different scuba certification courses
PADI
This is the certification that I currently own and would highly recommend. It is the largest and most recognized in the world. It was founded in 1966 with the intention of making this sport more accessible rolled wide. The entry level course is the open water course which you can learn online or in classroom and the water learning portions can be done in a confined or open water setting followed by four open water dives.
SSI
Scuba Schools International was founded in 1970 in Colorado and is the 2nd largest scuba training agency. Their entry level course is called open water diver and very similar to the patty open water diver course. This agency is in more than 110 countries with over 2800 dive centers. The academic portion is completed online making it more affordable and flexible.
NAUI
National Association of Underwater Instructors was found in 1959 and is a non-profit education association that is based in the United States. NAUI has fewer dive centers around the world; however, if you plan on becoming an instructor you can teach independently.
