PADI OW and SDI AOW?

[Sabanist]

So I have a PADI OW cert and purchased an advanced OW course but didn't realize it was SDI until after the purchase. I don't have a problem with it. Actually I'm looking forward to getting a first hand experience of a different cert agency.

I do question the claim that the two agencies are used interchangeably.

Like, what if I wanted to pursue another cert with padi after having obtained the Advanced from SDI?

Also what about my dive log. It' s got padi tables and what not. Is there a different log?

Any info would be helpful. Thanks

 

[Scott]

I do question the claim that the two agencies are used interchangeably.

Like, what if I wanted to pursue another cert with padi after having obtained the Advanced from SDI?

At the diver level going from one agency to another and then back is not a problem. Neither is going from agency A to B to C.

Also what about my dive log. It' s got padi tables and what not. Is there a different log?

Log your dives in your log book using your tables. If your instructor tells you you need a SDI log and tables, run to another instructor.

 

[knotical]

As Scott said, there is no real problem changing agencies at the recreational level.
But there are some differences between PADI and SDI.

SDI uses Dive Computers, not tables.

And SDI's Advanced is different from PADI's.
PADI's Advanced Open Water Diver course requires 5 dives, one each from 5 different specialties, to include deep and navigation.
The SDI equivalent is called Advanced Adventure Diver Specialty.
SDI's Advanced Diver requires 4 specialties, with typically two dives per specialty, and a total of 25 logged dives.

 

[sheeper]

Personally I find SDI training better developed and more skills/knowledge based than PADI. A lot is up to the instructor of course. However, as a rule I prefer SDI classes.

 

[coldwatercanada]

PADI uses computers instead of tables now too. How it works is to go back to padi you have to take the next level up. So if your an sdi advanced diver it doesnt make you a padi advanced diver but would qulaify you to take your padi rescue diver. SDI is less regulated then padi so the level of instruction is fairly dependent on the instructor where padi is more standarderized(Spelling?) across the agency. Also rember that the sdi advanced open water diver is more similar to the padi master scuba diver then the padi AOW

 

[Sabanist]

Thanks for all the responses. I'm actually looking forward to the diversity in my diver education.

 

[ppo2_diver]

Shouldn't be a problem. I actually prefer teaching SDI over PADI. Have fun!!!