NAUI SCUBA Certification

The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) is a large, highly-respected dive training agency that was founded in 1959. Many NAUI training programs are available to the public. People all over the world are members and affiliates of NAUI because the certification programs are based on the highest standards for dive safety and education.

  1. NAUI Certification Programs

    • NAUI offers many certification programs. Beginners can start with skin diver and SCUBA diver certification. After divers are SCUBA certified, they can go on to become an advanced diver or choose from many different specialty diving courses. After master courses, divers can choose to become a technical diver or go on to be an instructor. The best way to become certified is to go to the local NAUI-affiliated dive shop and ask about the certification courses that they offer.

    NAUI Recreational Diving

    • NAUI recreational diving courses include: skin diver, SCUBA diver, advanced SCUBA diver and master SCUBA diver.

      The skin diver course guides you through the process of snorkeling and breath-hold diving. This course is the only NAUI course available for people who are 8 years old and up.

      The SCUBA diver course is for beginning divers, certified to dive safely in open-water environments. SCUBA divers learn how to handle the equipment, dive science, safe diving practices and environmental conditions. This course is available for people who are at least 10 years old.

      The advanced SCUBA diver course is for certified divers who are at least 12 years old and wish to continue their dive education. Advanced diver are introduced to the different types of specialty dives that are available such as: navigation, night or low visibility diving and deep diving.

      The master SCUBA diver course will further a diver's education in the areas of emergency procedures and rescue, deep/simulated decompression diving, limited visibility or night diving, underwater navigation and search and recovery -- light salvage.

    NAUI Specialty Diving

    • NAUI specialty diving courses include: deep diver, dry suit diver, enriched air Nitrox (EANX, SCUBA rescue diver, search and recovery diver, training assistant, underwater archeologist, underwater ecologist, underwater environment, underwater photographer, underwater hunter and collector and wreck diver (external survey). These popular specialty courses are for certified divers who are at least 18 years old and are interested in exploring the ocean in different ways.

    NAUI Technical Diving

    • NAUI technical courses are intended for certified SCUBA divers who are interested in diving further than the NAUI recreational and specialty diving limits. Technical diving includes considerably more complex training than specialty diver courses. NAUI technical diving courses include: cave diver (levels i, ii and iii), cavern diver, ccr mixed gas diver, closed circuit rebreather diver, decompression technique, Heliair diver, Helitrox diver, ice diver, intro to tech, mixed gas blender and O2 service tech, semi-closed rebreather diver, technical Nitrox diver, technical support leader, technical wreck penetration diver, tri-mix diver (levels i and ii) and wreck penetration diver.

    NAUI Leadership

    • There are four NAUI leadership courses that are designed for individuals who are ready to teach others about safe diving practices. NAUI leadership courses include: assistant instructor, skin diving instructor, divemaster and instructor.