SSI to PADI Instructor

[Teller]

I want to go for my instructor cert and I have been working with an SSI shop. I am wondering if I was a SSI Instructor and I wanted to switch to PADI would it be hard. Thanks

 

[AndyNZ]

From memory, you'd have to complete the OWSI portion of the PADI Instructor Development Course, plus a few additional academic modules because you are a crossover candidate, and then sit the PADI IE.

For a seven day IDC, the OWSI portion normally lasts four days. So from a purely financial perspective, the cost of crossing over is not that different from just becoming a PADI instructor in the first place (you have to buy all the manuals and other materials).

I personally think that "becoming an instructor with one agency, whilst planning to cross over to another in the future" is a bit nuts - again from a financial perspective. You're probably better off just choosing the agency you want to end up teaching for, and go that route.

There is always the chance that you will cross over to another agency "at some uncertain point in the future".... but I'd worry about that when it happens, rather than now. Who knows how the agency standards will change in the future.

If becoming an SSI instructor suits your current situation (and immediate future plans) then go for it.

If you have a date when you want to be teaching PADI by, ignore the SSI step and just go for the whole PADI IDC when you are ready.


Hope this helps.

 

[bajashack]

I agree, don't forget the yearly dues will be at least 150 per year. I am not sure what SSI pays but PADI is at least 150.

 

[explorer08]

AndyNZ described it very well and as you can see from what he explained, there is no real crossover. With some exceptions, you have to pass more than half of the PADI Instructor development process and the whole PADI Instructor examination.

From my point of view there is another important point which should be considered while choosing the agency for your instructor training.
You wrote that you have been working with an SSI dive centre. So if you want to continue working with them, take the SSI Instructor. But you should be aware that, as an SSI Instructor, you are always bound to an SSI dive centre. For me this is reason enough, that SSI never would be an option for me as an Instructor.
If you are not sure where you will be working in the future, PADI is always the better choice, because as a PADI Instructor you are free to work wherever you want and you are not bound to any dive centre.

 

[Teller]

I agree, don't forget the yearly dues will be at least 150 per year. I am not sure what SSI pays but PADI is at least 150.

Do I have to pay the yearly dues if I am not teaching that year.

 

[AndyNZ]

Do I have to pay the yearly dues if I am not teaching that year.

For PADI, as soon as you don't pay the membership fee - you are no longer a PADI instructor.

You can "get away" with it for maybe a year, and then to reinstate your status you would have to do the online member update (dull, but not onerous) at most. But once you go over a year, you'd be looking at some remedial training with either a Course Director or a Staff Instructor.

That first year is quite grey - PADI don't have a written rule about whether it is simply a case of paying your dues (it normally is), so they can just get real strict straight away if they feel like it.

 

[bajashack]

With NAUI they require you take the written exam again, even take a year off.

 

[theSloth]

If you are planning to teach both PADI and SSI in the future, from my experience it's easier and cheaper to do the full PADI IDC and then the SSI crossover.

The PADI to SSI corssover only took me 2 days to complete. First day we spent in the class room going through the differences between PADI and SSI academic sessions and the second day consisted of a short confined session (again going through the differences - and there really aren't that many).