National Association of Underwater Instructors

It was officially CE and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certified in May 2007 in all three diver levels and both instructor levels. It was re-certified for its scuba diving programs as meeting ISO and European Underwater Federation standards on November 24, 2015.{{Cite web|title = EUF Certified Training Systems/Training Organisations|url = https://certificates.austrian-standards.at/EUF_training_systems?locale=en|website = certificates.austrian-standards.at|access-date = 2015-12-12}}

Agency standards, policies, and ethics are governed by the Association's Board of Directors, who are members themselves and who are each elected through a democratic election process by the overall instructor membership.{{citation needed|date=August 2016}}

File:NAUI office.jpg

After Jacques-Yves Cousteau introduced the Aqua-Lung to the market, there followed a growing interest in scuba diving by the public and a subsequent need to codify the training.{{cite journal|last = Staff|date = Spring 2008|title = NAUI 50 years of diving history and still growing|journal = Midwest Scuba Diving|publisher = Derrick Lorenzen, Maximum publications|location = Riverdale, Johnsburg, Illinois.|issue = Spring 2008|pages = 16 to 19|url = http://www.midwestscubadiving.com/common/documents/magazines/issue7_spread.pdf|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081031062512/http://www.midwestscubadiving.com/Common/Documents/magazines/Issue7_Spread.pdf|url-status = usurped|archive-date = October 31, 2008}}

In 1951, Jim Auxie Jr and Chuck Blakeslee started a magazine called The Skin Diver (later renamed Skin Diver Magazine).{{Citation needed|date=March 2016}} Two-year dive teacher Neal Earl Hess contributed to its "The Instructors Corner" column to inform readers about scuba. He soon established a column called "The National Diving Patrol" as a section to name new skin and scuba diving "instructors".

Still, no official training and certifying agency existed, except for the training and resources provided by the military (Underwater Demolition Teams) and dive clubs.

In 1952, Al Tillman, the director of sports for the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, said in a letter{{Cite web|title = Los Angeles County Underwater Program|url = http://www.divinghistory.com/id16.html|website = www.divinghistory.com|access-date = 2015-12-14}} to Parks and Recreation director Paul Gruendyke, "A new sport—skin diving—is becoming popular in the area. Recently while diving in Palos Verdes, I ran into several divers in the water with me who didn't know what they were doing. One had one of the new underwater breathing units that allows divers to stay under for long periods of time... I propose that my department get involved in this sport and provide training classes. I believe that diving will grow in the future and we have an obligation to make the sport as safe as possible."{{Cite web|title = NAUI History|url = http://www.naui.org/history.aspx|website = www.naui.org|access-date = 2015-12-07|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222163926/http://www.naui.org/history.aspx|archive-date = 2015-12-22}}{{Cite web|title = Club History|url = http://www.laups.org/index.php/menu-heading-about-laups/main-menu-club-history|website = www.laups.org|access-date = 2015-12-07}}

In 1955, Tillman and L.A. County lifeguard Bev Morgan created the L.A. County Parks and Recreational Underwater Instructor Certification Course (1UICC) in an effort to respond to the growing number of diver requests.{{Cite book|title = Our L.A. County Lifeguard Family|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=0_z4a_ZP1a4C|publisher = LACoFD, Lifeguard Operations|isbn = 9780615604763}} It was the world's first civilian training program to certify recreational divers and soon began granting Provisional Certification to instructors across the country.{{Cite book|title = Historicizing Lifestyle: Mediating Taste, Consumption and Identity from the 1900s to 1970s|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=bSI7Q-uVS5oC&q=Underwater%2520Instructor%2520Certification%2520Course%25201955&pg=PA96|publisher = Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.|date = 2012-12-28|isbn = 9781409490630|first1 = Joanne|last1 = Hollows|first2 = Mr David|last2 = Bell}}{{Cite book|title = Means-end Analysis and Values: The Recreational Scuba Consumer|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=joO7k0Vi_D0C|date = 2007-01-01|isbn = 9780549442462}}

In the May 1960 issue of Skin Diver Magazine, the creation of The National Diving Patrol was announced as an official, national organization. Its purpose and function was "to insure competent underwater instruction and to reduce diving accidents through education."{{Cite web|title = Nick Icorn - International Legends of Diving - Scuba Sponsored by Portage Quarry|url = http://www.internationallegendsofdiving.com/Articles/icorn_090908.htm|website = www.internationallegendsofdiving.com|access-date = 2015-12-07}} In 1959, the name was changed to the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI).

Hess, Blakeslee, Auxier, and Tillman met in August 1960 to discuss and organize NAUI's first Instructor Certification Course.{{Cite book|title = Scuba Diving Tourism|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=-lo9T64dGSwC&q=%2522The%2520Instructors%2520Corner%2522%2520column%2520skin%2520diver&pg=PA82|publisher = Routledge|date = 2013-06-26|isbn = 9781136324949|first1 = Ghazali|last1 = Musa|first2 = Kay|last2 = Dimmock}} It was held at the Shamrock Hotel in Houston, Texas on August 22–26. During the six-day course, 72 candidates attended from the U.S. and Canada, but only 53 graduated. The 53 graduates along with their staff instructors became the first instructor members of the National Association of Underwater Instructors. The NAUI ICC became the first course to make diver certification available worldwide.{{Cite web|title = NAUI Certification|url = http://www.deepsixspecialists.com/naui-certification-1/|website = Deep Six Specialists, Inc.|access-date = 2015-12-14}}

A year later, the second NAUI ICC was held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada,{{Cite web|title = The History of - Hitpages|url = https://www.hitpages.com/doc/4558047766642688/25/|website = www.hitpages.com|access-date = 2015-12-07|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222161149/https://www.hitpages.com/doc/4558047766642688/25/|archive-date = 2015-12-22|url-status = dead}} under the direction of Ben Davis.

In October 1961, NAUI was incorporated in the State of California as a non-profit educational organization, with Al Tillman as the President and Neal Hess as the Executive Secretary.

NAUI's first elected Board of Directors included Al Tillman, John C. Jones, Jr., Neal Hess, Garry Howland, Jim Auxier, and James Cahill. A Board of Advisers was appointed and included Captain Albert Behnke, Jr., Commander George Bond, Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau, and Dr. Andreas Rechnitzer.

The number of NAUI ICCs grew throughout the 1960s in central locations throughout North America. The association's conduct of business relied on volunteers and the board regional leaders, all administered out of Al Tillman's home. Skin Diver Magazine published the "NAUI Page" as a regular feature to help the organization grow, to accumulate a salary and, later, to provide office space.{{citation needed|date=December 2015}}The first International Conference on Underwater Education{{Cite book|title = Abstracts from the First International Conference on Underwater Education: Sept. 26, 27, 28, 1969, Santa Ana College, Santa Ana, Calif. : Sponsored by the National Association of Underwater Instructors|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=RXoqGwAACAAJ|publisher = National Association of Underwater Instructors|date = 1969-01-01}} was held in 1969 at Santa Ana College, where it served as a venue for NAUI members from all over could meet and exchange ideas. It was also used as a forum to present information on diving skills and safety, teaching, diving physiology, physics, and other diving and marine sciences.

The US Internal Revenue Service determined that NAUI be a tax-exempt nonprofit educational organization in 1971.{{Cite web |title=National Association Of Underwater Instructors in Riverview, Florida (FL) - faqs.org |url=http://www.faqs.org/tax-exempt/FL/National-Association-Of-Underwater-Instructors.html |access-date=2015-12-12 |website=www.faqs.org}}

Soon, NAUI membership began to expand internationally, with an ICC being held in Japan in 1970 and NAUI Canada being organized as a separate corporation in 1972.

NAUI instructors certified more than 40,000 entry-level scuba divers in 1970 alone; 1979 was a year with over 5,000 newly certified NAUI scuba instructors. By the time 1989 came around, over 12,000 NAUI instructors were certified. NAUI Worldwide had established a network of 20 service centers in 1998.

From 1981 to 1997, NAUI headquarters facilities remained in Montclair, California. It was during these years (in 1987) that the NAUI Board of Directors elected its first woman president, Nancy Guarascio.

In 1997, NAUI Worldwide headquarters was moved to Tampa, Florida{{Cite web|title = NAUI Worldwide Offices|url = https://www.naui.org/worldwide_offices.aspx|website = www.naui.org|access-date = 2015-12-07|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222152524/http://www.naui.org/worldwide_offices.aspx|archive-date = 2015-12-22|url-status = dead}} and included Board of Directors members from Europe and Asia for the first time.

NAUI hired Jim Bram as its president in June 1995. Bram renamed NAUI to do business as NAUI Worldwide, with the intent to provide business support to members everywhere via licensed service centers.{{Cite web|title = NAUI 50th Anniversary Celebration - by Dr. Sam Miller - History of SCUBA Diving|url = http://www.internationallegendsofdiving.com/Articles/miller_040610.htm|website = www.internationallegendsofdiving.com|access-date = 2015-12-07}}

On January 20, 2015, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy amended Code 4729-21-06: Sales of medical oxygen to scuba divers. The code authorized individuals who completed courses from NAUI to purchase and possess medical oxygen for the purpose of emergency care or treatment at the scene of a diving emergency.{{Cite web|title = State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy|url = http://www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/Documents/LawsRules/RuleChanges/New%2520Rules%2520and%2520Rule%2520Changes%2520Effective%2520January%252020,%25202015.pdf|website = www.pharmacy.ohio.gov|access-date = 2015-12-07}}

In November 2015, NAUI released a series of announcements during the 2015 DEMA Show in Orlando, Florida.{{cite web |title=DEMA Show 2015 |url=http://www.demashow.com/dema2015/public/enter.aspx |access-date=March 8, 2016}} Its first podcast series, the "Dive Team Report",{{Cite web|title = NAUI Dive Team Report|url = http://www.naui.org/podcast.aspx|website = www.naui.org|access-date = 2015-12-07|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151217152952/http://www.naui.org/podcast.aspx|archive-date = 2015-12-17|url-status = dead}} released once per week. The podcast was designed to inform the general public and divers on trends and issues affecting the sport of diving. The first full episode aired on November 12, 2015.{{Cite web|title = NAUI News|url = http://www.naui.org/ContentDetail.aspx?Id=508&ContentTypeId=1&CategoryId=30|website = www.naui.org|access-date = 2015-12-07|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222164920/http://www.naui.org/ContentDetail.aspx?Id=508&ContentTypeId=1&CategoryId=30|archive-date = 2015-12-22|url-status = dead}}

A series of other announcements included its new marketing campaign "The Definition of Diving",{{Cite web|title = NAUI News|url = http://www.naui.org/ContentDetail.aspx?Id=509&ContentTypeId=1&CategoryId=30|website = www.naui.org|access-date = 2015-12-07|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222112327/http://www.naui.org/ContentDetail.aspx?Id=509&ContentTypeId=1&CategoryId=30|archive-date = 2015-12-22|url-status = dead}} its demo version of its new website interface (version 1.0),{{Cite web|title = NAUI News|url = http://www.naui.org/ContentDetail.aspx?Id=512&ContentTypeId=1&CategoryId=30|website = www.naui.org|access-date = 2015-12-14|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222145142/http://www.naui.org/ContentDetail.aspx?Id=512&ContentTypeId=1&CategoryId=30|archive-date = 2015-12-22|url-status = dead}} and its alliance with the Divers Alert Network and Performance Freediving International.{{Cite web|title = NAUI News|url = http://www.naui.org/ContentDetail.aspx?Id=514&ContentTypeId=1&CategoryId=30|website = www.naui.org|access-date = 2015-12-14|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222161351/http://www.naui.org/ContentDetail.aspx?Id=514&ContentTypeId=1&CategoryId=30|archive-date = 2015-12-22|url-status = dead}}{{Cite web|title = Performance Freediving International and NAUI Announce Freediving Training Alliance – DeeperBlue.com|url = https://www.deeperblue.com/performance-freediving-international-and-naui-announce-freediving-training-alliance/|website = DeeperBlue.com|access-date = 2015-12-07}} For the first time, NAUI and DAN came together to offer DAN's first-aid programs to NAUI divers and members. NAUI established and incorporated the co-branded DAN-NAUI first-aid courses into their curricula.

In 2010, NAUI Worldwide formed the NAUI Green Diver Initiative (GDI). GDI was implemented to "empower individuals to preserve and conserve the ocean planet with the common goal of taking action to protect the environment."{{Cite web|title = NAUI Green Diver Initiative|url = http://www.naui.org/GreenDiver/Overview.aspx|website = www.naui.org|access-date = 2015-12-12|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222135740/http://www.naui.org/GreenDiver/Overview.aspx|archive-date = 2015-12-22|url-status = dead}} With stagnant progress, it was not until July 2015 that NAUI renewed its commitment to the Initiative, unveiling its first manager, Sam Richardson, who entered the full-time position with over 10 years of non-profit experience. GDI remained a U.S. registered 501 (c) (3) non-profit that relied on the support of donors to fulfill its mission.{{Cite web|title = NAUI Green Diver Initiative|url = http://www.naui.org/GreenDiver/Overview.aspx|website = www.naui.org|access-date = 2015-12-07|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222135740/http://www.naui.org/GreenDiver/Overview.aspx|archive-date = 2015-12-22|url-status = dead}}

In the United States, US Navy SEALs, Coast Guard rescue divers, and other special military forces are trained to NAUI standards as part of their overall training with open and closed circuit rebreathers; National Park Service and NOAA divers receive NAUI training and certifications.

Aqualung inventor Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau was on the original Board of Advisers of NAUI, as was Albert R. Behnke, a pioneer of diving medicine.{{cite web |author = Tillman, Tom|title = The history of NAUI|publisher = Scuba America Historical Foundation|url = http://www.divinghistory.com/id17.html|access-date = 2009-05-23}}

Actor Lloyd Bridges was the first honorary NAUI instructor member. He played frogman "Mike Nelson" in the American television series Sea Hunt, which popularized scuba diving as a recreational sport. Zale Parry played the female role, and she formally instructed Lloyd Bridges on how to dive for the part. She was a research diver starring in the television's first underwater documentary series, Kingdom of the Sea, in 1954.{{Cite web|title = Famous Female Divers: Zale Parry|url = http://scubadiverlife.com/2015/04/03/famous-female-divers-zale-parry/|website = Scuba Diver Life|access-date = 2015-12-12|first = Jessica|last = Macdonald}} She made a record-setting 209-foot dive that same year, distinguishing women as skilled divers.{{Cite web|title = Zale Parry {{!}} International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame|url = http://www.caymanislands.ky/eventsoffers/scubadivinghalloffamenew/bios/zale_parry.aspx|website = www.caymanislands.ky|access-date = 2015-12-14|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222154257/http://www.caymanislands.ky/eventsoffers/scubadivinghalloffamenew/bios/zale_parry.aspx|archive-date = 2015-12-22|url-status = dead}}{{Cite book|title = Diving Pioneers: An Oral History of Diving in America|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=uHC5B47aOlYC|publisher = Aqua Quest Publications, Inc.|date = 1994-01-01|isbn = 9780922769438|first = Eric|last = Hanauer}}

NAUI has numerous corporate alliances with organizations, such as Walt Disney World Resort, The Florida Aquarium, NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, and the Fire Department of New York.{{Cite web|title = Login - Fire Engineering|url = http://www.fireengineering.com/articles/print/volume-165/issue-2/departments/training-notebook/scuba-dive-rescue-operations-a-familiarization-course.html|website = www.fireengineering.com|access-date = 2015-12-14}}{{Cite web|title = naui-cz.com » Organizace NAUI|url = http://naui-cz.com/naui-cz/organizace-naui/|website = naui-cz.com|access-date = 2015-12-07}} Many of the first generation of diving safety officers of the top universities, colleges and institutes of technology in the United States were NAUI members and made significant contributions to NAUI's programs, including: Lee Somers University of Michigan, James Stewart Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Richard Bell University of California, Davis, Henry Viex United States Military Academy, Lloyd Austin University of California, Berkeley, Mark Flahan California State University, San Diego, Phillip Sharkey University of Rhode Island, Ronnie D'Amico California State University, Long Beach, Walt Hendricks, Sr. University of Puerto Rico, Glen Egstrom University of California, Los Angeles, and John Heine Moss Landing Marine Laboratories.{{Cite web|title = NAUI Corporate Alliances|url = https://www.naui.org/corp_alliances.aspx|website = www.naui.org|access-date = 2015-12-14|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222081816/https://www.naui.org/corp_alliances.aspx|archive-date = 2015-12-22|url-status = dead}}

These institutions, and others, belong to the American Academy of Underwater Sciences, and while their training programs greatly exceed minimum NAUI requirements, certifications in their scientific diving training programs are often arranged through NAUI. Many governmental agencies in the United States do the same, including the US Navy SEALs, Army Special Forces, and NASA.

File:NAUI Advanced Diver certification card PC160022.jpg

NAUI produced a Scuba Diver Education System in 2000,{{Cite web|title = NAUI Certification|url = http://www.deepsixspecialists.com/naui-certification-1/|website = Deep Six Specialists, Inc.|access-date = 2015-12-07}} and it began including its education systems to all mainline certification courses, listed below. {{col-begin}}

{{col-break}}

• Junior Skindiver{{cite web|title=NAUI Junior Skindiver Course|url=http://naui.org/recreational_divers.aspx#skindiver|access-date=2011-12-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205121133/http://www.naui.org/recreational_divers.aspx#skindiver|archive-date=2011-12-05|url-status=dead}}
• Junior Scuba Diver{{cite web|title=NAUI Junior Scuba Diver Course|url=http://naui.org/recreational_divers.aspx#scuba|access-date=2011-12-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205121133/http://www.naui.org/recreational_divers.aspx#scuba|archive-date=2011-12-05|url-status=dead}}
• Junior Advanced Scuba Diver{{cite web|title=NAUI Junior Advanced Scuba Diver Course|url=http://naui.org/recreational_divers.aspx#advanced|access-date=2011-12-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205121133/http://www.naui.org/recreational_divers.aspx#advanced|archive-date=2011-12-05|url-status=dead}}
• Skin Diver{{cite web|title=NAUI Skindiver Course|url=http://naui.org/recreational_divers.aspx#skindiver|access-date=2011-12-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205121133/http://www.naui.org/recreational_divers.aspx#skindiver|archive-date=2011-12-05|url-status=dead}}
• Scuba Diver{{cite web|title=NAUI Scuba Diver Course|url=http://naui.org/recreational_divers.aspx#scuba|access-date=2011-12-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205121133/http://www.naui.org/recreational_divers.aspx#scuba|archive-date=2011-12-05|url-status=dead}}
• Experienced Scuba Diver{{cite web|title=NAUI Experienced Diver Course|url=http://naui.org/recreational_divers.aspx#experienced|access-date=2011-12-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205121133/http://www.naui.org/recreational_divers.aspx#experienced|archive-date=2011-12-05|url-status=dead}}
• Advanced Scuba Diver{{cite web|title=NAUI Advanced Scuba Diver Course|url=http://naui.org/recreational_divers.aspx#advanced|access-date=2011-12-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205121133/http://www.naui.org/recreational_divers.aspx#advanced|archive-date=2011-12-05|url-status=dead}}
• Master Scuba Diver{{cite web|title=NAUI Master Scuba Diver Course|url=http://naui.org/master_scuba_diver.aspx|access-date=2011-12-15|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216103437/http://www.naui.org/master_scuba_diver.aspx|archive-date=2012-02-16}}

• Deep Diver{{cite web |url=http://www.naui.org/specialty_courses.aspx |title=NAUI Specialty Courses |year=2008 |publisher=NAUI Worldwide |access-date=2009-09-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090328094350/http://www.naui.org/specialty_courses.aspx |archive-date=2009-03-28 }}
• Dry Suit Diver
• Enriched Air Nitrox (EAN) Diver
• Scuba Rescue Diver
• Search and Recovery Diver

{{col-break}}

• Training Assistant
• Underwater Archaeologist
• Underwater Ecologist
• Underwater Environment
• Underwater Photographer
• Underwater Hunter and Collector
• Wreck Diver (External Survey)

• Assistant Instructor{{cite web |url=http://www.naui.org/leadership_courses.aspx |title=NAUI Leadership Courses |year=2008 |publisher=NAUI Worldwide |access-date=2009-09-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224103046/http://www.naui.org/leadership_courses.aspx |archive-date=2012-02-24 }}
• Skin Diving Instructor
• Divemaster
• Instructor Preparation Course
• Instructor{{cite web |url=http://www.naui.org/leadership_courses_instructor.aspx |title=NAUI Instructor Courses |year=2008 |publisher=NAUI Worldwide |access-date=2009-09-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120529111351/http://www.naui.org/leadership_courses_instructor.aspx |archive-date=2012-05-29 }}
• Instructor Trainer
• Course Director

{{col-break}}

• Cave Diver (Levels I, II, and III){{cite web |url=http://www.naui.org/technical_divers.aspx |title=NAUI Technical Courses |year=2008 |publisher=NAUI Worldwide |access-date=2009-09-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614072231/http://www.naui.org/technical_divers.aspx |archive-date=2011-06-14 }}
• Cavern Diver
• CCR Mixed Gas Diver
• Closed Circuit Rebreather Diver
• Decompression Technique
• Heliair Diver
• Helitrox Diver
• Ice Diver
• Introduction to Technical Diving
• Mixed Gas Blender and O2 Service Technician
• Semi-closed Rebreather Diver
• Technical Nitrox Diver
• Technical Support Leader
• Technical Wreck Penetration Diver
• Tri-Mix Diver (Levels I & II)
• Wreck Penetration Diver

{{col-end}}

NAUI is allied with Divers Alert Network, a non-profit organization for diver's assistance and medical research on recreational scuba diving safety, developed by Executive Director Dan Orr in 1980. DAN and NAUI allied in 2007 to work together for diver safety. DAN is the official dive accident insurance provider for NAUI. In November 2015, DAN and NAUI renewed their alliance to extend their reach of dive safety programs.{{Cite web|title = NAUI News|url = http://www.naui.org/ContentDetail.aspx?Id=514&ContentTypeId=1&CategoryId=30|website = www.naui.org|access-date = 2015-12-07|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222161351/http://www.naui.org/ContentDetail.aspx?Id=514&ContentTypeId=1&CategoryId=30|archive-date = 2015-12-22|url-status = dead}}

NAUI initiated a worldwide coverage instructor liability insurance policy in 1974.{{Cite web|title = Northwest Diving History Association|url = http://www.divinghistory.com/|website = www.divinghistory.com|access-date = 2015-12-07}} This worldwide policy allowed members of the Bahamas, British Virgin Islands and other islands of the Caribbean, and military personnel stationed in various areas around the world to receive worldwide coverage.

NAUI's rescue certification course was first proposed and made available to members in 1981 to provide an alternative to the Red Cross training, which was previously required for leadership candidates in NAUI courses.{{Failed verification|date=August 2016}} It was created by the NAUI Board of Directors to avoid making NAUI programs dependent upon other agency certifications.

NAUI sanctioned nitrox training in 1992 and published standards for teaching technical diving in 1997. {{Citation needed|date=December 2015}}

Technical diving includes methods that exceed the limits imposed on depth or immersion time for traditional recreational diving. It often involves the use of special gas mixtures (rather than compressed air) for breathing. NAUI standards for technical diving were developed by Tim O'Leary and published by NAUI Worldwide in 1997.{{Cite web |first1=Bruce R |last1=Wienke |first2=Timothy R |last2=O’Leary |title = Alp-Maritimes Sports - Updates |url = http://technicaldivingops.com/pages/updates.html |website = technicaldivingops.com |access-date = 2015-12-07}} NAUI's technical diving program requires special training, equipment, and qualified support teams.{{Cite web|title = NAUI's New Technical Diving Program|url = http://www.skin-diver.com/departments/TotallyTech/NAUIsTechnicalProgram.asp?theID=609|website = www.skin-diver.com|access-date = 2015-12-07}}

In 1997, the NAUI Technical Diving Division was created.{{Cite web|title = ANDI, PSAI, IANTD, NACD, NAUI, BSAC, or CMAS? Technical Training: Who Do I Turn To?|url = http://californiadiver.com/technical-training-who-do-i-turn-to/|website = California Diver Magazine|access-date = 2015-12-14}} NAUI formed a Technical Training Advisory Board and Rebreather Advisory Board, with Tim O'Leary as the chairman for each,{{Cite web|title = Alp-Maritimes Sports - NAUI|url = http://technicaldivingops.com/pages/NAUI.html|website = technicaldivingops.com|access-date = 2015-12-14}}{{Cite web|title = NAUI Tec Online ~ Information for Serious Technical Divers|url = http://www.nauitec.com/people|website = www.nauitec.com|access-date = 2015-12-14}}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} to assist in the development of technical diving standards and training.{{Cite web|title = NAUI Comp Overview|url = https://www.naui.org/comp_overview.aspx|website = www.naui.org|access-date = 2015-12-07|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208182013/http://www.naui.org/comp_overview.aspx|archive-date = 2015-12-08|url-status = dead}}

The reduced gradient bubble model is an iterative approach to staging diver ascents.{{Cite web|title = RGBM • REDUCED GRADIENT BUBBLE MODEL • ADVANCED DIVER MAGAZINE • BY Tim O'Leary & Bruce Wienke|url = http://www.advanceddivermagazine.com/articles/RGBM/RGBM.html|website = www.advanceddivermagazine.com|access-date = 2015-12-12}} It employs a dual phase approach with separated phase volumes as limit points, along with critical tensions across tissue compartments.{{Cite journal|title = Reduced gradient bubble model|journal = International Journal of Bio-Medical Computing|date = 1990-11-01|issn = 0020-7101|pmid = 2276850|pages = 237–256|volume = 26|issue = 4|first = B. R.|last = Wienke|doi=10.1016/0020-7101(90)90048-y}} It was developed by Dr. Bruce Wienke{{Cite web|title = Scubadoc's Diving Medicine|url = http://www.scuba-doc.com|website = www.scuba-doc.com|access-date = 2015-12-07}} in 1988 at Los Alamos National Laboratories. He published the model in 1992.{{Cite web|title = One Minute to Safer Diving|url = http://www.scubadiving.com/one-minute-safer-diving|website = Scuba Diving|access-date = 2015-12-07}} The algorithm is now incorporated into many dive computers and advanced dive planning software. Today it enhances the safety of serious deep and technical divers.{{Cite web|title = Pagina niet gevonden|url = http://www.galicia.be/articels/RGBM.pdf|website = www.galicia.be|access-date = 2015-12-07}}

NAUI's RGBM decompression tables were developed in 1997 exclusively for NAUI by Dr. Bruce Wienke and Tim O'Leary.{{Cite web|title = Deep RGBM • ADVANCED DIVER MAGAZINE • By B.R. Wienke and T.R. O'Leary|url = http://www.advanceddivermagazine.com/articles/deeprgbm/deeprgbm.html|website = www.advanceddivermagazine.com|access-date = 2015-12-07}} NAUI began publishing the only decompression manual with a full set of RGBM tables in 2000 for air, nitrox and trimix for both open and closed-circuit diving. Recreational RGBM no-calculation tables were published in 2001 exclusively for NAUI for sea level through 10,000 feet, no-stop diving.{{Cite web|title = Reduced Gradient Bubble Model|url = http://scuba-doc.com/rgbm.html|website = scuba-doc.com|access-date = 2015-12-07}}

The Chinese Underwater Association (CUA), in conjunction with the China Water Sports Administration (CWSA), officially legitimized NAUI to provide translated diver training materials and diver training in the People's Republic of China.{{Cite web |title = NAUI Signs Agreement with Chinese Underwater Association – DeeperBlue.com |url = https://www.deeperblue.com/naui-signs-agreement-with-chinese-underwater-association/ |website = DeeperBlue.com |access-date = 2015-12-14}}{{Cite web|title = NAUI Corporate Alliances|url = https://www.naui.org/corp_alliances.aspx|website = www.naui.org|access-date = 2015-12-07|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222081816/https://www.naui.org/corp_alliances.aspx|archive-date = 2015-12-22|url-status = dead}}

The Malaysian Sport Diving Association (MSDA)] officially adopted NAUI standards for use in their diver training in Malaysia.{{cite web|url=http://www.msda.my/home/|title=Malaysia Scuba Diving Association|access-date=2015-12-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222162800/http://www.msda.my/home/|archive-date=2015-12-22|url-status=dead}}{{Failed verification|date=December 2015}}

NAUI is the diver training organization of choice of NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas (USA). NAUI's alliance with the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory provides training materials, certification cards and collateral materials for their scuba program.

NAUI is a member of the Universal Referral Program (URP),{{cite web|url=http://www.naui.org/PDFfiles/NAUI%20URP%20Student%20Kit.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-12-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222132601/http://www.naui.org/PDFfiles/NAUI%20URP%20Student%20Kit.pdf |archive-date=2015-12-22 }} a worldwide customer service program that allows instructors to refer their students for certification dives with either NAUI or other diver training agencies.{{Cite web|title = Learn to Dive Online|url = http://scuba.about.com/od/learntodive/p/Learn-To-Dive-Online.htm|website = About.com Sports|access-date = 2015-12-14}} The URP was developed in 1998 through the cooperative efforts of IDEA, NASDS, NAUI, PDIC, SSI, and YMCA.{{Cite web|title = International Scuba Center - Basic Open Water Course Information|url = http://iscubacenter.com/basic-open-water-course-inform/|website = iscubacenter.com|access-date = 2015-12-07}} PADI Instructors and facilities can also receive students and be registered as referral instructors and locations under the URP.

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• {{annotated link|List of diver certification organizations}}
• {{annotated link|Recreational diver training}}

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Category:1959 establishments in the United States

Category:Underwater diving training organizations

Category:Organizations established in 1959