Q. What is the difference between the National Geographic Diver Certification and the PADI Open Water Diver Certification?
A. As a National Geographic Diver, your certification signifies you have all the abilities of a PADI Open Water Diver plus additional knowledge that broadens your awareness of the aquatic realm and new skills to better explore underwater. The PADI Open Water Diver course is the foundation for the National Geographic Diver program.
Q. Who is eligible to become a National Geographic Diver?
A. The program is open to beginners as well as the experienced diving enthusiast. Experienced divers can become National Geographic Divers by enrolling in the National Geographic Portal.
Q. Where can I sign up to become a National Geographic Diver?
A. Visit C&J Divers Scuba 2000, a PADI National Geographic Dive Center.
Q. Who developed the National Geographic Diver Program?
A. National Geographic partnered with PADI, the world’s leader in dive education, to jointly create the National Geographic Diver Program. Both organizations have the common goal of encouraging public interest in recreational diving worldwide and exposing people to the aquatic environment to help them gain a better appreciation of our underwater cultural heritage.
Q. What does the National Geographic Diver Program Include?
A. The National Geographic Diver program allows individuals to become certified scuba divers or, if already certified, the opportunity to increase their diving skills. The program promotes adventure, discovery, exploration and aquatic conservation. Along with learning basic dive skills and mastering safety information, National Geographic Divers complete a National Geographic Knowledge Review based on information gained by interacting with the National Geographic Diver Almanac and DVD. They also demonstrate the ability to hover in at least three different positions. During an open water dive, divers participate in an Exploration Project that includes gathering information and creating a visual representation of the dive site detailing specific features. They also may practice navigating a square or rectangle pattern using a compass and natural references or participate in an aquatic life identification exercise.
Q. Where will the dive courses take place?
A. PADI National Geographic Programs will be offered at PADI Five Star Dive Centers and Gold Palm Resorts throughout the world that qualify as PADI National Geographic Dive Centers. The program will first launch in the PADI Americas territory and then roll out to international territories in 2005. To start your National Geographic adventure, visit a PADI National Geographic Dive Center near you.
Q. What recognition do I get as a National Geographic Diver?
A. You’ll receive a distinctive National Geographic Diver certification card. This card signifies that you have completed the program’s knowledge and skill requirements, joining an elite group of divers. You will show this certification card any time you need dive services as you travel around seeking new dive adventures.
Q. How does the National Geographic Diver Program support aquatic education and conservation of underwater environments?
A. The National Geographic Society’s contributions to inspiring underwater exploration date back to 1926 when NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC magazine published the first underwater color photographs taken by photographer Charles Martin. In the 1950s, National Geographic began a long-standing relationship with Jacques Cousteau, supporting his undersea explorations and sharing his dive adventures with the world. Today, the National Geographic Society continues to support underwater expeditions and showcase the underwater photography of David Doubilet and Emory Kristof, among others, in various National Geographic publications. National Geographic television programs and films document new technologies such as Greg Marshall’s Crittercam, and allow us to learn about the research and expeditions of National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence Bob Ballard and Sylvia Earle.
As part of a growing commitment to fund the Society’s initiatives, all of National Geographic’s net proceeds from the PADI National Geographic Diver program will support exploration, conservation, research, and education. National Geographic supports a wide array of aquatic initiatives, including expeditions to reveal and share unique underwater environments around the globe. Other projects will include preservation of national marine sanctuaries and protection of endangered aquatic animals and plants.
Project AWARE, in conjunction with PADI, introduces more than a million divers and nondivers each year to aquatic conservation and environmental issues. The National Geographic Diver program curriculum further encourages understanding of and respect for the aquatic world’s delicate ecosystems. Project AWARE and PADI have also developed additional courses about the aquatic environment. For more information about this training, contact your local PADI Dive Center or Resort to enroll in one of the many AWARE specialty programs offered.
Q. Will there be additional diving courses?
A. There’s a possibility that the PADI National Geographic program will expand in the future. Currently, there are many PADI courses available to continue your dive education and enhance your specialty diving interests.
Q. How did National Geographic choose PADI?
A. National Geographic chooses partners who share their mission of exploration and conservation of our planet. PADI shares that philosophy and those values in promoting awareness of the aquatic environment and advocating education about the underwater world through increased participation in the sport of scuba diving.
To start your National Geographic adventure, visit C&J Divers Scuba 2000.
