Switching from PADI to SSI

[HamTrainChickenLaser]

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.

 

[tursiops]

<PADI> still gives you the flexibility to teach as an independent Instructor

This is the single most-important thing to me. So if I wanted to go to a different agency, I'd look at SDI, not SSI.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

What about NAUI, what ever happened to them?

 

[TravisD]

As a part-time, low student count instructor, the SSI shop affiliation is a win for me, since being on the shop insurance policy saves me a bunch of $$ in buying individual insurance.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

being on the shop insurance policy saves me a bunch of $$ in buying individual insurance.

And if that policy gets used up by an incident with another instructor at the same shop, you are no longer covered.

 

[paddydiver]

I like SDI/TDI. I like their materials and 'divercentric' attitude. But, I guess for a busy shop like the OP it comes down to brand recognition and unfortunately PADI and SSI have this cornered. Here in Europe there is lots of schools offering CMAS or BSAC along with the others but these are taken up more by people who want to dive local and are willing to take the time to train properly. Any shop aimed at a Tourist market or people who want to travel/work as DM's etc are definitely selling PADI and/or SSI. FRom working abroad, TDI is recognised and well regarded but SDI is almost unknown in many parts.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I came up through DM with PADI. Then crossed over to NAUI and the YMCA. Became a YMCA Instructor until they shut down the program and then went with the SEI that evolved out of the Y program. I taught that exclusively until 2012.
I became a HOG dealer and wanted to teach the HOG reg class. That could only be done through SDI/TDI.
I crossed over to SDI/TDI and taught all three agencies for a couple years. Then SEI started to move in a direction I didn't care for.
I dropped them and taught SDI/TDI only until I retired in 2022.
BUT, I still taught the Y Open Water curriculum and the DRAM Rescue class while meeting SDI standards because both of those programs were more rigorous and SDI not only allows but encourages instructors to add to the courses. Based on local conditions, student interest, and instructor knowledge and experience.
You can add material to the courses. I used my own New Diver book to supplement my OW class. And the Advanced Training work I authored for the Advanced Class.
SDI/TDI allows independent instructors. That was critical for me. No way was I going to teach for a shop or allow an agency to influence the way I talked about gear to students. They were not going to make me try to sell students stupid gear packages they did not need.
SSI is about supporting the shop's bottom line. That is often not in the best interest of the student's wallet.