SE-> We don't see a lot of NASDS shops in this area.  South Florida
 SE-> is primarily a PADI & NAUI arena.
Working as a Divemaster for PADI I can compare my NASDS open-water course.  I
think the NASDS course was superior and many of the things I did I had to do
over in PADI Advanced.  I have to admit that I'm glad I started out as NASDS
because I was not a swimmer.  When I started I could only dog-paddle and the
swimming part would have killed me.  It was with a lot of reluctance that I 
had
to learn to swim to become a Divemaster, it was also my last requirement to 
e
finished. 
--- Ted's Castle 
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