Certifications
| Certification Name | Pre Requisites | Minimum Age | Max Depth | More Info | Certifying Dive Shops |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PADI, Advanced Open Water Diver | Open Water Diver, or equal rating | 15 |
Designed so you can go straight into it after the PADI Open Water Diver course. The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course is part of PADI eLearning®. 12 is the minimum age for the Junior Advanced Open Water Diver |
1411 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Adventure Diver | Open Water Diver, or equal rating | 15 |
10 is the minimum age for PADI Junior Adventure Diver. The Specialty courses included are Wreck Diver and Deep Diver. You'll need basic scuba gear, and, depending on which three adventure dives you choose, underwater photography equipment |
781 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Altitude Diver | Open Water Diver or equal rating | 10 |
Diving at 300 to 3000m above sea level. You’ll learn: Altitude dive planning, organization, procedures, techniques, problems and hazards; Recreational Dive PlannerTM procedures for diving at altitude; Safety stops and emergency decompression procedures at altitude. You'll need basic scuba gear. |
95 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Assistant Instructor | Divemaster (or equal rating) + certified over 6 months + CPR & First Aid within past 24 months + medical statement signed by physician | 18 |
60 dives with night, deep, & navigation experience, 100 dives needed before Exams
The PADI Assistant Instructor course is the first portion of the PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) and when followed by the Open Water Scuba Instructor course (OWSI) and successful performance at the Instructor Examination (IE), leads to certification as a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor. You use all the basic scuba equipment and some scuba accessories such as a dive slate, dive knife, compass, dive watch, etc. |
350 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Boat Diver | Open Water Diver or equal rating | 10 |
Whether you’ve never made a boat dive or you’ve logged dozens, the PADI Boat Diver Specialty course can benefit almost every diver because different boats in different parts of the world do things differently. Basic scuba gear. |
637 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Bubblemaker | 8 | 2m (6ft) |
2m (6ft) Course for youngsters. Typical sessions last about an hour (sign up, gear up and fun included) Also available as a confined open water experience (2 metres/ 6 feet max. depth). All children use basic scuba gear. |
598 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Cavern Diver | Advanced Open Water Diver, equal rating | 18 |
You'll need basic scuba gear, lights, lines and reels. |
159 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Course Director | have been Master Instructor for past 6 months + no Quality Assurance complaints in past 12 months + exclusive use of PADI education within past 12 months + IDC Staff Instructor + staffed 2 complete IDCs after being certified as IDC Staff Instructor + current EFR Instructor Trainer + experience working with a PADI dive shop or resort | 18 |
250
After successful completion of the PADI CDTC you can teach the following PADI courses and programs: PADI Instructor Development Courses (IDCs) and PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) programs; PADI IDC Staff Instructor courses; PADI Status Updates; After certification as a PADI Specialty instructor Trainer, you can also teach PADI Specialty Instructor Courses. |
42 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Deep Diver | Adventure Diver, or equal rating | 15 | 40 metres (130 feet) |
You'll need basic scuba gear, dive computer, some accessories, and a dive light. |
983 dive shops View All |
| PADI, Digital Underwater Photographer | Open Water Diver or equal rating, snorkel with no certification | 10 |
This is one out of two PADI underwater photography courses. The PADI Digital Underwater Photographer course gets you going quickly with today modern digital equipment, whether you use a point-and-shoot snap camera or a sophisticated D-SLR like the pros. |
714 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Discover Reabreather | any diving certification | 18 |
15
The Discover Rebreather program is your opportunity to try a recreational rebreather or a technical Closed Circuit Rebreather (CCR) in controlled conditions. |
51 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Discover Scuba Diving | 10 |
Discover Scuba Diving will let you try scuba to see if you like it. While not an actual scuba certification, during the Discover Scuba Diving experience you’ll learn how to use scuba equipment in shallow water and get a quick and easy introduction to what it takes to explore the underwater world. |
1048 dive shops View All | ||
| PADI, Discover Snorkeling | 10 |
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368 dive shops View All | ||
| PADI, Discover Tec Diving | Open Water Diver, equal rating | 18 |
10
DSAT Discover Tec lets you try technical diving equipment and procedures. Plus, Discover Tec experiences can also credit towards the Tec 40 course. You will need your basic scuba gear and you will try technical scuba diving equipment. |
120 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Distinctive Specialties |
PADI Instructors who have special scuba diving interests and expertise can write their own specialty diver courses. |
158 dive shops View All | |||
| PADI, Divemaster | Open Water Diver (or equal rating) + Rescue Diver (or equal rating) + EFR Primary and Secondary Care (or equal rating) within past 24 months + medical statement signed by physician | 18 |
40 dives to start and 60 to finish course
The first step towards making scuba a career. You'll use all the basic scuba equipment and some scuba accessories such as a dive slate, dive knife, compass, dive watch, etc. |
1153 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Diver Propulsion Vehicle (DPV) Diver | Open Water Diver, or equal rating | 12 |
DPVs offer a thrilling way to see a lot of underwater territory in a brief amount of time. They scoot you through the water without kicking. You'll need basic scuba gear. |
174 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Drift Diver | Open Water Diver, or equal rating | 12 |
You'll need basic scuba gear, accessories, floats. |
499 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Dry Suit Diver | Open Water Diver, or equal rating | 10 |
As a dry suit diver, you’re equipped to scuba dive some of the world’s incredible dive sites in the world’s cooler regions that are best enjoyed in a dry suit even in their warmer months. You'll need cold water scuba diving equipment and a dry suit. |
322 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, EFR Instructor | Adult and Child CPR + First-Aid within past 24 months | 18 |
You may be able to earn college credit for the Emergency First Response Instructor Course. |
241 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Emergency First Response (EFR) | 10 |
Emergency First Response gives you the confidence to respond to medical emergencies -- not just in the diving world, but in your every day world with your family, friends, neighbours and coworkers too. It is a prerequisite for the PADI Rescue Diver. NO DIVING REQUIRED. |
953 dive shops View All | ||
| PADI, Emergency Oxygen Provider |
Knowing how and when to use emergency oxygen is a great skill to have and means you’re ready to help others should the need arise. Becoming a PADI Emergency Oxygen Provider lets you breathe easy knowing that you can recognize scuba diving illnesses treatable with emergency oxygen, and are prepared to offer aid. There are no prerequisites, age restrictions or water sessions required for this course – it’s open to everyone. Scuba divers, snorkelers and anyone who is around divers – boat crew, lifeguards, etc. – will benefit from having this training. You’ll learn about dive injuries, different types of emergency oxygen equipment and safety considerations when using oxygen. Then you’ll practice: Assembling and disassembling emergency oxygen equipment. Deploying a non-rebreather mask and a demand inhalator valve on a breathing diver. Using a pocket mask on a nonbreathing diver. |
426 dive shops View All | |||
| PADI, Enriched Air Diver | Open Water Diver or equal rating | 12 |
Scuba Diving with Enriched Air Nitrox - The PADI Enriched Air Diver course is PADI’s most popular specialty scuba diving course, giving you more time underwater, and less time with decompression. You'll need basic scuba gear and a dive regulator. |
949 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Equipment Specialist | PADI Scuba Diver | 10 |
As a PADI Equipment Specialist, you are prepared for the basic scuba equipment maintenance, care and adjustments you'll encounter every day. |
367 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Fish Identification Diver | Open Water Diver or equal rating | 10 |
The PADI Project AWARE Fish Identification Specialty course provides you with the fish identification basics so you recognize the sea creatures you encounter. You'll need basic scuba gear and some accessories. |
499 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Ice Diver | Advanced Open Water Diver or equal rating | 18 |
With the Ice Diver Course, you can explore the unique aquascape found only under ice. You'll need cold water scuba diving equipment and a dive knife. |
50 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Instructor Development Course (IDC) Staff Instructor | PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer | 18 |
Many of dive center or resort management positions require this level of Instructor experience and training, making this an important step if you are considering a career in Dive Center or you want to open a dive shop or resort. You use all the basic scuba equipment and some scuba accessories such as a dive slate, dive knife, compass, dive watch, etc. |
224 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Master Instructor | renewed IDC Staff Instructor + Open Water Scuba Instructor for 2+ yrs + current EFR Instructor + certified minimum 150 PADI Divers (50+ Adventure Diver or higher, 15+ Specialty Diver, 5+ Rescue Diver, 5+ Divemaster, 5+ Assistant Instructor, under 75 Discover Scuba Diving, under 50 staffing IDCs, under 25 non-diving specialties, under 10 Seal Team, 10+ EFR) + complete understanding of PADI education system + minimum 3 PADI Instructor Development Seminars + no Quality Assurance violations within past 6 months | 18 |
PADI Master Instructors embody the true dive professional, having demonstrated a thorough understanding of the PADI System of diver education, and put it into practice by training 150 or more PADI Divers. |
130 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Master Scuba Diver | Open Water Diver (or equal rating) + Advanced Open Water or equal rating + Rescue Diver (or equal rating) + minimum 5 PADI Specialty courses | 12 |
50
The PADI Master Scuba Diver rating is the highest non professional level in the PADI System of diver education. |
634 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Master Scuba Diver Trainer | PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor + 5 PADI Specialty Instructor ratings + have certified minimum 25 PADI Divers | 18 |
You will need to equip yourself with all the basic scuba gear as well as some scuba accessories. |
206 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Multilevel Diver | Open Water Diver, or equal rating | 12 |
In this course, you learn how to plan dives that extend your bottom time by crediting you for slower nitrogen absorption when you ascend to a shallower depth. You'll need basic scuba gear and a dive computer (optional). |
416 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, National Geographic Diver | Open Water Diver or equal rating | 10 |
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57 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Night Diver | Open Water Diver, or equal rating | 12 |
You may be able to earn college credit for the PADI Night Diver course! You'll need basic scuba gear and dive lights. |
832 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Open Water Diver | 10 |
PADI eLearning requires an extra registration step for students under 13 years due to international internet laws |
1389 dive shops View All | ||
| PADI, Open Water Scuba Instructor | Divemaster or Assistant Instructor + EFR Instructor + certified over 6 months + CPR & First Aid Training within past 24 months + medical statement signed by physician | 18 |
60 dives with night, deep, & navigation experience, 100 dives needed before Exams
You will need to equip yourself with all the basic scuba gear as well as two scuba signaling devices —one audible and one visual. |
232 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, PADI Advanced Rebreather Diver | Advanced Open Water Diver (or equal rating) + PADI Reabreather Diver (or equal rating with Type-R rebreather) | 18 | 30 metres(98 feet) |
30
30 metres(98 feet) Training to 40 metres/130 feet if you have a PADI Deep Diver certification. |
56 dive shops View All |
| PADI, PADI Rebreather Diver | Open Water Diver (or equal rating) + Enriched Air Diver (or equal rating) | 18 | 18m (60ft) |
25
The PADI Rebreather and Advanced Rebreather Diver courses use Type R units to introduce divers to rebreather diving within recreational dive limits. |
54 dive shops View All |
| PADI, PADI Scuba Diver | 15 | 12 metres (40 feet) |
12 metres (40 feet) You need to be 10 years old for Junior Scuba Diver certification. This course requires less time than the PADI Open Water Diver course, resulting in a limited certification. It's a good warm-up for the Open Water Diver course. |
791 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, PADI Sidemount Diver | PADI Open Water Diver | 15 |
Find a new and different way to configure your cylinders with the PADI Sidemount Diver course. |
237 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Peak Performance Bouyancy | Open Water Diver, or equal rating | 10 |
You achieve neutral buoyancy and effortless hovering and gliding underwater with the PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy course. Basic Scuba gear required. |
816 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Project Aware |
Through classroom discussions, you learn: How Project AWARE unites scuba divers and water enthusiasts to make a difference. About environmental issues in the ocean commons and coastal zones. About fisheries challenges and sustainability problems. What’s happening to coral reefs and reef inhabitants. Your role in protecting aquatic environments. |
291 dive shops View All | |||
| PADI, Project Aware - Coral Reef Conservation |
Through classroom discussions, you learn: How coral reefs function and the complex nature of life on a reef. Why coral reefs are so important. Why many coral reefs are in serious trouble. What you can do to prevent further decline. How Project AWARE unites divers and water enthusiasts to make a difference. |
256 dive shops View All | |||
| PADI, Public Safety Diver |
You’ll be introduced to the special procedures, equipment, scene handling, communications and documentation requirements for a public safety diving operation. During four open water dives you’ll practice compass navigation, knot tying, arc search techniques, victim recovery, rope-pull communications and rescue techniques for a distressed public safety diver, plus plenty more. |
39 dive shops View All | |||
| PADI, Reabreather Qualifier Program | any PADI Rebreather rating | 18 |
specific knowledge for Type R unit |
32 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Rebreather Refresher | 18 |
This program refreshes rebreather knowledge and skills and is recommended if you have not recently used a rebreather. |
60 dive shops View All | ||
| PADI, Rescue Diver | Adventure Diver (or equal rating) + CPR & First Aid trained within past 2 years | 12 |
You may be able to earn college credit for the PADI Rescue Diver Course. You use all your basic scuba gear including a dive computer and accessories. |
1252 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Scuba Review | any scuba certification, corequisite, or be enrolled in a scuba certification course | 10 |
You'll need basic scuba gear. |
635 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Seal Team | 8 |
The PADI Seal Team is for young divers who are looking for action-packed fun in a pool by doing exciting scuba AquaMissions. |
313 dive shops View All | ||
| PADI, Search and Recovery Diver | Advanced Open Water Diver, equal rating, Open Water Diver with PADI Underwater Navigator | 12 |
You'll need basic scuba gear, underwater compass, lift bag. |
608 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Semiclosed Rebreather Diver | Advanced Open Water Diver with Enriched Air Diver, equal ratings | 15 |
Through the Semiclosed Rebreather Specialty course you learn the special procedures for semiclosed rebreather scuba diving. You'll need basic scuba gear and semiclosed rebreather. |
29 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Skin Diving | Must be comfortable in the water. | 8 |
The PADI Skin Diver course teaches you to use basic snorkeling equipment including a mask, snorkel , fins , buoyancy control device (BCD), exposure protection like a wet suit and dive weights as needed. |
315 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Specialty Instructor | Renewed Assistant Instructor/Instructor within 12 months or completed IDC Staff or Open Water Scuba Instructor within past 12 months | 18 |
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183 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Tec 100 CCR Diver | Tec 60 CCR Diver (or equal rating) | 18 | 100 metres/328 feet |
175 dives (50+ dives/100+ hrs with Type-T CCR with offboard bailout system + 25 multistop decompression deeper than 40 metres with trimix/helioc diluent)
This refresher program covers the level of skills required to make Tec 100 CCR dives. Divers may also refresh skills appropriate for the Tec 40 and 60 CCR Diver courses as well, if required. |
15 dive shops View All |
| PADI, Tec 40 | Advanced Open Water Diver (or equal rating) + Enriched Air Diver (or equal rating) + Deep Diver (or equal rating) + medical form signed by your physician | 18 | 40 metres/130 feet. |
30 (10+ made with enriched air nitrox deeper than 18 metres / 60 feet)
40 metres/130 feet. Your PADI Tec 40 course training credits toward the PADI Tec 45 and Tec 50 courses. You'll use recreational scuba equipment, with some minor additions to enhance your ability to deal with tec diving conditions. |
146 dive shops View All |
| PADI, Tec 40 Closed Circuit Rebreather (CCR) | Advanced Open Water Diver + Enriched Air Diver + Deep Diver or equal experience + Rescue Diver | 18 | 40 metres/130 feet |
50 ( at least 30 dives logged with specific experience requirements)
Tec 40 CCR Diver is the first level of training that addresses technical diving with Type T CCRs. |
17 dive shops View All |
| PADI, Tec 45 | Advanced Open Water Diver (or equal rating) + Rescue Diver (or equal rating) + Enriched Air Diver (or equal rating) + Deep Diver (or equal rating) + Tec 40 (or equal rating) + medical statement signed by your physician | 18 | 45 metres/145 feet |
50 dives (12 with enriched air nitrox deeper than 18 metres and 6 dives deeper than 30 metres)
45 metres/145 feet You use basic tec diving equipment |
134 dive shops View All |
| PADI, Tec 50 | Advanced Open Water Diver (or equal rating) + Rescue Diver (or equal rating) + Enriched Air Diver (or equal rating) + Deep Diver (or equal rating) + Tec 45 (or equal rating) + medical statement signed by your physician | 18 | 50 metres/165 feet |
100 dives (20 enriched air + 25 deeper than 18 metres + 20 dives than 30 metres)
The Tec 50 course completes your training as an entry-level tec diver, taking you past the limits of recreational diving. You'll use technical scuba diving equipment. You may be able to earn college credit for the PADI Tec 50 Course. |
124 dive shops View All |
| PADI, Tec 60 CCR Diver | Tec 40, or equal rating | 18 | 60 metres/200 feet |
150 dives (25+ dives/50+ hrs with Type-T CCR with offboard bailout system + 10 deeper than 30 metres)
60 metres/200 feet Tec 60 CCR Diver is an intermediate technical Closed Circuit Rebreather (CCR) diver program where you'll learn to use life support equipment in completing dives outside the recreational and air diluent envelope. |
19 dive shops View All |
| PADI, Tec CCR Qualifier | Any CCR rating | 18 |
Allows you to learn a specific CCR unit - but you don’t need to retake the entire course if you’re already qualified as a Tec 40 CCR, Tec 60 CCR or Tec 100 CCR Diver. |
11 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Tec CCR Refresher | Any CCR rating | 18 |
Refreshes your technical CCR knowledge and skills and is recommended if you have not recently used a CCR. |
19 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Tec Deep Instructor | Open Water Instructor (or a PADI Instructor with a higher rating)+ Enriched Air Diver Instructor + Deep Diver Instructor | 18 |
100 dives (20+ enriched air nitrox, 25 deeper than 18 metres, 15+ deeper than 30 metres)
You'll use technical scuba gear, which typically uses two to four or five regulators, a dive computer, and some accessories |
46 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Tec Gas Blender | Enriched Air Diver, or equal rating | 18 |
The Gas Blender course will train you as a qualified gas blender, allowing you to provide gas mixes to appropriately Technical scuba diving training certified consumers. |
80 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Tec Gas Blender Instructor | Must have gas blender rating | 18 |
You use technical scuba gear, which typically uses two to four or five regulators, a dive computer, some accessories and most likely a dive light. |
37 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Tec Instructor | Open Water Instructor + Enriched Air Diver Instructor + Deep Diver Instructor | 18 |
100 dives (20+ enriched air nitrox, 25 deeper than 18 metres, 15+ deeper than 30 metres)
Tec 40 is not required. If you are not certified as a Tec 40 Diver (or have a qualifying certification from another training organization), then the Tec 40 Instructor training course must include the entire Tec 40 Diver course. You'll use technical scuba gear, which typically uses two to four or five regulators, a dive computer, and some accessories. |
48 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Tec Sidemount | Advanced Open Water Diver, or equal rating | 18 |
30
Certification as a PADI Enriched Air Diver is recommended |
95 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Tec Sidemount Instructor | Tec Sidemount | 18 |
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50 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Tec Trimix 65 | PADI Rescue Diver (or equal ratings AND having prrof of CPR and first aid training with the previous 2 years) + Tec 50 (or equal rating) + medical form signed by your physician | 18 | 65 metres/210 feet |
100
This course is for Tec 50 divers (or those holding a qualifying certification from another training organization). The course extends your depth range capabilities by training you to use trimix (a blend of helium, oxygen and nitrogen). |
61 dive shops View All |
| PADI, Tec Trimix Diver | Rescue Diver (or equal rating) + Tec 50 or Tec Trimix 65 (or equal rating) + medical form signed by your physician | 18 | 90 metres/300feet |
150
90 metres/300feet The PADI Tec Trimix Diver course is intended to extend the depth range of technical divers already trained and qualified to use air, enriched air and oxygen for technical decompression dives beyond 50 metres/165 feet. You may be able to earn college credit for the Tec Trimix Diver Course. |
72 dive shops View All |
| PADI, Tec Trimix Instructor | Master Scuba Diver Trainer + Tec Deep Instructor + Tec Trimix Diver, or equal rating | 18 |
200 dives (20+ technical decompression with 1+ stage/deco cylinder, 10+ deeper than 40 metres with trimix)
Tec Deep Instructors provide the most comprehensive technical instruction available. If you are both a Tec Deep Instructor and Tec Trimix Diver, then the Tec Trimix Instructor trainer course is for you. |
42 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Underwater Naturalist | Open Water Diver, or equal rating | 10 |
You'll learn about why some creatures behave the way they do and what their role is in the aquatic ecosystem. You'll need basic scuba gear and some accessories. |
544 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Underwater Navigator | Open Water Diver, or equal rating | 10 |
You'll need basic scuba gear and some accessories. You may be able to earn college credit for the PADI Underwater Navigator Course. |
703 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Underwater Videographer | Open Water Diver, or equal rating | 10 |
You'll need basic scuba gear. |
377 dive shops View All | |
| PADI, Wreck Diver | Adventure Diver, or equal rating | 15 |
You'll need basic scuba gear, accessories, and a dive computer. You may be able to earn college credit for the PADI Wreck Diver Specialty course. |
787 dive shops View All |
Your diving journey always starts with your diver certification. Diving is an immensely fun activity but needs to be done correctly as it can be very dangerous when done irresponsibly. Finding the right training for the diving activity that you intend to partake can be a challenging task.
There are a number of Diver certification bodies with hundreds of different courses offered; these courses are interrelated through a system of prerequisites and requirements such as age, experience and other factors. Through manual research we have compiled a unified database of all certifications & qualifications offered by the major bodies with notes, prerequisites and age requirements for each one.
The database below should provide some insight to the path that a diver can take in attaining the perfect mix of training necessary for the conditions and activities that he/she desires to partake in.