| |
Stands for |
Contact |
Entry-Level Certifications |
How many open water dives required? |
How many pool/confined water dives required? |
How many lecture hours or sessions required? |
Comments |
IANTD
est. 1985 |
International Association of Nitrox and
Technical Divers |
(305) 751-4873
www.iantd.com |
Open Water Diver/Open Water Nitrox diver |
Four to six for Open Water Diver; five
for Open Water Nitrox, two of which must be on nitrox |
12 hours recommended |
12 hours recommended for Open Water; 16
for Open Water Nitrox |
- |
IDEA
est. 1952 |
International Diving Educators Association
|
(904) 744-5554
www.scuba-idea.com/us |
Basic Open Water Diver |
Four |
Up to instructor with a minimum of five
|
Up to instructor with a minimum of 24
hours |
Open Water Diver course requires six supervised
dives |
MDEA
est. 1984 |
Multinational Diving Educators Association
|
(615) 352-8890
|
Level One Diver |
NA |
NA |
NA |
- |
NASE
est. 1982 |
National Academy of Scuba Educators
|
(904) 264-4104
www.nase scuba.com |
Open Water Diver |
Four |
Five |
Five |
Instructors and students have the option
of home study |
NASDS
est. 1961 |
National Association of Scuba Diving Schools
|
(901) 767-7265
www.dive safe.com |
Open Water Diver |
Four |
10 modules, 60 to 90 minutes each |
10 modules, 60 to 90 minutes each |
- |
NAUI
est. 1960 |
National Association of Underwater Instructors
|
(800) 553-6284
www.naui.org |
Scuba Diver |
Four scuba, one skin |
10 hours total in pool and open water
|
Estimated 14 hours |
Nonprofit organization |
PADI
est. 1966 |
Professional Association of Diving Instructors
|
(800) 729-7234
www.padi.com |
PADI Open Water Diver |
Four |
Five modules |
Five modules |
All modules are performance-based requiring
no set time limits |
PDIC Int'l
est. 1975 |
Professional Diving Instructors Corporation
|
(717) 342-1480
www.pdic-intl.com |
Open Water |
Four scuba, one skin |
Minimum of six |
Minimum of six |
- |
SSI
est. 1970 |
Scuba Schools International |
(800) 892-2702
www.ssiusa.com |
Open Water Diver |
Five scuba, one skin recommended |
Six |
Six |
Total course hours recommended is 16 to
32, depending on whether a home study or classroom situation |
YMCA
Scuba
est. 1959 |
Young Men's Christian Association
|
(770) 662-5172
www.ymca scuba.org |
Open Water SCUBA Diver |
Four scuba, one skin |
12 hours |
Approximately 12 hours |
Pool and lecture must total 24 hours,
at least half of which must be in the pool. Nonprofit organization
|
WASI
est. 1997 |
World Association of Scuba Instructors
|
(801) 363-9274
www.dive wasi.com |
Open Water Diver |
Four |
Minimum of four sessions |
Four units, time required up to instructor
|
Introductory DAN membership included with
certification |
