PADI Rescue Diver or SSI Stress & Rescue Speciality?

[Tile Diver]

Hey Folks!

I'm currently looking into the next stage in my diving development and was wondering what your thoughts and experience were on whether to do the PADI Rescue Diver Course or the SSI Stress & Rescue Speciality Course.

I don't currently have any plans to 'Go Pro' but was wondering if one was better than the other, or are they pretty much of a similar standard and viewed in a similar manner?

I'm a PADI AOW diver with Nitrox and an SSI Deep Diver Cert.

Thanks in advance!

 

[pdwh]

Hey Folks!

I'm currently looking into the next stage in my diving development and was wondering what your thoughts and experience were on whether to do the PADI Rescue Diver Course or the SSI Stress & Rescue Speciality Course.

I don't currently have any plans to 'Go Pro' but was wondering if one was better than the other, or are they pretty much of a similar standard and viewed in a similar manner?

I'm a PADI AOW diver with Nitrox and an SSI Deep Diver Cert.

Thanks in advance!

My instructor for the SSI Stress & Rescue was a PADI crossover to SSI. She pointed out the minor differences in the courses as we went through it and they did seem to be very minor. I've taken 3 PADI specialties and the rest SSI. The only real difference I see is that SSI's online bit is a lot nicer.

Pick a good instructor. My instructor is a paramedic and her assistant in the class is a retired firefighter. So we had some really good extra tips and realistic scenarios based on real world experience that was really helpful. If your options include an instructor who has worked as a first responder - I'd probably lean towards that more than I'd worry about agency differences.

 

[TravisD]

+1 on shop the instructor, not the agency.

 

[pdwh]

My instructor for the SSI Stress & Rescue was a PADI crossover to SSI. She pointed out the minor differences in the courses as we went through it and they did seem to be very minor. I've taken 3 PADI specialties and the rest SSI. The only real difference I see is that SSI's online bit is a lot nicer.

Pick a good instructor. My instructor is a paramedic and her assistant in the class is a retired firefighter. So we had some really good extra tips and realistic scenarios based on real world experience that was really helpful. If your options include an instructor who has worked as a first responder - I'd probably lean towards that more than I'd worry about agency differences.

I wanted to add - I've intentionally taken classes from a variety of different instructors, not just one. I've learned different stuff from all of them and one big thing I've discovered - just because an instructor is awesome in one class does NOT mean they'll be awesome in a different class.

Like all of us, they have preferences as well and things they like more than others. That doesn't mean they're bad teachers - just better at some than others.

I've tried to keep that in mind and find the right instructor for each course, especially as I get deeper (pun intended) into this hobby. It's even more important for the classes/skills that are truly focused on keeping you safer or more involved. My night diving instructor did a lot of it, probably more than most around here.

My deep diving instructor - same - does more of it than many around here and does a lot of it in the conditions around here.

When I took Altitude Diving - many of the presentations were done by an instructor who is also a physicist. That was awesome and VERY thorough.

 

[Tigerpaw]

Aside from the the instructor and minor details, they are virtually the same course. I took Rescue with PADI and NAUI and the differences were minimal. (I know you asked about SSI)
So that being said either organization will work! Good luck!!!

 

[geomatt21]

Hey Folks!

I'm currently looking into the next stage in my diving development and was wondering what your thoughts and experience were on whether to do the PADI Rescue Diver Course or the SSI Stress & Rescue Speciality Course.

I don't currently have any plans to 'Go Pro' but was wondering if one was better than the other, or are they pretty much of a similar standard and viewed in a similar manner?

I'm a PADI AOW diver with Nitrox and an SSI Deep Diver Cert.

Thanks in advance!

Hey there, good on you for pursuing the rescue class and cert. It will make you a safer diver and a better dive buddy.

Comparing these and other rescue classes is much more about the quality, demeanor, and your relationship/comfort with the individual instructor. The course content is about 90%+ identical and my opinion is that the agency does not matter, your instructor and classmates are vastly more influential to the quality of the class and your enjoyment.

Suggested considerations:
1. Instructor experience
2. Dive sites match your needs and type of diving you plan to do.
3. Cost differences.
4. Class size, other student’s experience. Consider taking the class with a friend/buddy if possible.

I’m an instructor and carry 20+ certs in rec/tech diving, FWIW.

 

[lowwall]

Suggested considerations:
1. Instructor experience
2. Dive sites match your needs and type of diving you plan to do.
3. Cost differences.
4. Class size, other student’s experience. Consider taking the class with a friend/buddy if possible.

5. Time. In general, more time spent practicing skills and discussing is better. You'll have to balance this with costs as more time and/or more individualized attention normally comes at a higher price.

Speaking of costs, make sure you include the cost of e-learning materials in your total. PADI is usually much higher.

 

[34109411]

Hey Folks!

I'm currently looking into the next stage in my diving development and was wondering what your thoughts and experience were on whether to do the PADI Rescue Diver Course or the SSI Stress & Rescue Speciality Course.

I don't currently have any plans to 'Go Pro' but was wondering if one was better than the other, or are they pretty much of a similar standard and viewed in a similar manner?

I'm a PADI AOW diver with Nitrox and an SSI Deep Diver Cert.

Thanks in advance!

i ve done the padi rescue it s a good class, i could not tell you about the SSI class.

In the pass when i was doing charter boat the dive master usually told the others i was holding a rescue certification, well it didn't bother me but put a little pressure.

I did my SSI solo diving course and i strongly suggest you do the same. Putting the two together will make you a pro efficient diver.

Be safe

 

[Tile Diver]

Thanks for all the input folks by what I'm hearing the courses are very similar and no one organisation is better than the other but more about finding the right Instructor.

Finding the right instructor is going to be difficult as I'd plan to do the course when I was away on a trip and do it with a local dive operator, still not sure where I'll go.

Time to carry out some research I think!!

Thanks again!

 

[Tigerpaw]

Where were you planning on taking the course? Also any reason why you don't want to take it near you, provided you live near water.

If it's on vacation, it might be better to take Rescue at home so you can fully and truly enjoy your dives as fun dives.