Agency differences for certs

[mainedvr]

I have to now done courses with SSI and Padi, (mostly SSI). As I continue my dive training I am considering working towards a Dive Con (SSI), I am aware most answers are going to be subjective and thats fine, what i would like to know is the differences between the agencies and being able to use a certification like DM or Dive Con abroad.

Oh and let it rip on what you think the best agency is but please give me some reasoning or back ground for your preference.


Thanks

 

[DMDavid]

You'll never get a definitive answer on the best agency but if you do your homework you'll find the best instructor.

Some of the best instructors I've ever met were multi-agency qualified.




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[hypertech]

First, ask yourself why you want the rating. If it's because you want to work as a dive master go with the agency that the place you want to work for uses. Doesnt make any difference whether it is here or abroad. That said, PADI is the largest and you will probably have more options for places to work with a PADI cert.

If you just want it as a personal goal, find an instructor that you get along with well and do it with them. Pick the instructor not the agency.

 

[DevonDiver]

For professional level qualifications, if you intend to use them, then it isn't really about 'better' or 'worse'. The global market is predominantly PADI - which means there are many more PADI dive centres than there are SSI, NAUI etc. Having a PADI DM qualification will give you more working opportunities.

If working as a pro is a secondary consideration, and your primary goal is to get excellent tuition as a dive leader; then I would suggest investigating your course provider as an individual, rather that looking by agency.

 

[Quero]

My understanding is that you are asking about employment prospects rather than training standards--is that right? (Because I have no interest in participating in any discussion that involves "best" in regard to training.)

Both SSI and PADI have a strong international presence, so getting a job because of agency affiliation is not a critical issue when deciding between these two in many parts of the world. If there is a part of the world where you are yearning to work, find out whether there is a huge disparity in market share amongst the various agencies. Here in SE Asia, for example, there are extremely limited opportunities for NAUI professionals. The same can be said for SDI. SSI is slowly but steadily gaining market share in the region, and many shops are both PADI and SSI at the moment. PADI enjoys the overwhelming majority of market share in the region.

The bigger employment issue, from my perspective, is that it's hard for a foreign dive pro who has only a DM ticket to get legal work. In Thailand, for example, foreigners must have instructor ratings in order to qualify for a work permit, even if all they do is lead dives.

Now, if I've read your post wrong and all you want to do is fun diving, well, then, there is no issue at all. Any cert works as well as the other for going diving.

 

[mainedvr]

Thanks for all the answers, all that have answered thus far gave me the answer to the question (even though my post was a but ambiguous). Quero, thanks for the candid response I was not looking so much for "best in training" I realize that all goes to the individual "trainer" a diver receives instruction from, its really the teacher that makes the curriculum work.

What really answered my question is I would like to in the future be able to work as guide or instructor (if I get to the instructor level) and have noticed in my travels that Padi is pretty much everywhere. I have done all my training through SSI thus far OW, Basic Wreck, Nitrox, and my AOW through Padi.

So what I am going to do some more research and talk to a few other Operators and see what makes sense, and my LDS that I have done most of my training with uses most of the Certification Agencys.

So thanks again and pretty much that answers my question, now I just have to keep diving and learning.

Regards