PADI or SSI Scuba Certification Path??

[mfox007]

Hey Everyone,

I am two months away from doing my OW cert with a PADI dive shop here in Phoenix. Visiting this dive shop to fill out my PADI paper work was my first interaction with any of the LDS's in my area. The employees were very nice, but the facility was much to be desired (I think my kitchen is bigger). I started to visit more of the LDS's in my area, as well as talking to local divers, and it seems that the nicer dive shops are all SSI.

I asked one of the other LDS's "Why SSI over PADI?". The general response I seem to get is the following:

With PADI, you can "pay your way" through the different courses. You still have to do the courses, but if you complete course A then you can pay to do course B immediately without having to use the knowledge from Course A so many times before.

With SSI, you still have to pay, but it requires you to use your skills "X" amount of times before you can go to the next level.

This person told me they would put far more trust in an SSI AOW Certified Diver than a PADI AOW Certified Diver.

So here is my question, which is the better path to take? SSI or PADI? My goals with this certification are purely recreational. I plan to travel to the Caribbean as often as possible to dive. I will be diving in lakes here in the southwest. However, my end all goal is to dive caves. My goal is to be able to feel comfortable enough, and have enough dives under my belt within 2 years to start diving caves.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!!

-Mike

 

[supergaijin]

PADI AOW and SSI AOW share a name but are different courses and have different requirements. The PADI AOW can be done straight after OW but the SSI AOW needs a minimum of 24 dives.

Interesting to note however that SSI quickly introduced Advanced Adventurer which is "shock horror" pretty much exactly the same as the PADI AOW.

PADI and SSI are like Coke and Pepsi or sometimes a better mental image might be the Olsen twins.

I used to be both PADI and SSI instructor- I dropped the SSI simply becauseI couldn't afford to pay the annual fees to both agencies and PADI is the better marketing agency in my area. Rather than get hung up on agencies- especially these two in particular- go with the shop where you feel you have the best opportunity to receive the best training.

 

[Wolfie]

I am SSI OW and recently got PADI AOW I got more out of the SSI program yet it's very interchangible. I personally feel the SSI program is better yet many ops are dual agency with same instructor teaching the same things. Ultimately it's the shop the instructor and the dedication to teach. Although you're in it for the fun you should be looking for someone who will instruct and perhaps kick your butt a little if need be. The fact that you are asking here shows the desire to proper technique so stay away from the rubber stamp groupon kind of places. As another note the SSI Ow was a 10 week program finishing with open water in northern Michigan during a snow storm. In short, it was well beyond the minimum requirements.

 

[FoxHound]

take agency names and toss em right out, find a good instructor and learn how to dive.....doesn't matter at all what agency you have on your cert card, what matters is the skills you have in the water!

 

[mfox007]

I am SSI OW and recently got PADI AOW I got more out of the SSI program yet it's very interchangible. I personally feel the SSI program is better yet many ops are dual agency with same instructor teaching the same things. Ultimately it's the shop the instructor and the dedication to teach. Although you're in it for the fun you should be looking for someone who will instruct and perhaps kick your butt a little if need be. The fact that you are asking here shows the desire to proper technique so stay away from the rubber stamp groupon kind of places. As another note the SSI Ow was a 10 week program finishing with open water in northern Michigan during a snow storm. In short, it was well beyond the minimum requirements.

It's funny you mention Groupon, as that is where my wife purchased my course! haha... I was in the process of researching PADI training centers when she surprised me with this class for our anniversary. I only found out about PADI because I bought a Sportdiver magazine in the airport on my way back from the Caribbean, and there were a bunch of ads.

If I am going to do something I want to do it right the first time. Thanks for your input!!

 

[supergaijin]

There have been a bunch of negative Groupon threads recently- the concept doesn't seem to be a great one for diving training, as in reality the course is likely to be a loss-leader and subsequently conducted as such.

The idea behind Groupon diving courses is to upsell equipment and further training. However unfortunately the original training sometimes suffers as the operator tries to minimise their losses incurred in giving the course at these Groupon prices.

As many DC operators are not massively astute business people, they have trouble forecasting their probable sales from discounted courses and then freak out when the reality of losing money on courses sets in.

 

[mfox007]

take agency names and toss em right out, find a good instructor and learn how to dive.....doesn't matter at all what agency you have on your cert card, what matters is the skills you have in the water!

I can see your point of view. I'll see what I can find out about local instructors.

---------- Post Merged at 10:05 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 10:01 PM ----------

There have been a bunch of negative Groupon threads recently- the concept doesn't seem to be a great one for diving training, as in reality the course is likely to be a loss-leader and subsequently conducted as such.

The idea behind Groupon diving courses is to upsell equipment and further training. However unfortunately the original training sometimes suffers as the operator tries to minimise their losses incurred in giving the course at these Groupon prices.

As many DC operators are not massively astute business people, they have trouble forecasting their probable sales from discounted courses and then freak out when the reality of losing money on courses sets in.

I can definitely see this happening. When I went to the shop to schedule my class, the August class I wanted was full and the soonest I could get in was September. HOWEVER...... If I was willing to pay the difference between the Groupon price and their normal full cert price (essentially paying full price), I could get in on any date I wanted. I thought that was a little odd....

Also, he wasn't to happy when I told him I had already purchased my basic four piece from another PADI location (Sport Chalet).

 

[Dive the World]

Its all about the instructor. You will find quite a few instructors here on the board who are multiple agency certified.

Your actual dive experience will make you a diver so dive as much as you can and if possible make friends with a more experienced diver and let them mentor you.

 

[bluemed]

Although there is something in "it is all about the instructor"..the student doesn't know...I am happy not to be dependant of either of these 2 agencies anymore..due to low standards and no proper quality managment the instructor can be a complete disaster.
(although there is never a guarantee with any agency or instructor, it is the probability)

 

[mfox007]

Although there is something in "it is all about the instructor"..the student doesn't know...I am happy not to be dependant of either of these 2 agencies anymore..due to low standards and no proper quality managment the instructor can be a complete disaster.
(although there is never a guarantee with any agency or instructor, it is the probability)

That's comforting....