NAUI Leadership Courses
NAUI Progression of Leadership
Training
(Leadership and Instructor Levels)
The leadership and instructor levels of certification
are:
The Skin Diving Instructor certification (formerly Skin Diving
Leader) has long been unique to NAUI. It qualifies individuals
to train and certify skin divers and conduct snorkeling experience
programs.
Both the Assistant Instructor and Divemaster ratings allow
individuals to attend an Instructor Training Course (ITC) to
be trained and qualified as NAUI Instructors. Completion of an
Instructor Preparatory Course (IPC) is recommended prior to participation
in an ITC.
NOTES:
- For details on the various certifications and programs, refer
to the standards for the specific course or program.
- Active status NAUI scuba instructors are authorized to teach
skin and scuba diving and authorize the issuance of certifications.
Active status NAUI skin diving instructors are authorized to
teach skin diving and authorize skin diving certification. Active
status divemasters are authorized to organize and conduct open
water diving activities for certified divers, including Diver
Recognition Programs. Assistant instructors are authorized to
assist NAUI scuba instructors, but may not teach, guide or certify
independently.
Policies Applying to All Leadership & Instructor
Courses
PREREQUISITES AND REQUIREMENTS
- Age. Minimum is 18 years.
- Experience. Specified for each Leadership course.
Required logged dives shall be varied in environment and depth.
- Rescue Certification. At a minimum, Scuba Rescue
Diver certification is required except for Skin Diving Instructor,
for which a lifeguarding certification is adequate.
- CPR & First Aid Certification. Current
certification or verified competency in CPR and First Aid is
required for registration. Certification training shall include
one person adult CPR, infant/child CPR, two person CPR and the
use of rescue breathing barrier devices, e.g. pocket mask®,
face shield.
- Medical Approval. Verification of good physical
condition as documented by a medical examination and unconditional
approval for diving by a licensed physician within the preceding
12 months.
- Administrative Requirements.
– Submit a complete course application.
– Provide and be responsible for dive gear suitable for
open water.
– Provide all required texts and materials.
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
- Meet all course prerequisites.
- Be currently certified or have verified competency in CPR
and first aid.
- Complete all portions of the course.
- Meet all course administrative requirements.
- Pass the applicable leadership exam with a score of 75% or
better.
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION AND REGISTRATION
Upon completion of all certification requirements, each Leadership
graduate must complete a NAUI membership application which the
instructor will process in accordance with current procedures.
Applicants will be registered as Leadership members in the appropriate
category and status and be sent new member information.
QUALIFICATIONS OF LEADERSHIP MEMBERS
Leadership members of NAUI are entitled to benefits detailed
in the Association Bylaws and in the NAUI standards. A NAUI Leader
may renew membership annually in any one of several statuses
by meeting renewal requirements.
Resource Materials for NAUI Leadership Programs
REQUIRED
- NAUI Standards and Policies Manual
- NAUI Scuba Diver Instructor Guide
- NAUI Student Training Kit (including book, tables, etc.)
- Scuba Rescue: Skills and Techniques
- Mastering Advanced Diving Technology and Techniques
- Mastering NAUI Leadership
- Leadership Courses Instructor Guide
SUGGESTED REFERENCES
- NAUI Nitrox: A Guide to Diving with Oxygen Enriched Air
by Hamilton and Silverstein
- Physics, Physiology and Decompression Theory for the Technical
and Commercial Diver by Wienke
- High Altitude Diving by Wienke
- Scuba Equipment Care and Maintenance by Farley and
Royer
- The U.S. Navy Diving Manual Volume 1 - Air Diving
- The U.S. Navy Diving Manual Volume 2 - Mixed-gas Diving
- The NOAA Diving Manual
- Diving Medicine, 2nd Edition by Bove and Davis
- Scuba Diving in Safety and Health by Dueker
- Stress and Performance in Diving by Bachrach and Egstrom
- A Medical Guide to Hazardous Marine Life by Auerbach
- Oxygen and the Scuba Diver by Hendrick and Thomson
- The Application of Enriched Air Mixtures by Betts
- Sport Diving in Depth, 2nd Edition by Griffiths
- Deeper Into Diving by Lippman
- The Physics and Engineering of Diving by Dickens
A NAUI Instructor is a person dedicated to the motto of "Dive
Safety Through Education"; a person whom others look to
for leadership and knowledge. NAUI has always been and remains
today the most prestigious agency focusing on diving instruction.
You can share the adventure - and help create it! If you believe
your work should be enjoyable and exciting, if you are eager
to share your knowledge with others, if you believe that to train
the best you must be among the best trained, join the finest.
Join the adventure!
Divemaster (DM)
Would you like to lead dives and dive trips; take certified
divers on vacations to the world's best dive sites? Many Divemasters
are employed full-time or work independently supervising certified
divers during club, store, resort or charter tour and travel
activities. As a NAUI Divemaster you enjoy again and again adventures
to which you introduce your clients. Another option leading to
NAUI Instructor qualification.
OVERVIEW
The NAUI Divemaster rating is the highest NAUI leadership-level
certification with the exception of Instructor. The program is
designed to train experienced and knowledgeable divers to organize
and conduct enjoyable open water dives for certified divers.
QUALIFICATIONS OF GRADUATES
- An active-status NAUI Divemaster is qualified to organize
and conduct dives for certified divers if the diving activities
and locale approximate those in which the Divemaster is trained.
Additional training, knowledge or experience is necessary for
the Divemaster who desires to organize highly specialized activities,
such as wreck penetration, cavern or ice dives or enter a new
locale.
- An active-status NAUI Divemaster is qualified to organize
and conduct NAUI Recognition (such as International Diver) and
Experience Programs (such as Stingray Experience) and award appropriate
recognition materials to participants.
- An active-status NAUI Divemaster is qualified to assist an
active-status NAUI Instructor in diving courses.
- If all other prerequisites are met, a current NAUI Divemaster
is qualified to enter a NAUI Instructor Training Course (ITC).
[Attending a NAUI Instructor Preparatory Program (PREP) and
NAUI Assistant Instructor certification are recommended prior
to attending an ITC.]
PREREQUISITES FOR ENTERING THE COURSE
- General. Meet the requirements applying to
all Leadership courses. (See “Policies Applying to Leadership
Courses.”)
- Materials. (See current guide to NAUI membership.)
- Diver Certification. The preferred minimum
certification level is NAUI Assistant Instructor. Individuals
not possessing the preferred certification may be accepted for
training only if they meet the following criteria:
- Certification: Certification as NAUI Master Scuba
Diver and NAUI Scuba Rescue Diver or their equivalent. Divers
with evidence of equivalent training and experience may be enrolled
provided they pass the NAUI Master Scuba Diver written examination
with a minimum score of 75%.
- Experience: Documentation of diving experience with
a minimum of 25 logged open water dives. Dives shall be varied
in environment, depth and activities.
- Waterskills: Ability equivalent to that of a NAUI
Assistant Instructor. Skills from the Assistant Instructor standards
shall be evaluated if the candidate is not already certified
as a NAUI Assistant Instructor..
Skindiving Instructor (SDI)
Want to begin working as a professional in the field, organizing
your own courses, issuing certifications and conducting open
water skin dives? NAUI SDI training will enable you to join NAUI
as a leadership member and independently conduct skin diving
training. Because of the growing popularity of snorkeling and
skin diving, this may gain you substantial financial rewards.
You can also team-teach with a NAUI Instructor, offering the
skin diving portion of the Scuba Diver Course.
OVERVIEW
This is a leadership level certification course designed to
train and qualify persons and issue certifications in skin (breath-hold)
diving.
The course will make available to individuals; schools, camps,
or similar groups NAUI Leaders who can effectively teach people
to enjoy skin diving with minimal risk.
QUALIFICATIONS OF GRADUATES
- An active-status NAUI Skin Diving Instructor may independently
teach the NAUI Skin Diving Course and designated specialty courses
as skin diving courses and authorize NAUI to issue certifications
for these.
- An active-status NAUI Skin Diving Instructor may, while being
overseen by an active-status NAUI Instructor, perform as an assistant
during NAUI scuba diving courses. If certified as a scuba diver,
this may include scuba training activities.
- An active-status Skin Diving Instructor may independently
perform the swimming skills evaluation and teach the Skin Diving
portions of the NAUI Scuba Diver Course.
PREREQUISITES FOR ENTERING THE COURSE
- General. Meet the requirements applying to
all Leadership courses. (See “Policies Applying to Leadership
Courses.”)
- Materials. (See current guide to NAUI membership.)
- Diver Certification. Certified skin or scuba
diver by a NAUI recognized agency with a minimum of 25 logged
skin dives. Dives shall be varied in environment, depth and activities.
Assistant Instructor (AI)
As an AI, you will be authorized to teach all aspects of skin
and scuba diving under the supervision of a NAUI Instructor.
This is the best possible way to develop your instructional skills.
The rating can be a step toward full Instructor, or an end in
itself. Match your time, talent and interests with the NAUI programs
near you, and enjoy the adventure of personal and professional
enhancement as a NAUI leader.
OVERVIEW
The NAUI Assistant Instructor rating is a NAUI leadership-level
certification. The program is designed to introduce students
to diving instruction basics. It also tests individuals in fundamental
water skills needed to be capable assistants. Certification authorizes
individuals to assist active-status NAUI Instructors in the conduct
of dive training. NAUI Assistant Instructor certification is
a highly recommended step in the progression to NAUI Instructor.
QUALIFICATIONS OF GRADUATES
- A current NAUI Assistant Instructor is qualified to assist
active-status NAUI Instructors in teaching skin and scuba diving
during sanctioned diving courses provided the activities and
locale are similar to those of the training. Additional training
or experience is to be obtained by the Assistant Instructor who
desires to assist in highly specialized training activities,
such as deep, wreck penetration, cavern or ice dives.
- A NAUI Assistant Instructor and can be counted toward student-instructor
ratios.
- After assisting an active-status NAUI Instructor with at
least one complete, NAUI Scuba Diver course a current NAUI Assistant
Instructor is qualified, if all other prerequisites are met,
to enter a NAUI Instructor Training Course (ITC). (Attending
a NAUI Instructor Preparatory (PREP) Program and certification
as a NAUI Divemaster are recommended prior to attending an ITC.)
PREREQUISITES FOR ENTERING THE COURSE
- General. Meet the requirements applying to
all Leadership courses. (See “Policies Applying to Leadership
Courses.”)
- Materials. (See current guide to NAUI membership.)
- Diver Certification. Certification as NAUI
Master Scuba Diver and NAUI Scuba Rescue Diver or their equivalent.
Divers with evidence of equivalent training and experience may
be enrolled provided they pass the NAUI Master Scuba Diver written
examination with a minimum score of 75%.
- Experience. Have at least 20 logged open water
scuba dives. Dives shall be varied in environment, depth and
activities.