3. FIND AN INSTRUCTOR AND CERTIFICATION AGENCY

Why do you need to get certified? Why can't you just strap a pack on your back and jump off a rock into the ocean? Because stores won't sell you air tanks unless your certified, and most dive masters won't take you diving to the really cool places unless you're certified. Good enough reasons?

So assuming that you want to become a certified scuba diver (as opposed to those pesky ninja scuba divers), you'll need to find an instructor and certification agency. Use the Internet or Yellow Pages to find your local dive shops, YMCA, and independent instructors (assuming that you want to get certified close to home rather than while on vacation). Check out the certification agency web sites for the National Association of Diving Instructors (NAUI) and the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) to find contact info for courses in your area. These are the two biggest certification agencies. We'll tell you more about NAUI and PADI below, but their web sites provide plenty o' information about various options for certification courses and where you can find courses that are close to you. Then comparison shop based on recommendations, price, and class size and length.

It's important to get recommendations for instructors from others because (1) you are paying for someone to teach you skills you may need in life or death situations and (2) you can't trust just any schmuck trying to make a buck. Get referrals from friends and co-workers for certified dive masters. When you contact the instructors, find out what agency they are certified by (more on this below). Ask them about their experience, philosophies, and teaching styles. For example, are they willing to give special attention to someone having trouble? Are they able to translate technical knowledge into memorable lay terms? Do they challenge students to master skills rather than just pass everyone?

Price

Prices for certification courses often range from $100 to $350 and more. There is such a broad range because different courses include different things. It's essential to find out every last morsel that is included in a course because that $100 course can end up costing you more than the $350 one. Here are the things you should ask about: text books and dive tables, log books, equipment (people usually provide their own mask, snorkel, fins and booties – but rental fees for other equipment like B.C.'s, regulators, and tanks are usually included), boat fees, open water dives, and the Certification card (including picture).

Classes Size and Length

Ask about size and length. Of the CLASS, pervert. If you can't afford private or semi-private lessons, ask the maximum size of a typical class. Remember, smaller classes mean more time spent with individual students, which leads to safer diving. The instructor-student ratio should ideally be no more than 1:4. Is the course a 3-day weekend crash course or is it an intensive 8-weeks of classroom and dive time? Although you may be in a hurry to get certified before a vacation and the shorter courses are probably cheaper – do you really think you can absorb all there is to know in 3-days, while you know that others take a full 2 months to learn the same skills? (They can't all be idiots.) After you get the 411 on all these things, weigh the pros and cons of the courses offered.

Agencies

There are many agencies around the world; however, in the United States the two you should concern yourself with are the NAUI and PADI. These two agencies have different philosophies and methods of training. NAUI is a not-for-profit agency, founded in 1960 and based on educating qualified divers. PADI is a for-profit agency, founded in 1966. PADI takes a marketing approach to diving which has been quite successful and has made them the largest and most recognized certification agency in the world. PADI offers shorter courses than NAUI with more levels, which may lead divers to falsely believe they are at a higher level of proficiency than they really are. PADI and NAUI utilize different dive tables. NAUI's dive tables tend to be more conservative in terms of Surface Interval Time allotted. Ultimately, what is most important for your training as a good diver is your instructor rather than the certification agencies s/he is affiliated with. But with all else being equal, we'd prefer to go with NAUI.