Generally speaking, PADI, like other diving organizations, is a profit-making commercial organization, which is managed by CMAS (World Diving Conference).
PADI trains its own diving instructors and instructor visa officers around the world, and certifies the diving shops and clubs where these instructors are located. Certified diving shops and clubs will be authorized by PADI to become PADI diving centers. According to PADI's teaching standards and standard courseware, students are trained and assessed, and PADI diver grade certificates are awarded. Diving shops or clubs certified by PADI Diving Center are generally considered to have a considerable number of diving equipment, suitable training places and can provide training courses that meet PADI standards. At the same time, the diving center also has the conditions to sell and maintain diving equipment, which can provide more professional services for students.
PADI's training courses are not only constantly improved to meet the needs of divers, but also take into account the revision and update of diving activities in its training courses. In addition, the long-term plan of marine environmental protection initiated by PADI not only teaches divers to attach importance to environmental protection, but also trains divers to become responsible divers. All PADI training courses have the same strict standards all over the world, which is also the biggest advantage of PADI training system. Divers learn the same skills and theories no matter where they train, the only difference is the learning environment.
In 2007, PADI established an E-Learning online training system, so that those who are interested in learning diving can learn the diving theory officially formulated by PADI online anytime and anywhere. Then, practice the skills of calm water and open water in authorized diving centers all over the country.
PADI ordinary diver level:
Open water diver (open water junior diver)
Traditionally, they are called OW. Junior divers in open waters are the most basic diving courses, and students can learn diving skills and diving safety knowledge when diving with potential partners. The course includes 5 indoor courses, 5 swimming pool practice courses and 4 ocean practice courses. Participants must be at least 15 years old.
Senior open water diver (senior open water diver)
AOW, this course provides participants with different professional diving training, such as deep diving, boat diving, underwater sailing and night diving ... The course must complete 5 open water dives (advanced open water dives) or 9 open water dives (advanced open water dives). Participants must have the qualification of junior diver in open water or other equivalent level.
Emergency first action (first emergency response)
Medical first aid training is an independent course of first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This course is mainly medical training, and there is no diving course, so participants do not need to have any diving qualification. The duration of the course is about 8 hours.
In the PADI system, if students have passed the training of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) of the International Red Cross, they may not study EFR.
Rescue diver (rescue diver)
The rescue diver course is the first course that requires divers to concentrate on another diver while learning to dive. In this course, students will learn how to avoid dangers and accidents and be able to cope with emergencies in the water at any time. This course consists of 12 rescue exercises at five subject levels. Participants must have senior divers in open waters or other qualifications at the same level.
Special courses (diving courses)
Diving course is a short-term specialized course, and the course arrangement is usually 1 ~ 2 days, mainly 2 ~ 4 professional diving trainings. The qualifications of participating students vary according to the difficulty of diving.
Diving master (Shi Ming diver)
When divers have completed PADI's five professional diving courses and obtained the qualification of rescue divers, they can apply for a Shi Ming diver's license. Shi Ming diver is the highest honor for leisure divers.
Diving master (diving master)
Diving master is the first stop for diving teaching and training. Divers with a master's license in diving can be engaged in diving guides or assist in diving teaching and training. The long diving course includes three main contents: diving theory and knowledge, diving skills and practical marine experience.
Assistant director (teaching assistant)
The teaching assistant course is to let participants know more about the professional knowledge and skills of diving teaching and training. The course content includes the actual combat marine practice course with the trainees under the supervision of the coach, which is the best education for diving instructors. Participants must have the qualification of diving master.
Instructor Development Course IDC (Instructor Training Course)
After completing the teacher training course, trainees can work as teachers and be trained as teaching assistants, but they cannot teach professional diving training.
Instructor training courses provide diving teaching skills and professional knowledge. The course includes at least 18 courses, covering all theoretical and practical diving skills.
Participants are required to complete 9 indoor courses, swimming pool courses and marine internship courses. Students who pass the coach training course can take the coach certification exam.
At present, there are many diving centers recognized by PADI in China:
Sanya: Sanya Universal, Fenjiezhou Island Lingshui Universal, Sheraton, Lin Wei Diving, Hainan Diving, Yalong Bay Diving, Nanhai Villa.
Shanghai: Ocean Star, joint diving.
Beijing: Dragon Edge, Extreme Experience, Diving School.
Guangzhou: PADI five-star diving club
Chengdu: Blue Discovery Diving Club and PADI Diving Tourism Center.
CUA Branch of China Diving Association (directly under the State Sports General Administration) signed a registration agreement with PADI, which is responsible for managing all diving clubs in Chinese mainland and implementing club registration management.
CMAS is the abbreviation of World Underwater Activities Federation.
CMAS is the only official diving organization recognized by the World Olympic Movement. It was founded in 1958 and has many branches, such as CMAS/CUA. CMAS/ADS, CMAS/UHA, CMAS/STARS, CMAS/SSDF, etc. Is a member of UNESCO. CMAS has signed certification agreements with 86 countries around the world, including China, and has 10000000 CMAS diving members around the world. CMAS has set up three committees. The "Sports Committee" is responsible for coordinating the rules of international competitions such as free diving, fishing, fin swimming, water polo and water hockey. , and is the only organization qualified to organize the above competitive sports competitions and publish world records. The "Technical Committee" is responsible for formulating "standardized" diving training rules and international certification system; It is also responsible for promoting and improving the research and development of high-tech materials and diving equipment related to scuba diving safety. The "Scientific Committee" provides funds to carry out the research plan of "diving technology".
Other major diving organizations in the world include NAUI, PADI, BSAC, ADS and SSI. Most diving organizations have signed certification agreements with CMAS to cross-identify the qualifications and grades of divers. Some technical diving organizations are members of the CMAS Technical Committee.
CMAS is the earliest international diving organization recognized by China Underwater Association.
CMAS leisure diving training courses include:
One-star diver course, two-star diver course, three-star diver course, four-star diver course, one-star coach course, two-star coach course, three-star coach course, diving assistant course, open water diving coach course and international coach qualification course.
How to obtain CMAS international diver certificate?
There are two ways to obtain CMAS international diver certificate:
1.CUA (China Diving Association) is a member of CMAS Technical Committee, which is recognized and recognized by CMAS Technical Committee. Divers who have obtained certificates through CUA are qualified and can unconditionally obtain the same CMAS international diving certificate. In some countries, CMAS international diving certificate is directly used as the diving certificate of that country.
2. Those who receive diving training in diving training schools and centers directly recognized by CMAS can directly apply for CMAS international diver certificate (OCC system).
Features: China CMAS has only one Chinese textbook, Diving, published by China Diving Association. Training costs are relatively low, and novices are easier to get started.
Disadvantages: lack of systematic Chinese teaching materials, difficulty in popularization, and unclear boundaries of learning content at all levels.