Diving Associations

When you decide that you want to get a diving certification, the next question is which training system to choose.

Today, a future diver can choose from more than 20 international diving associations. I won't talk about all of them - I don't know them all myself. I'll only mention the ones I am familiar with, and later you'll understand why you don't need to know every single one.

The Most Well-Known Ones

Let's look at some of the most famous diving associations and their role in diver training and certification.

CMAS (website) -- The World Underwater Federation. It is the first and one of the most important associations, founded in 1958 by Jacques-Yves Cousteau.

They offer both recreational and technical diving training. The headquarters is in Rome. CMAS plays an important role in uniting different underwater activities and establishing worldwide standards that are recognized globally and serve as a foundation for other organizations.

PADI (website) -- The Professional Association of Diving Instructors, founded in the USA in 1966.

It is one of the largest and most recognized diving organizations in the world. PADI certifications are accepted almost everywhere. They offer both recreational and technical diving courses.

Each PADI course includes additional study materials such as books, videos, and films. These materials are translated into many languages and are available both online and offline.

Training quality is generally high because courses follow strict global standards. The system does not depend too much on the individual instructor, since all instructors must follow the same guidelines.

People say that if any legal issues happen and the instructor followed PADI standards correctly, the case is handled by PADI lawyers - but we won't test that 🙂

Overall, PADI is top-level - my personal choice 👍🏻.
However, to be fair, the Open Water theory contains a lot of marketing about the organization and further courses. Still, the diving theory itself is explained very well.

SSI (website) -- An international diving organization founded in 1970 in the USA.

One special feature of SSI is that instructors can teach only if they are affiliated with an SSI dive center.

They focus mainly on recreational diving.

SSI introduced several practices that later became standard in the diving community. For example, they were among the first to promote the use of an alternate air source and mandatory visual tank inspections.

It is said that SSI instructors often require students to repeat skills underwater until they become automatic. At the same time, SSI is considered more flexible than PADI and can adapt training based on student needs.

IANTD (website) -- The International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers, founded in 1985.

From the name, you might think they only train technical divers, but recreational certification is also available.

IANTD was one of the first organizations to teach recreational divers to use nitrox (oxygen-enriched air). They are considered one of the leaders in technical diving and developed many advanced technical courses.

If one day I decide to move into technical diving, I will probably choose them - forgive me, PADI 🙂

NDL (website) -- The National Dive League, a relatively young organization founded in Saint Petersburg in 2003.

They offer both recreational and technical certifications.

NDL is internationally recognized after successfully passing audits by the European Underwater Federation and the Austrian Standards Institute. However, NDL is not as widely represented worldwide as larger associations.

So, How to Choose?

It all depends on your goals and opportunities.

At the beginner level, most associations provide similar knowledge and skills. Each may have slightly different requirements for instructors and students, but basic courses follow ISO certification standards.

As a result, you will gain the skills and knowledge needed to safely dive to 18 meters.

It is also possible to switch associations later by completing a higher-level course. However, this usually applies only to recreational certifications. Professional-level transitions can be more complicated.

For example, if you are a PADI instructor, becoming an SSI instructor is relatively simple - you complete a crossover course and can work as an SSI instructor within a few days.

However, moving from SSI to PADI is more complex and usually requires completing a full Instructor Development Course (IDC) and passing the Instructor Examination (IE).

So here are my personal tips:

• Choose instructors who are located near you and check reviews about them. Even though all programs follow standards, you will spend a lot of time with your instructor. It is important to feel comfortable with that person.

• Define your goal. If you plan to dive once a year during vacations, be honest - even with a certificate, a responsible instructor will give you a detailed refresher briefing and test your skills before diving. Diving requires practice and regularity. I have seen divers with AOW certification and 20 dives, all done 10 years ago, who performed worse than beginners in a Discover Scuba Diving program.

• Consider the price. There are many organizations, and prices vary depending on materials, brand recognition, and training standards. For beginner levels, prices are generally similar.

• Consider global recognition. If you plan to travel and dive around the world, choose a well-known organization. Rarely, a dive center may hesitate to accept an unfamiliar certification, but usually this can be solved by going to another operator.

• Do not rush your training during a vacation unless the vacation is dedicated specifically to learning. Otherwise, you may end up choosing the first available dive center without properly checking reviews.

That's about it.

It doesn't matter which organization you start with. What matters is that you dive.

And remember:

"Take only pictures. Leave only bubbles."