There are many different certification organizations. All Sport Chalets are PADI centers (Professional Association of Dive Instructors) they focus on making the experience quick and painless. I'm certified through NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors), Humboldt State University, American Academy of Underwater Sciences and California Reef Check. There are hundreds of other associations that all pretty much do the same thing and that is to teach you how to SCUBA dive. YMCA, SDI, even LA county has its own dive organization, the list goes on and on...
So with a Sport Chalet PADI course the point is to make it as quick as possible, and for most people this is a perfect fit. When I got my first certification it took one whole semester, in order to become get my Master Diver cert took one year, Rescue diver took a year and a half, Scientific Diver took two years and Skin Diving Instructor and Divemaster both took three years plus an internship.
I'm always looking for dive buddies to SCUBA/freedive/spearfish with...so if you get into it let me know...