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Scuba Certification

There are a few companies that offer scuba certification. When choosing an open water course it's important to remember that all courses are quite similar and an open water certification card from any main agency will be recognized by dive operators anywhere in the world. Your choice of agency should be dictated by which agency is active where you want to learn and by which agency your preferred instructor is certified.

PADI has dive centers and instructors almost everywhere people dive and is the biggest scuba certification agency. Some other agencies such as SSI and NAUI are also widespread but tend to be concentrated in particular geographical areas. Of course there are many other local agencies that also provide quality training and globally recognized qualifications.

The Professional Association of Diving Instructors is by far the biggest and most recognized scuba certification agency in the world. It's usually possible to find a PADI instructor in any diving destination and more beginning divers are certified by PADI than by all of the other agencies combined. PADI is very active in marine conservation through their Project AWARE operation, as well as being the biggest promoter of diving through advertising and sponsorship, and is also involved in technical diving training. PADI also operates Emergency First Response, an organization providing CPR and First Aid training.

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