Padi/ssi/sdi Advanced Open Water

[Supermammal]

If you get deep diver from one agency can it be applied towards PADI AOW or vice versa. I guess I'm wondering that if I start with SSI or SDI training near home, if I take a trip will the objectives need to be finished with the same agency?

Scenario:
I'm OW and NItrox with PADI, but all the shops near me are SSI/SDI which is fine to get my next cert, but I was also planning a trip to the Keys which is a PADI shop... so I wasn't sure if I could start at home and finish with a PADI shop in the Keys?

 

[Diver0001]

Within the context of one course you won't be able to start with one agency and finish with another.

However, something like an SSI OW cert is equivalent to a PADI OW cert and you'll be able to cross over and take PADI advanced, using your SSI - OW cert as proof of prerequisite.

Not all agencies have inter-agency cross over rules, I know that PADI and SSI do but I'm not sure about PADI and SDI.

You should be able to find the information you're looking for on the web. If not, just give them a call and ask.

R..

 

[tursiops]

Needs to be same agency.

 

[boulderjohn]

If you get deep diver from one agency can it be applied towards PADI AOW or vice versa

Let me make sure I understand what you are saying. You want to get the Deep Dive specialty with one agency and apply it to another for the AOW certification? Is that right?

Your problem is that compared to the normal sequence of certifications, at least for PADI, you are doing it backwards. Normally a diver will get the AOW certification first. It is designed to be an introduction to different forms of diving, after which you go on and get the specialty for any of the dives that interest you, including the deep dive. If you do the PADI AOW first, the deep dive from the AOW will count as the first of the four dives for the Deep Diver specialty.

If I understand correctly, SSI requires 5 full specialties for its AOW, in which case it would make sense to do it in the order you are thinking, but only if you stay with that agency.

I am guessing that your problem is that you want to do a dive in the Keys that requires AOW. If so, I suggest you do the entire AOW with that shop in the Keys. As I said, the primary purpose of the PADI AOW is to introduce you to other forms of diving--that is why the course is actually called Adventures in Diving. It only takes 5 dives over 2 days. You can get that certification while you are there doing the dives you want to do, then come home and make whatever changes you want to make at the next certification level.

 

[Tug]

I am guessing that your problem is that you want to do a dive in the Keys that requires AOW. If so, I suggest you do the entire AOW with that shop in the Keys. As I said, the primary purpose of the PADI AOW is to introduce you to other forms of diving--that is why the course is actually called Adventures in Diving. It only takes 5 dives over 2 days. You can get that certification while you are there doing the dives you want to do, then come home and make whatever changes you want to make at the next certification level.

I agree with this, if it's not possible to complete the whole AOW class at home, I'd take it in Florida. I took my AOW while on vacation and got to dive some fun sites while taking the class.

 

[gkwalt]

The SSI Advanced Adventurer Diver certification is equivalent to PADI AOW. The program give the diver training in multiple specialties, but allows for specific certification in a particular one.