#30
AScubadiver100 - 8/25/2014 9:09 AM
To try to answer furion1983,
I researched which agency to go with for instructor as well. I chose PADI. Nothing bad about ANY of the other agencies. PADI certifies more divers and have more members than the others (some claim more members than all the others combined). They are recognized world wide and have more demand for instructors that the others seemed to have. Yes their fees are more, in some cases, than others. I have a friend that owns a shop that is SSI, and another friend that owns a NAUI shop. I can obtain the other agencies just by taking the tests, that’s what I have been told. However, in PADI, after you acheive a certain level of Professional Certification you can not hold certs from another agency. Again, that’s what I have been told. You would need to verify that with PADI.I like being with PADI. There are legal reasons and to a degree prestige reasons.
With all that being said.....follow what is best for you.