Switching from PADI to SSI

[brsnow]

Outside of seeing mares in training videos I have never been pushed on a brand. It would seem most instructors used SP.

 

[NothingClever]

I always wondered about the relationship between the WRSTC and various agencies.
Is the WRSTC neutral politically and do they separate themselves from all the training agencies and remain neutral? , or is there a climate of good ol' boyism and favoritism, essentially corruption.
Are they in bed with any certain agency more than others? Is there pressure on the WRSTC from some agencies to discourage them to allow other agencies to be accepted into the WRSTC?
Are there any chairs on the BoD of the WRSTC held by any corporate members of any of the certification agencies?
Will we ever know any of this stuff?

First, given that the second "News" update on the WRSTC's homepage refers to "the ever-evolving Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic" and refers to a 2021 article, I'm not thinking there's a whole lot of progressive activity at the WRSTC.

Second, I think a lot of answers can be deduced from reading their operating protocols.

https://wrstc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/WRSTC-Operating-Protocols.pdf

One policy is particularly interesting - All decisions require 100 percent agreement of the WRSTC BOD.

If I were on the BOD, I'd be hungry to kick off a meeting with some Bad Company theme music but I'm thinking the Delegates from the heavyweight organizations in the room would opt for Otis Redding sitting on the dock of the bay watching the tide roll away and whistling right along.

 

[CycleCat]

SSI is owned by Head who owns Mares (and now Aqualung too). So you are encouraged to purchase a tennis racquet in addition to Mares equip when you sign up for any SSI course.

Where the commercial connection is most obvious is in the training videos... Everyone in the vid uses Mares regulators, Mares wetsuits, Mares everything. You see it over and over, it sticks in your head as a OW student and so you buy Mares... at least that is the plan.

I got OW certified between two SSI shops: Underwater Connection/Diventures in Colorado Springs for classroom and pool work, New Mexico Scuba Center for my open water dives. Both sell Mares but also carry other brands. NM Scuba has Hollis, Oceanic, Sherwood, XS, Scubapro, Bare, Tusa and Zeagle. The Colorado Springs shop has Bare, Aqualung, Atomic, Oceanic, Scubapro, Zeagle, Shearwater. Looks like Mares might be required but they are free to rep other brands too.

 

[BoltSnap]

@BoltSnap says NAUI's curriculum is very good.

Over the years, my experience in scuba instruction has introduced me to a wide variety of teaching methods and organizational philosophies. Through many hours in the classroom, pool, and open water, I have come to understand the differences that distinguish each agency. Some focus on efficiency, while others emphasize extensive knowledge or practical skills; however, most of them are unable to strike a balance between strict standards and easy-to-understand learning. Having navigated this landscape, I have formed opinions based on both personal observation and professional practice.


I have been an instructor with NAUI since 1987, and I am also an instructor with TDI/SDI, SSI, and others for a very long time. I have reviewed training materials from various organizations, including well-known brands. I found that NAUI maintains some of the highest training standards and encourages instructors to go beyond those standards (within reason and safe diving limits for each course level). Their printed training materials include more information than I usually see from other agencies. NAUI's online training surpasses that of any other I’ve experienced. Students must score 100% on quizzes and exams covering the material to advance to the next section or complete the course. Participating in online training does not replace in-person instruction; it’s simply another tool to help students comprehend and retain the material, not a substitute for classroom teaching with NAUI.


NAUI's leadership training exceeds that of other agencies, including some European-based organizations. I could teach through any agency I choose (there are a few others I haven't mentioned), but I prefer to teach through NAUI. Are there complaints or areas for improvement? Of course, there are several, but it remains far better than the greater majority of other agencies.

 

[PDodson]

I got certified through SSI, and the shop I worked at for a few years was SSI, started to switch to PADI toward the end of my time there so we had a bit of both in the interim. PADI is what I see the most, and I do have a few PADI certs. As a student and during the time working at the shop I really enjoyed working with SSI. I like their content and system and how they do recognition levels and such. They already had brand partnerships, but we never were pushed to carry or use specific gear. We had Mares, but most of the staff was diving ScubaPro or Atomic.

PADI seemed a bit more disconnected, probably at least in part due to the fact that instructors can operate independently so the business model isn't solely based on shop partnerships. Just a different style. I'm not as negative on PADI as many, but I do prefer SSI and wish it was more common.

Something to consider, will most of your students be doing open water locally or will referrals be a fairly common practice? Or will you be getting a lot of referrals? You can do referrals across agencies but it is definitely simpler to keep it the same. So if it's close between them and you expect referrals to be a big part of the business then PADI might get an edge there.

 

[landphil]

I'm brand new to diving. I found a local shop to do a "try scuba" class and that was SSI. I found an instructor at my diving vacation location and he happened to be PADI- and I did my open water and advanced with him.

Once I was home I planned the next diving vacation to get my rescue diver and deep diver and that shop advertised that they offered both PADI and SSI, but when I wanted to do the bookwork ahead of time he pushed me toward SSI- probably because less money out of his pocket up front? No worries, I did all that bookwork with SSI.

In the meantime the local shop that serviced my gear happened to be the cheapest place to do the nitrox course, so I thought what the heck- it's SDI and I've not done a course with them yet. I did the course and when I was finishing up the in-person tank labeling and testing and logging, I asked about getting a physical card. They printed it ON THE SPOT and it was FREE. If I can get a free physical card for any course that I do, why not always go with SDI- particularly because their courses seem legit and it's a great shop?

How much is a physical card from PADI- $55 or $60? What will it be next year? They are constantly squeezing and frankly, with the prices of everything going up up up, the consumer is sick to death of that. I've never needed an SSI physical card and don't know what they cost, but I will find out as soon as I finish my rescue diver course because that is a card I want as it is what I will show any operator who asks.

I have an older PADI cert with a physical card- looked into getting an e-card as well. But they charge $56 to add an e-card! Fortunately I have the same cert through NAUI; so, I never need to show anyone that PADI card

 

[Mobulai]

Hi @Miyaru

That's very interesting. A quick search yielded about twice as many SSI dive centers as PADI centers. There are quite a few dive centers in Malta! I wonder if that is true in other EMEA locations?

Definitely true for Egypt — the shop I started at switched from PADI to SSI at that time (even tho they used to be exclusively PADI, even a premium or platinum or whatever status symbol)

The I switched to after (my old base had no tech training) runs PADI flags, but they also have lots of TDI instructors that work there on freelance basis (the shop provides facilities and equipments, instructors handle their own pay witv the students), even lots of visiting ones from abroad

 

[Mobulai]

Is SSI actually gaining market share over PADI, or are they possibly expanding the market instead? If the latter, great! If the former, I'm not hopeful for the future.

I think more of the former — but that’s just a guess

 

[tursiops]

I think more of the former — but that’s just a guess

Yeah, for sure some PADI shops are switching to SSI and some may be new startups, but without real numbers and especially denominators it is hard to say the consequences.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Here is South Florida there remain a number of very hard core PADI shops. Not surprisingly, they are shops that also run IDCs. I'm thinking of Rainbow Reef (Key Largo), Pura Vida (Riviera Beach/Singer Island), Diver's Paradise (Miami/Key Biscayne) and Sea Experience (Ft. Lauderdale). However, most other shops now seem to be offering a blend of PADI, SSI, SDI, and NAUI. For many of those, SSI has now become their default go-to unless one of the others is specifically requested.