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[bazmlb]

Most recognised Scuba dive training and certification agencies:

American Canadian Underwater Certifications (ACUC)
British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC)
European Committee of Professional Diving Instructors (CEDIP)
Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS)
National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI)
Professional Diving Instructors Corporation (PDIC)
Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI)
Scottish Sub Aqua Club (SSAC or ScotSAC)
International Training SDI, TDI & ERDi
Scuba Schools International (SSI)- SSI absorbed National Association of Scuba Diving Schools (NASDS)
YMCA scuba now SEI Diving

[ScubaBuddha]

Thanks fro the info bazmlb,

YMCA Scuba has ceased to issue certifications as of December 31st, 2008, hence the link doesn't work either. They still can re-issue lost cards however. It looks like YMCA has morphed into SEI Diving. http://www.seidiving.org

Also not on the list is the now defunct National Association of Scuba Diving Schools (NASDS).  It was absorbed by SSI in 2001. SSI is supporting C-card replacements for NASDS divers, although some, but not all records are missing prior to 1977 due to a fire in the NASDS headquarters that year.

Edited by ScubaBuddha, 2010-07-30 01:02:06.

[bazmlb]

Thanks, Links updated.

[ScubaBuddha]

I meant to post this here when you started this thread, but forgot.

For anyone looking to do their academics online, there are many bogus websites out there, such as onlinescubalessons.com, claiming they can provide a new diver with an academic referral which is good at any agency. This is false. It is a good warning to anyone looking to to their certification online.

From PADI:

Quote

SPECIAL NOTICES:
Aquatrophics, USA — Please note that neither David Holt, Aquastrophics,
SDA (Scuba Divers of America), nor onlinescubalessons.
com have been PADI Members at any time. Please also note that
the academic program offered by these three entities is not valid
for PADI Open Water Diver referrals or certification. WRSTC
Posting April 3, 2006: “At a recent meeting, the members of the
Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC) determined it was
important to provide collective clarification regarding agency-neutral
online training programs. Over the past two or three years,
a number of websites not affiliated with a training agency have
launched online scuba-training programs. On these sites, the customer
is led to believe that all training agencies will accept these
programs to meet their academic requirements for scuba training.
This is not correct. Because of concerns about the educational
validity of these programs and the inability to monitor the quality
of education and services, as well as liability and insurance issues,
each RSTC member organization has independently determined
it cannot accept these non-affiliated training programs to meet its
academic requirements. Before customers sign up for any online
training program, they should first check with the retail store,
instructor or training agency they wish to receive certification
through to verify if that online program is acceptable for meeting
the training agency’s requirements.”

To legitimately complete the academics portion of the basic open water diver course, PADI, SDI, SSI, and NAUI each offer an eLearning option which allows you to complete the academics using independent study, the results of which you then take to a PADI dive center or PADI instructor who will review your exam results and prescriptively teach any topics which you have not fully grasped.

PADI eLearning

SSI Online Services

SDI Online Training

NAUI eLearning

[hpwheelman]

I would like to know what the diferances in schools are in relation to what certs I would need to dive anywhere (in the world) as opposed to getting a local cert. What I mean is  if i get a PADI open water diver cert here in Thailand, will that be usable in the USA or will it not be recognized? Sorry if this seems basic, but im new to diving and if im spending that much to get a cert I want to be sure its good anywhere.

[H2oDunc]

If you do a PADI open water course here in Thailand it is valid any where in the world. Thailand is one of the cheapest places to get your certification. Although the certification may be universal around Thailand the level of service you receive between different shops will vary. Before signing up for a course have a chat with the staff and check out the boat and equipment you will be using. You can usually get a good impression from having a chat and a look round the shop.

[h90]

H2oDunc, on 2011-01-12 08:09:43, said:

If you do a PADI open water course here in Thailand it is valid any where in the world. Thailand is one of the cheapest places to get your certification. Although the certification may be universal around Thailand the level of service you receive between different shops will vary. Before signing up for a course have a chat with the staff and check out the boat and equipment you will be using. You can usually get a good impression from having a chat and a look round the shop.

To add: ask if you get every day the same teacher and speak with this guy.
It happens that people speak with a nice sale guy in opinion that this will be their teacher, but the Instructor is someone complete different. Than ask how many dives/how many days etc etc. If the boat has hot shower or not is the least concern. As more dives as better and as more time to ask questions between.

[seaeagle]

Might be helpful to add a link to BSAC's Thai arm:

http://www.bsacthailand.com/