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> On Tue, 28 Mar 1995, Peter Den Haan wrote:
> 
> > I'm presently completing my DM certification with NASDS and plan to get 
> > my instructor's rating next, besides nitrox. At this point I'm not sure 
> > if NASDS is the best choice, since they seem to be more concerned about 
> > sales, but I have a fantastic instructor that I have a lot of respect 
> > for. 
> > 
> > I would welcome any comments you have, good or bad and wether NAUI or 
> > PADI would be may a better long term choice.
> 

Peter, 

Many times which organization you choose depends on which way you want to
go and what part of the world you live in...  it's good that you have the
insight to question, clearly you are serious about this part of your future.

imhe (in my humble experience) :-) i have found that padi has the best net
work and marketing, although they are short in support for the type of diving
and training i do the most of (are you listening karl)... the best part of
padi tho is that almost everywhere you go you can get a job teaching (what
you really want the cert for i expect).  some agencies won't let you teach
if you are not affilated with an agency shop,   I would keep that in mind
for sure, check the shops in the area you plan to teach and see which agency
prevails.  last summer we had a super lady apply at our shop with an ssi
card, she couldn't teach independently and there was only one ssi facility
here... since she couldn't teach padi or naui and we weren't a facility (ssi)
she went back to the mainland with out a job...

if you are interested in teaching in a university environment naui seems to
prevail there... i expect due to the latitude allowed in the teaching 
program, one of my regular frustrations with padi is that they don't like to
see you over teach thier program... something necessary in some 
circumstances, especially in a research program with serious diving or
preping students for a technical course.  the naui advance course has
padi divemaster level stuff *and* rescue skills, in fact even as a padi
instructor for three years *and* tek instructor certs the naui crossover
kicked my ass.

very important in today's market (but probably not in a couple of years
when padi wakes up) if you plan to teach nitrox (which you better or you
won't be teaching as nitrox is a part of all of our futures) (THERE WILL
BE NO AIR REBRETHERS... THEY WILL BE NITROX OR HELIOX... PERIOD)...  at
this time you can teach nitrox as a naui speciality (you only have to buy
one insurance policy at $450 per year).. padi on the otherhand won't let
you teach it as of yet... (**duh**) 

 I would suggest going padi for the marketing and training help and taking
a naui crossover asap... ($350, a one time cost compared to $450 per year,
your naui insurance is recognized by padi)..

can't help you much on nasds as there are NO such shops in hawaii to my
knowledge, since i've had my shop (3years) i have only seen three of
their cards produced for air fills...  an example of how the area makes
a difference.

lastly, if you plan to try the naui route you better get ready... it's
ten times harder than padi.. probably another reason you see naui in
educational environments...........

sea ya,


dennis 

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