As long as there has been more than one agency providing scuba instruction and awarding certification cards (C-Cards), this debate has raged. Making the decision was a lot easier when the US Navy was the only game in town. Like many things, the answer to this question depends… There are dozens of certifying agencies. The […]

Comments

Diver96 - 8/20/2014 4:09 PM I agree. There are a lot of factors to consider. Bigger does not = "the best" although it can, depending upon your individual situation. Perhaps the danger aspect is over emphasized. Diving is safe because as divers, we take the necessary precautions to make it safe. That being said, it is not without without risk.

SKubaSteve - 8/20/2014 1:32 PM I’m going to take a counter position to All_Wet_Scuba here. I don’t believe that biggest = best. I think there’s a LOT more that should go into choosing a training agency. Are the local dive centers affiliated with a specific agency? If so that can have a huge impact. Since the basic standards for open water SCUBA certification are adhered to by all the agencies so the availability of local support, training style/effectiveness of your local instructors etc. should be considered. There are also specific differences in training focus that each agency takes. Some require you to buy all of your gear before you take the class (a debate for another forum post), some require instructors to be affiliated with a retail outlet (...another forum post...again) etc. and each has some rationale behind it. If you have more than one agency locally available do some research about the programs for each. Get comfortable with a shop/agency, get certified and become a conscientious diver and let’s go diving. SCUBA diving is more important than agency! Oh... I also think the author’s assertion that ’SCUBA diving is an inherently dangerous activity’ is an over statement that doesn’t do our sport any favors. The accident rate for SCUBA diving is actually very low and most would be avoided if divers actually do what they are trained to do in the first place.