diving bodies

How diving qualifications from the various scuba diving bodies compare or relate to each other:

 

BSAC	Ocean Diver	Ocean Diver	Sports Diver	Dive Leader	Advanced Diver
PADI	Open Water Diver	Advanced Open Water Diver	Rescue Diver	Divemaster
CMAS	1 Star	1 Star	2 Star	2 Star	3 Star
NAUI	Scuba Diver	Advanced Scuba Diver	Scuba Rescue Diver	Divemaster
SAA	Open Water Diver	Open Water Diver	Club Diver	Dive Leader	Dive Supervisor
SSI	Open Water Diver	Advanced Open Water Diver	Advanced Open Water Diver with “Stress and Rescue” Speciality	Dive Control Specialist
NASDS	Open Water Diver	Advanced Open Water Diver	Rescue Diver	Dive Supervisor
SDI	Open Water Diver	Advanced Diver	Rescue Diver	Divemaster
SSAC			Sport Diver	Master Diver	First Class Diver
Royal Navy	Ships Diver

Abbreviations

BSAC (British Sub-Aqua Club)

The BSAC is the governing body for the sport of Scuba Diving in the UK. It is a club-based organisation that offers training for members through a branch, or intensive courses through a BSAC school

PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors)

Worldwide organisation with headquarters in America – the world’s largest diver training organisation

CMAS (Confederation Mondiale des Activities Subaquatiques)

World Underwater Federation of Underwater Activities. Established 1959

NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors)

American based

SAA (Sub-Aqua Association)

British organisation

SSI (Scuba Schools International)

In 1999, SSI merged with the National Association of Scuba Diving Schools

NASDS National Association of Scuba Diving Schools

Merged with SSI

SDI (Scuba Diving International)

Created in 1999 and grew out of sister company TDI, which specialises in the more advanced disciplines of technical dive training

SSAC (Scottish Sub-Aqua Club)

Founded in 1953. Like the BSAC it is a club-based organisation offering thorough training for Scottish conditions