Scuba diving certification levels were born to maximize safety during the practice of this sport. Each diver has a certification card, which attests his qualification. This is important in order to book a diving trip, select the equipment, choose the type of air and even to find a job as a professional diver.
Depending on your scuba diving certification level, anyone will know that you have the experience, knowledge and skills required by the different training agencies. Some of the most known and recognized ones are CMAS, SSI, NAUI, and, of course, the largest diving training organization in the world, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). Reading this article, you will know its scuba diving certification levels.
Recreational Scuba Diving Certification Levels
Despite the fact that it offers us its “Discover Scuba Diver Program” (DSD) to have a first contact with scuba diving, this is not training for a certification. The PADI recreational diving certification levels are the following:
1. PADI Scuba Diver Or Junior PADI Scuba Diver To Start
The PADI Scuba Diver is a scuba diving certification level indicated for those who do not have too much time. The knowledge you will acquire will allow you to dive to a maximum depth of 12m / 40 feet. But yes, you should always be accompanied by a professional diver. You cannot go diving on your own with only another certified diver as your dive buddy at this level. You need professional guidance.
2. Open Water Diver (OWD) Or Junior Open Water Diver: A Scuba Diving Certification Level That Gives You Autonomy
The main objective of this course is to learn to manage yourself and your scuba gear underwater. When you finish this course, you will be an independent certified diver, which means that you can choose your dive partner freely and just go diving by yourselves. You no longer need the presence of a professional diver. From this moment you will be able to dive with any other certified diver. But, keep in mind that there are depth limitations at this level: 18m / 59ft for adults and 12m / 40ft for juniors.
3. Advanced Open Water Diver (AOWD) Is the Third Amateur Scuba Diving Certification Level
This recreational scuba diving certification level will allow you to improve your experience as a diver and expand your knowledge in this field. The biggest difference with the previous level is that being an AOWD you can dive deeper. Your new depth limit will be 30 meters or 100 feet.
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4. There Is Scuba Diving Certification Level for Rescue Divers
The Rescue Diver course focuses its content on developing your rescue skills. When you finish this course, you will be a much safer diver capable of preventing problems and dealing with emergencies in the unlikely case that they occur.
5. Master Scuba Diver Is the Highest Recreational Scuba Diving Certification Level
PADI has developed a wide range of training options for those interested in improving their scuba knowledge. Deep, night or wreck diving specialty courses are some of them, but there are many more. If in addition to being a “Rescue Diver”, you have 5 of these specialties, you can certify yourself as “Master Scuba Diver”
