Taking SDI/TDI courses with a

[GearheadExplorer85]

Hi everyone:

If a TDI instructor is working out of a PADI affiliated shop, is he/she still allowed to teach SDI/TDI courses? Or would this cause friction and reduce their standing with the shop?

If a student wanted to take the SDI Advanced Diver program with that TDI instructor, would the instructor have to go through a lot of red tape to set up the training?

Thanks!

 

[FF / EMT]

Yes, HD in key largo does both PADI and TDI / SDI classes, and maybe some IAND classes too

 

[VikingDives]

1. Yes 2. Maybe 3. No.

I'd recommend just reaching out to the instructor.

 

[GearheadExplorer85]

Yes, HD in key largo does both PADI and TDI / SDI classes, and maybe some IAND classes too

Thanks!

 

[went_postal]

Hi everyone:

If a TDI instructor is working out of a PADI affiliated shop, is he/she still allowed to teach SDI/TDI courses? Or would this cause friction and reduce their standing with the shop?

If a student wanted to take the SDI Advanced Diver program with that TDI instructor, would the instructor have to go through a lot of red tape to set up the training?

Thanks!

I got my OW with SDI and my instructor was a SDI/TDI and PADI instructor. It seems like when he does PADI for someone his shop affiliation is one place and his SDI/TDI is another.

I could be wrong... but seems like a lot of instructors are more or less free agents / contractors. Or... that could just be in an area with multiple dive shops. But so far most of the SDI instructors I have met are affiliated with a shop but also have their own LLC.

With regards to red tape... I don't think so. When we wanted to do Advanced Adventurer through SDI I just texted my instructor, he sent me codes to start the training, and when everyone was available we met at the quarry to go over our test results and do our cert dives.

There doesn't appear to be a ton of rocket science involved.

 

[GearheadExplorer85]

I got my OW with SDI and my instructor was a SDI/TDI and PADI instructor. It seems like when he does PADI for someone his shop affiliation is one place and his SDI/TDI is another.

I could be wrong... but seems like a lot of instructors are more or less free agents / contractors. Or... that could just be in an area with multiple dive shops. But so far most of the SDI instructors I have met are affiliated with a shop but also have their own LLC.

With regards to red tape... I don't think so. When we wanted to do Advanced Adventurer through SDI I just texted my instructor, he sent me codes to start the training, and when everyone was available we met at the quarry to go over our test results and do our cert dives.

There doesn't appear to be a ton of rocket science involved.

Thanks for the response! I'm just trying to figure out the lay of the land and making sure that I'm not inadvertently doing something wrong.

A month ago, I contacted this instructor to do refresher training and the SDI Advanced Diver development program back-to-back. We chatted in the shop a couple of times and had good rapport. Then we did the pool refresher two weeks ago and everything went well.

After the refresher, we went back and forth through email and agreed to do the SDI Navigation, Deep, Wreck, and TDI Nitrox courses. I'm waiting for him to send me pricing, course codes, and confirmation that I'm booked in for the practical portions. It's been two weeks and I haven't heard anything. So, I started the Navigation eLearning in the meantime and let him know this. But he asked me to hold off on buying more courses until he sends me the codes (which I still haven't received). Apparently, he is waiting for the shop he works at to do something. But if these SDI/TDI instructors are free agents like you said, I'm not understanding what the complication is. This is what prompted me to write the OP.

It's super aggravating because I've been trying to get this training done for two years and it's been non-stop roadblock after roadblock. This is the last shop near me with a staff member that teaches SDI/TDI. I love this hobby a lot. I'm willing and able to pay for quality training. I'm not against paying for private lessons either. But how does one stay active in a hobby when the shops won't help their customers?

 

[went_postal]

Thanks for the response! I'm just trying to figure out the lay of the land and making sure that I'm not inadvertently doing something wrong.

A month ago, I contacted this instructor to do refresher training and the SDI Advanced Diver development program back-to-back. We chatted in the shop a couple of times and had good rapport. Then we did the pool refresher two weeks ago and everything went well.

After the refresher, we went back and forth through email and agreed to do the SDI Navigation, Deep, Wreck, and TDI Nitrox courses. I'm waiting for him to send me pricing, course codes, and confirmation that I'm booked in for the practical portions. It's been two weeks and I haven't heard anything. So, I started the Navigation eLearning in the meantime and let him know this. But he asked me to hold off on buying more courses until he sends me the codes (which I still haven't received). Apparently, he is waiting for the shop he works at to do something. But if these SDI/TDI instructors are free agents like you said, I'm not understanding what the complication is. This is what prompted me to write the OP.

It's super aggravating because I've been trying to get this training done for two years and it's been non-stop roadblock after roadblock. This is the last shop near me with a staff member that teaches SDI/TDI. I love this hobby a lot. I'm willing and able to pay for quality training. I'm not against paying for private lessons either. But how does one stay active in a hobby when the shops won't help their customers?

So... my instructor apparently just has to go in to his dashboard on their site and submit to get the codes. I THINK they need to get paid for when they get them... But I don't know. I tend to pay my guy with Venmo/CashApp and then he shoots me the codes.

I will say that I think on the SDI site the classes are like $150-200 in some cases... I think he's usually charged me something like $50... So I don't know if there is that much latitude in the pricing or they were giving me a "deal" because I was buying three at a time (Myself, My Wife, and My daughter).

I've also seen that what they charge on the practical section varies WILDLY. I know one guy that would charge you $300 for the practical on Advanced Adventurer and another guy that will charge $600 for it because he's doing a "private" class.

I just recently started with SSI... so I don't know if this is going to be the same thing with SSI as it was with SDI or if it's the same thing all over the industry.

Per them taking time to get back to you... I took my e-Training in September of last year and just did the cert dives two months ago. My instructor was overseas doing work AND he had a shoulder injury so he couldn't get in the water with us until the time we did it. Most of the SDI guys that I've met locally all have other full-time jobs. Maybe that's the rub.

I recently found a Dive Shop where everyone is SUPER friendly and great to talk to about everything under the sun... they happen to be an SSI shop. I decided to do my Nitrox via SSI and I will say... I like the SSI training interface a little better and I will probably keep working with them mostly because of the dive shop. My SDI instructor is awesome.... but I think long run having the dive shop as a resource is going to work better for me.

But... My plan is really to only do Dive, Wreck, and Rescue at this point... not looking for much past that AT THE MOMENT.

 

[scubadada]

As an example, I use Jupiter Dive Center for some of my diving in Palm Beach County, FL. They offer OW, AOW, Rescue Diver and specialties from both PADI and SDI. Both options are listed on their website to choose from.

I took SDI Solo Diver from JDC in 2013. They printed my certification card on site when I completed the course.

 

[GearheadExplorer85]

As an example, I use Jupiter Dive Center for some of my diving in Palm Beach County, FL. They offer OW, AOW, Rescue Diver and specialties form both PADI and SDI. Both options are listed on their website to choose from.

I took SDI Solo Diver from JDC in 2013. They printed my certification card on site when I completed the course.

Right. The shop I'm dealing with only advertises PADI courses on their website. But in their "meet the staff" page, this instructor advertises himself as a TDI instructor.

 

[went_postal]

Right. The shop I'm dealing with only advertises PADI courses on their website. But in their "meet the staff" page, this instructor advertises himself as a TDI instructor.

Any reason to not take the PADI versions?