How to switch to PADI?

[jbop65]

I am open water certified with SSI. I would like to switch to PADI certified can someone please explain what is needed for me to do to switch over or must I get certified through PADI?

Thanks
John

 

[Sas]

I am open water certified with SSI. I would like to switch to PADI certified can someone please explain what is needed for me to do to switch over or must I get certified through PADI?

Thanks
John

I am certified with SSI but have been told by many PADI stores that if I want to continue training they accept the SSI training with no hassles. I am not 100% sure I understand your question though - do you want a PADI OW card instead of an SSI one (and if so why?) or do you want to do other PADI courses and are worried they won't accept an SSI card? (If so, don't worry about it )

 

[Brian Sharpe]

Were you thinking of doing the Advanced Open Water? If so your current certification is recognized by PADI as the prerequisite. Similarly PADI OW certifications are accepted as prerequisites by other organizations.

 

[robint]

the only thing you need to do is take your SSI card into the PADI dive shop and sign up for another class!!! PADI recognizes other agencies with no hassle. The ONLY other thing you must do is buy the PADI table as it is different than the table you used for your SSI OW course. People do cross-overs all the time, in fact this past weekend my husband (a PADI instructor) did the AOW class for a person who was certified SSI. No problemo.

 

[Walter]

Why do you want to switch?

 

[Louma]

If you want a PADI O/W card (or any other) you would have to take their class. It might be an abbreviated class (giving you credit for being an experienced diver). The easiest way is to take the next step in your learning by doing the Advanced Class. You will then have your SSI O/W cert and your new "C" card - Advanced through PADI. That answers the question. I too am confused as to why you might want to change from a SSI O/W card to another agencies O/W card (am I reading too much into your post?). SSI is recognized worldwide. You should never have any problem getting on a boat, buying equipment or getting air fills with it.

 

[ligersandtions]

I assume that you mean you'd like to do your post-OW certification with PADI. If this is true, there's nothing you need to do other than let your PADI instructor know that you want to take a class through them, and show your c-card if the instructor doesn't know you already. I got my SSI OW certification and my PADI AOW certification. PADI doesn't cross-check with other agencies that you are already certified; ensuring that you are already certified is the job of your instructor.

However, if you want to get your OW certification with PADI even though you already have your SSI certification, you will probably need to re-take the class. I'm not sure why one would want to do that, so I'm going to assume (unless told otherwise) that this is not what you are talking about.

 

[jbop65]

I want to thank everyone for helping me with their input.Yes I want to get advanced open water certified through PADI instead of SSI.Please allow me to explain there are a few reasons why I want to train under PADI instead.

1st my open water certification my instructor put 10lbs of weights on one side of me with out evening them out which caused me to roll.Now it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure why I kept rolling yet for the life of him he couldn't figure out why? Hmmm

2nd everyone I speak with seems to like PADI more then SSI yes they also told me PADI is more commerical then SSI.

3rd while reading more info about specility courses offered through PADI IE:Nitrox,deep dive,rescue,Photography They talked briefly about things I should've been taught while taking my open water certification and it dawned on me a few things SSI never told me about or showed me.

4th is my wife and I are planning in a few years to relocate.At which time I am hoping to be a DiveMaster.We plan to move to Costa Rica or DR.mY Concern is finding a divemaster job at a resort might be harder if I am SSI certified verus PADI.

once again thanks
also now that I am going for my advance open water does PADI require more dives then SSI before you get advanced open water?


thanks
John

 

[Standingbear56]

SSI is fully recognized by PADI as well as by any other agency. There is no need to take another open water course. Just take your next course with PADI and you'll have a PADI certification. Many people have taken their different levels with different agencies - it's quite common.

 

[scubajcf]

Regardless of Agency ....

Find a great instructor!


jcf