Question about SNSI

[the207life]

Hello everyone,
Just got into diving less than a month ago and finished my OWD through SNSI while stationed overseas in Europe. I am from the United States and have a question about future PADI certs. Like I said, I am new to diving and only have 14 dives under my belt. I have been diving and learning from a dive shop in Croatia where I got my SNSI OWD cert and would like to begin taking Advanced Open Water once I have 25 dives logged. My question is, when I return to the states if I want to advance myself and work towards future PADI certs will my SNSI certs be respected? For example, say I when I returned to the States I wanted to take the PADI Rescue Diver course.. on the PADI site it lists "PADI Advanced Open Water Divers who are at least 12 years old" as a pre-requiste. Is this saying that if I got my OWD and AOWD certs through SNSI I would have to retake these classes with PADI before I am able to take that next step?

Sorry for the long winded post.. just want to have a solid answer before I go to far over here.

Thanks in advance for any help.
- Doug

 

[Phil_C]

Hi Doug, normally all the agencies recognise equivalences from other agencies. This is certainly true at the open water/advanced open water level because the basic courses all tend to cover the same ground, but perhaps less so the higher you go when differing agencies offer different routes.

I personally haven't come across SNSI but I see that they are members of RSTC (Recreational Scuba Training Council) Europe and RSTC set standards for open water course content, so I do not think you will have a problem with PADI accepting your open water cert. - have fun and dive safe - Phil.

 

[the207life]

Phil -
Wow quick response! Thank you for the help I really appreciate it.
Cheers.
Doug

 

[Crowley]

I'm not super familiar with SNSI either although I vaguely remember checking up on the certs when I was in Egypt and as far as I remember they were fine.

For reference, in order to qualify for a PADI Rescue program if you are coming from a different training agency, then your Advanced Open Water equivalent is defined by PADI as:

From the PADI Instructor Manual 2015 General Standards and Procedures pp26:
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver [equivalent] — proof of certification beyond entry-level (at least two certifications total); proof of 20 or more logged dives;
documented experience in deep diving and underwater navigation.

In other words - you should be fine if your SNSI training has met those requirements. As it's not a commonly encountered agency is many locations, I would advise you keep a detailed record of the training in your log book and signed by your instructor (which I assume is required for the course), as well as the extra 20 dives, and ask for copies of all relevant paperwork from the dive centre where you do your SNSI training - it's not necessarily a PADI requirement as c-cards should suffice for the certifications, but it may save a bit of time when you approach a shop for Rescue training if they haven't heard of SNSI.

Have fun!

C.

 

[knotical]

Because SNSI is a relative unknown you might want to be prepared to educate the dive shop you choose for further training.

As Phil_C mentioned, SNSI is a member of RSTC - Europe, which can be confirmed here: WRSTC Member Councils

I assume you already know SNSI’s website, but just in case: SNSI - Scuba Nitrox Safety International
And this page: SNSI - Advanced Diver confirms they include navigation and deep in their advanced course (re: Crowley's post).

 

[the207life]

Thank you guys so much for all the information. A couple questions if you don't mind..

Crowley - My first 14 dives were from my OWD course with the first four being pool dives. These 14 dives have been stamped and signed by the dive center here in Croatia. For now I am renting gear from the center and doing dives from their beach with a friend of mine who is also has his OWD. We are logging dives for the advanced course but the dive center just said it was okay for us to sign each others log when recording dives. Should my instructor at the center also be signing these? I am sure they would if thats what should be done. Again really new to diving but am hooked and want to make sure I am doing it right from the start.

Knotical - Thanks for the info! I saw them on the list you posted. I'll be sure to keep this as a reference. Really appreciate it.

Thanks again guys.

 

[Crowley]

207life - the pool sessions don't count as "dives" but otherwise yes, it's fine for buddies to sign the logs for just regular dives, it doesn't have to be an instructor. As long as the instructor signs off on the training dives (which is mandatory by PADI standards but I don't know about SNSI) then that's fine.

Cheers

C.

 

[the207life]

Awesome.. yes all of my training dives were logged. Again, thanks for the help. Really appreciate it.

- Doug