Introduction
PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors)
is the world’s largest recreational diving
membership organization. The membership includes
dive businesses, resort facilities, academic institutions,
instructor trainers, dive educators, divers, snorkelers
and other watersports enthusiasts. Professional
PADI Members (dive centers, resorts, educational
facilities, instructors, assistant instructors
and divemasters) teach the vast majority of the
world’s recreational divers, issuing more
than 800,000 certifications each year. PADI Professionals
make underwater exploration and adventure accessible
to the public while maintaining the highest industry
standards for dive training, safety and customer
service.
PADI is international in scope with service
offices in Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Japan,
Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United
States. PADI Worldwide (corporate headquarters)
is located in California, United States. PADI
Offices serve more than 100,000 individual professional
members and more than 4500 dive centers and resorts
in more than 175 countries. To serve the needs
of divers worldwide, translations of PADI materials
are available in at least 24 languages.
PADI provides members with a full range of educational
materials, training aids, promotional pieces and
recognition materials to conduct and market PADI
programs. These materials are developed by credentialed
instructional designers who use state-of-the-art
technology and learning theories to produce quality
products. When students successfully complete
PADI courses, they receive positive identification
certification cards that identify them as PADI
Divers. In addition to course materials and certification
cards, PADI supports members’ teaching efforts
by supplying consultation services in current
instructional methods and protocols.
The PADI System of diver education is based
on progressive training that introduces skills,
safety related information and local environmental
knowledge to students in stages.
PADI courses are student-centered and provide
for maximum practice and application. Students
learn the basics through independent study and
then are guided through additional development
by their instructors. The goal is to get students
in the water as soon as possible and provide them
with the instruction necessary to gain confidence
in their diving abilities.
PADI’s entry-level scuba certification
is Open Water Diver. Once certified, divers can
continue their education by becoming Adventure,
Advanced Open Water, Specialty and Rescue Divers.
Further training, such as the Divemaster and Assistant
Instructor courses, allow interested divers to
become dive leaders.
Divers looking for scuba diving careers often
choose to become PADI Instructors.
The PADI Instructor Development program sets
the industry standard for instructor training.
Through a comprehensive curriculum, dive leaders
build upon their supervisory skills and learn
to teach PADI courses. Each new PADI Instructor
has demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the PADI
System and the ability to conduct PADI programs
by meeting specific evaluation criteria during
a PADI Instructor Examination (IE). PADI Instructor
Development programs may only be conducted by
qualified PADI Course Directors.
Course Directors are experienced Master Instructors
who have received training and gained experience
in conducting instructor development programs.
PADI Instructor Examinations are conducted by
a select group of Instructor Examiners who are
under contract with PADI. Having IEs conducted
only by authorized Examiners ensures that the
evaluation process is objective, fair and consistent.
All PADI programs, entry-level through instructor
training, fall under strict educational standards
to maintain worldwide consistency and quality.
PADI takes a proactive approach to quality assurance,
with a full-time department that randomly surveys
PADI Divers to monitor PADI programs and to confirm
that they meet PADI’s high standards. This
commitment to a strong quality assurance process
helps maintain credibility and continually improve
customer satisfaction.
To keep PADI Members up-to-date on important
dive issues, safety, training techniques, and
business information, PADI publishes a magazine
and various newsletters. The Undersea Journal
(a magazine for dive industry professionals) features
information regarding diver education, safety
standards, dive retailing, travel, industry news,
science and the environment.
PADI Members also receive special bulletins and
newsletters, such as the CEO Report, with information
regarding PADI’s stance on dive industry
issues. Assisting and Divemastering, a newsletter
with information and ideas for PADI Assistant
Instructors and Divemasters, is mailed with The
Undersea Journal.
Published quarterly, the Instructor Development
Newsletter (idnews) and Training Bulletin allow
members to stay abreast of important training
and education changes and issues. Business Advocate
is a newsletter dedicated to the specific needs
of PADI Dive Centers and Resorts. PADI Offices
also publish regional newsletters and bulletins
that keep PADI Members informed on a local level.
In addition to member publications, PADI publishes
Dive Traveler, the official resort guide of the
PADI Travel Network. The Dive Traveler informs
divers about PADI Travel Network services and
holiday opportunities at PADI Network Resorts
worldwide. Sport Diver – The PADI Diving
Society Magazine is distributed to PADI Diving
Society members in the United States and the United
Kingdom.
These magazines cover the people, places and
events that make up the diving lifestyle and encourage
readers to seek the assistance of PADI professionals
to meet their diving needs.
PADI’s, web site, padi.com, features interesting
topics for everyone from the nondiver to the PADI
professional. The public can find information
on current events, learning to dive or continuing
diver education with a PADI Dive Center or Resort.
PADI Members can access training updates, job
placement information and other membership news.
Web visitors can also view various diving related
sites linked to the PADI web site.
To assist PADI Members grow both personally
and professionally, PADI conducts annual seminars
that cover various educational, marketing and
risk management topics. PADI also offers sales
training and business development programs. Each
year PADI staff attend advisory meetings and member
forums to discuss local issues and supply participants
with information regarding current trends in diving.
PADI Regional Managers visit PADI Dive Centers
and Resorts to consult with members regarding
sales, merchandising, marketing and staff training.
Retailers and resort operators also have access
to a variety of business services through the
PADI International Resort and Retailer Associations.
As PADI Members, both individuals and dive businesses
can obtain professional liability as well as several
other types of business insurance policies. PADI
maintains a staff of professionals who address
legal, insurance and legislative issues that affect
PADI Members and diving in general. PADI is also
involved in developing national and international
dive community minimum training standards. With
the assistance of legal advisors and interaction
with other organizations, PADI represents the
interests of members and divers in the community
and before governments.
With thousands of members and millions of divers,
PADI-sponsored programs are becoming a growing
force in the worldwide effort to preserve the
underwater environment. Project AWARE (Aquatic
World Awareness, Responsibility and Education)
encompasses PADI’s environmental awareness
and protection philosophy. Through their training,
PADI Divers learn the importance of protecting
fragile aquatic ecosystems and are encouraged
to become involved in preservation efforts.
PADI — The Way The World Learns to Dive
®
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