PADI or SSI Scuba Certification Path??

[supergaijin]

....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)

Which is why 6/7 divers don't live to see their tenth dive.

Seriously- it isn't as bad as that with PADI/SSI. PADI cops a lot of flak being the 800lb gorilla, and SSI can be seen by some as PADI's little emo brother. Trying hard to copy PADI but wanting to be seen as completely different... but ultimately failing to do so in the eyes of anyone over 15 years of age.

 

[scubadiver888]

mfox007,

Most recreational dive agencies adhere to a minimum standard. In many cases the documentation is so vague and leaves a lot to the instructor's discretion that it really is about the instructor. Some instructors will pass students who barely meet the minimum requirements. Others will go above and beyond.

I have a number of shops in my area. One charges $200 for OW. They certify people who REALLY didn't meet the minimum requirements. Gave one of their students a refresher course. He couldn't clear his mask without panicking. He told me he never cleared his mask. They certified him anyway. They made all their money selling gear. They gave crappy training and convinced students more gear or more expensive gear would make them better. They just wanted to sell gear.

I worked for a shop who properly prepared students for diving in my area. They gave excellent instruction and worked beyond the minimum requirements. They tried to compete with the shops who charge $200. The didn't push over priced gear. They didn't have professional, high pressure sale staff who moved a ton of equipment before the students knew what hit them. They went out of business.

I now work for a shop which gives excellent training but if you cannot pick it up within the allot time (80% of the student do fine) you can pay extra for one on one training. They make some money selling gear, some money doing training, some money organizing trips (government registered travel agency). They seem to be doing okay.

For you I'll say this, it is not a race. Find a good instructor. It should be someone you are comfortable with. You might want to pick a shop which has technical dive training but it is not unusual to get trained up to Rescue Diver at a recreational only shop they find a private instructor/mentor to get into cave diving. If you area ready in 2 years for cave diving then you are ready. If you are not then keep diving. The caves will still be there and many instructor will have even more experience by the time you are ready. You might find yourself ready before 2 years but you might find you'll get more out of it in 3 years. You just don't need to rush. Tortoise and the Hare; be the Tortoise.

 

[bbarnett51]

Its all about the instructor.

 

[mfox007]

Thanks for all the information guys! It really is appreciated.

I think the path I am currently on (with PADI) will be a good start. I have been told the instructor doing my course is very detailed, but can be kind of a hard ass. However, the few people that I have talked to that have gone through his course say they feel way more comfortable in the water afterwards.

I know he has more certification cards than I have fingers and toes (and I have all of them!) from more than one agency.

I'll let everyone know how it goes.

Thanks again!!!

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For you I'll say this, it is not a race. Find a good instructor. It should be someone you are comfortable with. You might want to pick a shop which has technical dive training but it is not unusual to get trained up to Rescue Diver at a recreational only shop they find a private instructor/mentor to get into cave diving. If you area ready in 2 years for cave diving then you are ready. If you are not then keep diving. The caves will still be there and many instructor will have even more experience by the time you are ready. You might find yourself ready before 2 years but you might find you'll get more out of it in 3 years. You just don't need to rush. Tortoise and the Hare; be the Tortoise.

Completely agree with you on the pace. I have no desire to rush into a situation I don't feel I am ready for. When the time is right, and I feel I have had enough dives under my belt (With more experienced divers), then I'll take that dive. Appreciate the info!!

 

[Scuba Lawrence]

For what it's worth, I went through SSI a few years ago and my son just finished PADI. My SSI was associated with a local shop and there was a lot of pressure to buy gear from them, which I did, paying a lot for the previous-years' models of basic gear. My son's instruction was through community education and the only mention of gear was that it be safe and functional. Most of the students rented through a local PADI shop, but the instructor had no financial interest in selling gear.

Our discussions of the lessons seem to show that the curriculum was pretty consistent. SSI seemed to do a better job with the Navy charts and PADI did a slightly better job with emergency situations, but those may be instructor-specific differences. In both of our classes there seemed to be individuals who were so uncomfortable with the water that we wondered why they took the course, sort of a "don't sign up for sky diving if you are not comfortable with jumping out of an airplane"-thing.

Whenever I went into the SSI shop after my certification, someone made a real effort to sell me something...a dive, a trip, a gadget. I quit going in and they have quit contacting me. I get my fills at a PADI shop; the guy who runs it is much more of a soft-sell sort.

My experiences with the first shop have led me to learn to service my own equipment; gathering the tools, parts, and manuals needed for about the cost of one servicing by the LDS. I know there is a risk something the expert at the LDS knows that I don't might cause a problem, but I can tell you that I now know a lot more about my gear than I was taught in class, because the dealer's answer is always "Take it to a certified dealer."

 

[skearse]

Based on my limited experience, I've got to echo the 'it's about the instructor' sentiment. I did my OW through PADI several years ago; my wife did hers through our local SSI shop this past April; at the same time I did a refresher since I'd been out of the water for a while. From a 10,000 foot level, the instruction and skills are the same (although I noted some minor differences-whether this was an agency to agency thing or an instructor to instructor thing I couldn't tell you). At the end of the day, though, make sure you are working with an instructor that is working with you to certify you as a safe and competent OW diver rather than simply willing to check the boxes and give you an OW card.

Another thing to think about/ask is the 'what if I need more time' question-will it cost me more $, and if so, how much?

---------- Post Merged at 04:24 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 04:24 PM ----------

Oops-just realized I was late to the party-hope everything goes well for you!