Road to Leadership

A journey of a thousand miles start with the first step

The first step of the Road to leadership is becoming a certified diver. Once you complete this class you are encouraged to start helping others learn. Sometimes the best person to help a new student learn and get through challenges is that person that just went through them. Having an extra set of eyes and hands is always welcome.

Step 1. Become a certified diver and start help others learn.

Step 2. Gain diving experience by diving and being involved with classes. 

Step 3. Become a certified Advanced diver.

Step 4. Become a certified Rescue diver or an Advanced Rescue Diver. Both courses teach you how to successfully rescue others on the surface and underwater. Both courses meet the Rescue Diver Certification requirement to enter the Skin Diver Instructor, Assistant Instructor, Dive Master and Instructor courses. The Advanced Rescue Class is very in depth and is intended for those who want to have the most knowledge, skill and experience for managing rescue situations. You can take the Rescue Class First and then later take the Advanced Rescue Class at a discounted price (Credit is given for the knowledge and skills you learned in the Rescue Diver Class.).

Step 5. Become a certified Teaching assistant. You will be able to oversee students in openwater and take them on underwater tours after they complete their entry level skills on dive 1.

Step 6. Become a certified Master Scuba Diver. This class is your college degree for the academic knowledge you need to teach Scuba Diving to others. It is also your college degree for in water diving experience in array of diving locations and skills. It covers all types of diving in depth. Deep, Night, Current, Navigation, Search and Recover and more. After this class your ready for just about any kind of diving.

Step 7. Complete the Diving First Aid for Professional Divers (DFA Pro) course. It is designed to teach the knowledge and skills needed to provide the range of first aid and lifesaving care that may be required for divers in an occupational dive setting.

Step 8. Complete the FIT program. The NAUI Familiarization-Instruction-Testing (FIT) program is an optional non- certification program that may be used to familiarize the candidate with NAUI leadership programs prior to enrollment in a NAUI leadership course. This is not required but is highly recommend to hone and fine tune your practical skills and knowledge needed to successfully complete leadership courses. In short, this is your last pre leadership training opportunity. It is your leadership prep course helping you to have the best opportunity possible for success.

Step 9. Become a certified Assistant Instructor and Divemaster. This course is offered as a dual certification. The assistant instructor class teaches you how to teach academics. How to teach pool sessions and how to conduct openwater training dives. 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 and engage in other approved activities.

Step 10. Become a certified Instructor. The NAUI Instructor Training Course (ITC) is designed to train and qualify NAUI Instructor member applicants. During the course, candidate instructors learn effective methods to teach skin and scuba diving in compliance with NAUI diving course standards. You will be able to teach and certify students as Scuba Divers, Advanced Scuba Divers, Rescue, Advanced Rescue, Master Scuba Divers, and Training Assistants. You can also teach leadership courses such as Assistant Instructor and Divemaster with meeting the requirements as approved by the NAUI Board of Directors.

• Once you finish the Instructor Course you have the opportunity to team teach your first Scuba Course with an experienced instructor to gain further experience, knowledge, skills and confidence.
• Becoming a certified Scuba Instructor is one of the most rewarding accomplishment a person may ever experience. The knowledge, skills and experience gained far surpass the fundamentals of teaching Scuba. They carry over into just about all aspect of life. It is an accomplishment that you will never forget, cherish forever and always remember.