How to make PADI recognize my SSI certification? (and is it useful?)

[CedricH]

Hello everybody,

I got my SSI certification a month ago, and I've been told that even if it should not be strictly necessary, it would be good to make PADI recognize my certification.
Is it really useful? Are there some divesites where they only accept PADI certifications? Isn't SSI accepted everywhere?

Anyway, how could I proceed to do it?

Thank you very much,

Cédric H.

 

[fisheater]

I have no idea what you mean by "make PADI recognize" your SSI certification.

PADI does recognize other agencies' OW certifications. The only ones that would be an issue would be the professional certifications, such as Divemaster and Instructor. For those, you would need to do a "cross over" process.

But for recreational certifications, they are all basically "mix and match."

As for dive operators, they, too, will recognize the certifications from the various agencies.

 

[TMHeimer]

I have yet to hear or read of anywhere not recognizing certifications from SSI or any known agency -- ei. for air fills at shops, admittance to charter boats, etc. Maybe someone else has. I also believe that all the agencies pretty much recognize cards from each other for continuing ed. courses. Ei, If you are OW certified with SSI, NAUI, or some other, you can proceed to Advanced OW with PADI or any agency & vice versa. Only at the professional levels does this get more complicated.

 

[Damselfish]

PADI doesn't need to "recognize" your certification - only a place where you're going to dive or get air needs to, and SSI should be recognized just fine. If you really feel the need for a PADI card, you could always take a future class like AOW from a PADI instructor and voila, you have a card from PADI too. (A friend of mine with SSI OW did this actually, simply because she wanted to do AOW, and the resort happened to be PADI, so that's what she did.)

 

[RJP]

and I've been told that even if it should not be strictly necessary, it would be good to make PADI recognize my certification.

Who told you such nonsense?

 

[Peter69_56]

I started as an SSI and did OW and AOW with specialties. No issue ever anywhere diving. Then when I decided to go Dive master I went to a Padi shop and changed over and did my DM with PADI. Then after that went to TDI and did some tech courses. As long as you do your courses with recognised companies there is no issue. I think you have been lead down the garden path with this. Go enjoy your diving and have fun, continue your instruction with whomever you are comfortable with. All dive shops should recognise a valid course certification card around the world.

 

[Steve_C]

Started with SDI. Have never had an issue at any shop or dive op. Never heard of anybody being refused from SSI or SDI at any place or boat.

 

[WB2GLP]

The only time it may come into play is if you are applying for Master Scuba Diver with PADI and trying to get recognition of your SSI specialties.

 

[bbarnett51]

Forget that you ever heard that enjoy diving. Total nonsense.

 

[CedricH]

Hello!

Ok, thank you everybody, and sorry for the "recognition" confusion - I don't know how to express it in english... Thank you for trying to understand

I do understand now that for fun dives, the agency isn't important, but it becomes a real choice for professional matters.

Thank you again, bye bye!