Taking SDI/TDI courses with a

[GearheadExplorer85]

Any reason to not take the PADI versions?

With PADI AOW, you're doing sampler dives of different specialties. But you don't get any of the specialty qualifications at the end. Your basically leaving with a card saying you're advanced when that is not necessarily the case.

With the SDI Advanced Diver program, you do 4 FULL specialty courses that go into more detail. TDI Nitrox also goes beyond the scope of recreational nitrox. You're also required to complete 25 dives to get the rating. So, you're leaving a more knowledgeable and skilled diver. This is what I'm after...the knowledge, skill, and experience to back up that advanced card.

I'm wondering if a way around this would be to take the 4 individual specialty courses through PADI, do the required experience dives, and get the SDI Advanced retroactively. SDI accepts PADI specialty qualifications as equivalent. But I don't think it works the other way around.

At the same time, I'm wondering if I should give up on this whole SDI training idea, settle for AOW, and call it a day if I can't access the training I want.

 

[went_postal]

With PADI AOW, you're doing sampler dives of different specialties. But you don't get any of the specialty qualifications at the end. Your basically leaving with a card saying you're advanced when that is not necessarily the case.

With the SDI Advanced Diver program, you do 4 FULL specialty courses that go into more detail. TDI Nitrox also goes beyond the scope of recreational nitrox. You're also required to complete 25 dives to get the rating. So, you're leaving a more knowledgeable and skilled diver. This is what I'm after...the knowledge, skill, and experience to back up that advanced card.

I'm wondering if a way around this would be to take the 4 individual specialty courses through PADI, do the required experience dives, and get the SDI Advanced retroactively. SDI accepts PADI specialty qualifications as equivalent. But I don't think it works the other way around.

At the same time, I'm wondering if I should give up on this whole SDI training idea, settle for AOW, and call it a day if I can't access the training I want.

So... SDI has a similar thing called Advanced Adventure that is like the PADI AOW you described... I believe SSI calls it the same thing. Though with SDI it's not entirely pointless... it does expose you to navigation, deep, and other stuff. When you get Advanced Adventurer via SDI it does extend your depth.

SDI OW - 60 feet
SDI AA - 100 feet
SDI Deep - 130 feet

I thought I heard that most of the agencies only accept two specialties from others... that may differ from agency to agency.

 

[VikingDives]

Thanks for the response! I'm just trying to figure out the lay of the land and making sure that I'm not inadvertently doing something wrong.

A month ago, I contacted this instructor to do refresher training and the SDI Advanced Diver development program back-to-back. We chatted in the shop a couple of times and had good rapport. Then we did the pool refresher two weeks ago and everything went well.

After the refresher, we went back and forth through email and agreed to do the SDI Navigation, Deep, Wreck, and TDI Nitrox courses. I'm waiting for him to send me pricing, course codes, and confirmation that I'm booked in for the practical portions. It's been two weeks and I haven't heard anything. So, I started the Navigation eLearning in the meantime and let him know this. But he asked me to hold off on buying more courses until he sends me the codes (which I still haven't received). Apparently, he is waiting for the shop he works at to do something. But if these SDI/TDI instructors are free agents like you said, I'm not understanding what the complication is. This is what prompted me to write the OP.

It's super aggravating because I've been trying to get this training done for two years and it's been non-stop roadblock after roadblock. This is the last shop near me with a staff member that teaches SDI/TDI. I love this hobby a lot. I'm willing and able to pay for quality training. I'm not against paying for private lessons either. But how does one stay active in a hobby when the shops won't help their customers?

You can take 4 courses from any agency and get the sdi Advanced diver... look for SSI shops in your area - they should have the courses you're looking for. That said, if you want to DM me and take a road trip, I can hook you up as soon as next week. . . There are probably instructors who are closer, but it sucks when you can't get what you want and I get it.