PADI vs. SDI

[Ludicrous Depth]

Ok, so my dive shop, the one in which I have received all of my certification (currently Master Diver) with PADI is about to become an SDI shop also. I am just about to start my divemaster training and not sure which way I should go. Should I stay with PADI, since all of my other certifications have been with them or should I make the switch to SDI? Are there any drawbacks or advantages. I just want to make sure that I get the best training as I start on my professional leg of diver training. Thank you for your advice and help.

 

[pir8]

Why is the shop switching agencies?
The agency doesn't mean quite as much as the instructor.
Yes I know I haven't really answered your question!

 

[smartties]

Hello,

The instructors at the DC are more important than the agency, I agree. But:
If you are looking for a carreer in the diving indstry it is more important how big and recognised the agency is in your part of the world or the part of the world you want to start working in.

You wouldn't want to be selling X-box games in a town where everybody plays the Playstation.

All the best in you training

 

[DevonDiver]

In reality, agency-switching at non-pro level makes little difference. During my first years in diving, I trained with both BSAC and PADI....crossing between courses as I progressed. If anything, it provided a wider perspective of diving...and offered the 'best' that the two agencies had to offer.

The divemaster course is relatively generic in terms of skills. I really am not aware of the SDI course, but I am guessing it is mostly the same. That said, if you have any intention of progressing to Instructor level, then PADI is a good agency (in terms of employability) to get instructor trained with. If you were to do the PADI instructor course, then also doing the PADI DM course would give you prior exposure to the same teaching practice, skills and diving theory. The PADI DM theory tests are virtually identical to the instructor exams (except the instructor pass score is higher).

 

[Ludicrous Depth]

Why is the shop switching agencies?
The agency doesn't mean quite as much as the instructor.
Yes I know I haven't really answered your question!

It seems that there is a huge difference in the online price between PADI courses and SDI. With the economy the way it is, they are trying everything they can to get additional business. As far as instructors, they will all be dual certified by both agencies, so would still be able to take classes from my favorite instructors.

 

[smartties]

Price is important but as said above. If you want to carry on to become an instructor the IDC will probably be easyer when you enroll after a PADI DM course. I dont think there are many differences between the different agencys when it comes to the course contents. Check out what your DC offers. Some Diveschools offer a DM course in 10 days. Others will advise you to take at least 4 weeks and offer a broader programme than the standard programme.

Whatever you choose, have fun and let us know how it went.

greetz

 

[Nikki McAllen]

I think there may be subtle differences between agencies that bears research.

Like Smartties said any good certification agency will have a good program and real gold rests in the quality of the instructor.

However, to my understanding PADI is the only agency that allows you to certify divers while working as 'free-lancer'. For better or worse this is a tremendous advantage. I don't know about SDI, but I think SSI requires you to be associated closely with a school to teach.

Can anyone confirm this ? I would like to know for sure myself.

There's the old example about Macintosh versus PC's. One got enormously big by letting anyone independently offer their system -- free lancing as it were. The other held close control. Which is better ? If you want to be a computer tech it's clearly better to learn how to fix Windows computers. If you want to just use computers and expect extreme quality, well I know what I'm typing on....

In diving if you want to work the masses PADI is probably the best choice. If you want more leadership options, or go Tec or Extreme Tec, SSI (or maybe SDI) is probably better if you have a school relationship. PADI seems more about initial instruction and not nearly as much about professional leadership to advanced divers.

I'm curious myself to hear from other posters although I'm leaning PADI simply because of the Freelancing ability and my prior contacts. If I were opening a new school it would definitely be SSI and market them as kind of a ' PADI 2.0 ' which I think they are in many ways.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

PADI is not the only agency that allows independent instructors. Many do and some in fact not only allow but encourage and fully support the idea. As well as providing the same level of support to a 10 student a year instructor as they do to one certifying 100. To the point of not penalizing them by charging more for materials.

As to tech classes the support of a shop is nice but definitely not required.

 

[japan-diver]

However, to my understanding PADI is the only agency that allows you to certify divers while working as 'free-lancer'. For better or worse this is a tremendous advantage. I don't know about SDI, but I think SSI requires you to be associated closely with a school to teach.

Can anyone confirm this ? I would like to know for sure myself.

PADI is not the only agency that allows freelance instructors- NAUI, SEI and CMAS and others allow independent instructors and there are many others also. When I became an instructor I had the choice of numerous agencies - I went with NAUI because of the flexibility of the system and the quality of the local instructors here- have not regretted that choice in over 15 years of full time employment in the dive industry. I would not choose training with an agency that only allowed me to work with a shop - this is one of the things that excluded SSI when I was looking at an instructor class.

 

[DevonDiver]

With SSI, the shop itself is the 'agent'...and applies for the certifications. An instructor cannot apply for certifications directly.

With BSAC, the certification is 'authorized' and stamped by that club/schools' training officer. The instructor cannot certify - they just complete the training needed for the certification.