NAUI vs. PADI Divemaster/instructor

Question
I am a NAUI certified diver & am interested in becoming a Divemaster & Instructor to eventually be employed in the Cayman Islands area. Is there any differences between PADI & NAUI from an employers perspective & would you recommend a 3 mths dive school certification or doing it piece by piece.

Answer
Hi Joe,

Definitely check out the major diveshops in the area you hope to work.  Find out what is the major organization there, and go with that OR contact the diveshops directly and ask them.

As far as the differences, both PADI and NAUI are members of the RSTC (Recreational Scuba Training Coucil) which is likely just an organization that was formed to standardize a legal posture for training divers.  They all (PADI, NAUI, IANTD, SSI, etc.) follow the RSTC mandates for what should and shouldn't be taught, and how to teach it, meaning that an education from one *should* be comparable to another.

About the last question, I guess that depends on you more than anything.  I worked as a divemaster in resorts and became a cave diver and led cavern tours before I became an instructor.  By the time I went for instructor, I wasn't green at all.  It is certainly possible for someone to become an instructor rapidly, but I'm not sure they have the experience (dealing with the unexpected things that DO happen all the time) HOWEVER the training is intended to create an instructor that is observant in such a way as to be properly positioned were anything need handling.  It's just that I think there is no substitute for real experience.  I guess if you get it in 3 months, but then humbly work as a DM, leading dives, earning experience before really teaching, it would make a stronger instructor.  (BTW, I think leading dives as a DM is the best job in the world... better than teaching diving.)

Hope that helps,
James