training. The lessons include\nactual open water diving with instructors on several occasions before one\nreceives their C-card in Open Water Diving Certification. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Among the certifications offered\ninclude:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        • Open Water Diver<\/li>
        • Night Diving<\/li>
        • Deep Diving<\/li>
        • Scuba Diver<\/li>
        • Enriched Air Nitrox Diver<\/li>
        • Wreck Diving<\/li>
        • Master Diver<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          It offers many more courses on a global\nscale. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          4. National Association of Underwater Instructors\n(NAUI)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          NAUI is a recreational scuba\ncertification agency based in the United States and was founded in 1959. It\u2019s a\nnon-profit organization focused on championing for safety in all forms of\ndiving. It achieves this through education programs designed to equip divers\nwith the needed skills and certifications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          NAUI comes only second to PADI in terms\nof the size of the certification agency in the world. This agency is synonymous\nwith some big names in the celebrity arena such as Tiger Woods and Kevin\nCostner to mention just a few. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Among its certifications are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          • Tandem Scuba Diver<\/li>
          • Advanced Scuba Diver<\/li>
          • Master Scuba Diver<\/li>
          • Night Diver<\/li>
          • Divemaster<\/li>
          • Public Safety Diver<\/li>
          • Try Scuba\/Passport Scuba<\/li>
          • Scuba Diver<\/li>
          • Enriched Air Nitrox Diver <\/li>
          • Rescue Scuba Diver<\/li>
          • First Aid Provider<\/li>
          • Deep Diver<\/li>
          • Underwater Imaging<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            NAUI has also contributed immensely to\nthe current diving standards for diving and its teaching. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            5. Conf\u00e9d\u00e9rarion Mondiale des Activit\u00e9s\nSubaquatiques (The World Underwater Federation) (CMAS)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            The World Underwater Federation, founded\nin 1958 and headquartered in France, is the overall organization responsible\nfor providing the international framework for diver and instructor\nqualifications. Its members are picked from dive agencies such as the ones on\nour list. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The focus of the CMAS has always been\nimproving the standards of diving through education in various capacities.\nSchools and other institutions employ the framework put into place by the CMAS\nworldwide. Unlike US-based education programs, the CMAS doesn\u2019t focus on\nprofits as much. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Among the certifications offered\ninclude:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            • Advanced Skills Diver<\/li>
            • Enriched Air Nitrox Diver <\/li>
            • Night Diver<\/li>
            • Wreck Diver<\/li>
            • Introductory SCUBA<\/li>
            • Apnoea Diver<\/li>
            • Underwater Navigation <\/li>
            • Rescue Diver<\/li>
            • Cave Diver<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

              The complete list of the certifications\noffered by the CMAS includes almost all the diving courses available. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

              6. Scuba Diving International (SDI)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

              The Scuba Diving International is\nrelatively young as it was founded in 1998 as a part of the Technical Diving\nInternational. The organization was created by industry experts with the aim of\ntraining qualified divers all across the board. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

              The SDI offers education on a continuing\nbasis with a long list of opportunities to further utilize your skills once\ncertified as a diver in any given category. Their courses are also vital for\nwhen you need to be a dive professional with clearly defined pathways to\nbecoming an assistant instructor, divemaster or other professional-level\ncourses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

              The SDI boasts of more than 24 offices\nacross the world and thousands of instructors and dive instruction centers as\nwell. The wholesome nature of the courses from the SDI have set it aside as one\nof the best diving institutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Among the courses and certifications\noffered include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              • Advanced Adventure Diver<\/li>
              • Solo Diver<\/li>
              • Sidemount Diver<\/li>
              • Rescue Diver<\/li>
              • Divemaster<\/li>
              • Open Water Scuba Diver<\/li>
              • Computer Nitrox Diver<\/li>
              • Wreck Diver<\/li>
              • Night\/Limited Visibility Diver<\/li>
              • Scubility Diver<\/li>
              • Scuba Instructor <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                A full list of the certifications they\noffer can be found on their website. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Besides the institutions listed above,\nother notable ones include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                • The American Canadian Underwater Certifications\n(ACUC)<\/li>
                • The Scuba Divers International\/Technical Divers\nInternational (SDI\/TDI)<\/li>
                • The International Diving Educators Association\n(IDEA)<\/li>
                • The Professional Diving Instructors Corporation\n(PDIC)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                  If you need to be a diver, you can\nchoose any of these organizations to get your certifications from anywhere in\nthe world. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                  Diving is a difficult skill which is gained through practice and lessons from teachers who…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":273,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":8,"label":"Diving"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/types-diving-certifications.jpg",700,449,false],"author_info":{"display_name":"Kib Amos","author_link":"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/author\/kib-a\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":8,"name":"Diving","slug":"diving","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":8,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":9,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":8,"category_count":9,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Diving","category_nicename":"diving","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=270"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/273"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=270"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=270"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=270"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}