i agree with the statement above on the certifying body. there are a lot out there.
PADI, NAUI, SSI, CMAS, BSAC, SDI....... many many more out there. I've just listed the ones available in Malaysia. i have assisted in training divers on all of those and personally i find BSAC being the most thorough. Then there is the factor os $$$. SDI is the cheapest of them all because their material cost less.... a lot less. PADI is well known because of its inovative marketing strategy. No dive shop will turn away a certified diver, regardless of the agency. [COLOR=red]

On the post that you don't need a certification to dive in malaysia, i would say no dive centre i know will allow this. Those cowboy diving days are over larr... Plus what you did was called discover scuba, that's just the instructor babysitting you up to 10m only. Trained and certified diver are qualified to plan and dive in PAIRS.

so if you want to take up scuba, do take a course and understand what you are doing underwater. read up on the different diving agencies, compare the rates and if their offer suites your budget. remember you pay what you get!

cheers