What Are the Different Types of Diving Certification?
There are several different organizations around the world that offer self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, or SCUBA, diving certification. Many of these groups offer a variety of certifications, including basic permissions that allows a person to go on simple ocean dives without an instructor present, to more advanced and specialty certifications in areas such as deep ocean, night and cavern diving. While the groups generally operate independently, most have similar requirements for basic scuba certification and recognize each others certificates when it comes to organization-sponsored activities and clubs for certified divers. One of the most well-known international scuba diving certification organizations is PADI, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. The most common basic diving certification through PADI is the open water diver course, which anyone who is older than 10, is in good health and can pass a swimming test can generally take. This course typically