PADI and SSI Instructors

[Teller]

I have two questions

1. If I was an SSI DiveCon and I wanted to continue with PADI on my way to being an Open Water Instructor would I have to go into the PADI AI course or right into the Open Water Instructor class?

2. If I was an SSI Open Water Instructor and wanted to switch to PADI what would I have to do? How much and how long?

Thanks

 

[RJP]

I have two questions

1. If I was an SSI DiveCon and I wanted to continue with PADI on my way to being an Open Water Instructor would I have to go into the PADI AI course or right into the Open Water Instructor class?

2. If I was an SSI Open Water Instructor and wanted to switch to PADI what would I have to do? How much and how long?

Thanks

PADI AI is essentially "the first part of OWSI" so there is no practical difference between going "into AI" or "right into Open Water Instructor class."

Can't help you with specifics of SSI to PADI crossover.

 

[caboticket]

with a cross over, the ssi instructor can choose either to do the OWSI or IDC, they both have the same pre requisits.. padi gives credit to the fact that you are already a instructor, you just need to understand the padi teaching values.. you attend a padi IE and take the exam.
my advice, take the OWSI part of a course, this will adapt you better to become a padi instructor and prepare for the IE. can be done in a week, and the exam goes over 2.5 days.. prices vary on location

 

[AndyNZ]

1. If I was an SSI DiveCon and I wanted to continue with PADI on my way to being an Open Water Instructor would I have to go into the PADI AI course or right into the Open Water Instructor class?

As has been pointed out, AI is part of the IDC course and in this case you would have to do a full IDC.

In addition, there are a couple of extra sessions - for example "teaching the PADI RDP" becomes mandatory rather than optional, so you will find that you need a bit of extra time. It would also be worth familiarising yourself with the way that PADI teach/assess dive physics, physiology etc. Also, have a look at the skills that PADI teach and make sure you can do this skills - I'm not familiar with the SSI curriculum so can't point out any differences myself, sorry.

2. If I was an SSI Open Water Instructor and wanted to switch to PADI what would I have to do? How much and how long?

The minimum amount of time is four days to complete the OWSI portion of the IDC, though with the same provisos as above - there will be some extra familiarisation work needed. The IE is another two days.

How much? Depends on way too much to really answer. You will need to buy a full set of PADI instructor materials (rough guess - US$500), pay for the IE (another $500 or so) and your PADI membership ($300?) as well as the tuition. Here, the tuition would work out as around US$750 or so.... depending on the CD. Take all costs with a pinch of salt - they vary around the globe and I've guessed from the PADI-AP costs what is likely.


My honest advice would be to decide which agency you want to teach for in advance, and enter in to that training in good faith. Worry about a crossover if you ever need to, but planning for it is nuts..... if it's a real concern, then go in that direction now as it will save you time and money.

 

[Crowley]

Instructor Development Course (IDC) = Assistant Instructor (AI) + Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI). Some
core components are identical in both AI and OWSI; they get repeated throughout the IDC.

If you're an SSI DiveCon you should be able to enter the AI course directly, assuming all other requriements such as first aid etc. are met, but make sure you get an orientation to the way PADI conducts skills and theory; the RDP, for example, works in the same general way as the tables that SSI use, but uses a different model and so gives different results with which you need to be familiar.

If you're an SSI Instructor you should be able to "cross over" by enrolling in an OWSI course - that is the second half of the IDC; usually 4 ish days, and you will need to take the PADI Instructor Examination (IE).

Hope that answers your questions,

Cheers,

C.