PADI vs NAUI?

Question

my child is interested in scuba he is about 14. should he go for PADI or NAUI??thanks in advance.

Answer 1

The two certifications are very similar. I would recommend that you talk to the actual instructor that will be teaching your child. In both agencies, you'll have good and poor instructors, try to talk with them and go with the on that you feel more comfortable with.

Also, if the instructor is affiliated with a scuba shop, chat with the shop personnel to see if they have many children divers or if they offer classes just for kids.

Answer 2

I would suggest PADI because if you ever do anything international it is the most recognized certificate. I recieved my open water when i was 11 and now I am a rescue diver. As soon I as turn 18 I will be taking the course to become a dive master. I strongly recomend PADI over NAUI. The information is probably the same. Just keep breathing and don't panic. If you can learn how to do that the only thing you don't know is the equipment but if you are renting it (which you probably would be) you dont need to know the equipment in depth. If he wants to do it for recreation then PADI is the way to go. Training needs to be fun not strict and military like. Training can be fun and safe. PADI is extremely safe to learn from.

Answer 3

PADI is like mastercard, accepted everywhere. NAUI, not so much. Either program is good, just depends on what you want as far as member benifits. I got my PADI license this summer (I'm 16) from the XTreme Future Astronaught Training Program at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center in Hutchinson. It was a great experiance, much better than the Alabama program. We flew Cessna airplanes the first week and got 1 hr or air time and went to Beaver Lake in Arkansas the second week. It was awsome. Period. Just make sure your son can swim well. There is a swimming requirement of somthing like 100 yards that I just about died on. I'm just an "OK" swimmer. Other than that it was soooooo fun. We went to an underwater town that was flooded when the lake was made and I also got my "night divers" specialty license. We got to go 60ft down! It was warm above 30 ft., but cold below that. Hope that helps!

Answer 4

I am a divemaster certified with PADI but I started out with NAUI and I must say that NAUI seem a little bit more rigorous and I felt better prepaered after it. PADI is good too, a big part of it is the instructor. Both certification are accepted internationally. So my advice is look for whats on your area, find a good, reputable dive shop or instructor. Talk to him and have fun.

Answer 5

I agree that the most important thing is how your child relates to the instructor. They will learn the material better is they have a good rapport. As for PADI and NAUI, both are good agencies and the skills taught are essentially the same. Choose based on the instuctor and you will end up with the best experience.

Answer 6

NAUI!!! it was formed by former SEALS, your kid will be REALLY prepared after he is done with his certification course.

PADI does certification for the sake of certification whilst NAUI is more rigid and really gives you the skills needed to enjoy SCUBA with minimum risk.

Where are you planning for your child to take his/her certification ? maybe I can help

Answer 7

A "Certification" is a certification no matter who provides the training. You will find little differences in their curriculum's but they teach about the same things. Any shop that is grossly overpriced compared to their competition I would wonder about. Unless they can show you service or a distinct difference in the product they are just out for the money. You need also to find out exactly what you get for the moneys paid. The higher priced class may include equipment where the lower may charge you for the equipment. Look for hidden costs and make shure you know what your "total" cost of certification is. Think about it