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.

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

Instructor Courses (ITC/ICC)

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!

Policies & Required Resources

Instructor Training Course (ITC)

Instructor Crossover Course (ICC)

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.