Verifying dives

[scubadada]

I knew nothing about SSI until I read this thread and then went to the SSI website to learn more. I found it interesting

SSI has a relatively large number of recognition ratings; Specialty Diver 2 specialties and 12 dives, Advanced Open Water Diver 4 specialties and 24 dives, Master Diver 4 specialties Stress and Rescue and 50 dives, Century 100 dives, Silver 300 dives, Gold 500 dives, Platinum 1000 dives, and Platinum Pro 5000 dives. I can see that this might be a good system for divers who like being recognized for achieving various milestones and to keep them engaged with SSI over the long term.

 

[TMHeimer]

I use the SSI diving app on my iPhone and I am very happy with it. I have my training material, c cards, diving logs in it. However, two things bother me. You can only verify dives in a SSI shop. They tell you to go back to your LDS. What if you no longer have a LDS because you relocated? Will you go to any SSI shop and are they supposed to let you verify your dives using the shop QR code if they don’t know you? Second thing is the fact that you cannot input c cards from other agencies. Not even like a photograph. I would hate having two diving apps for my cards and I would hate even more having physical cards. As a result, when I travel and go diving, I search first for SSI shops. Same thing when I travel and want to take an additional training course.

I haven't read the ton of posts and apologize if my question has been answered.
Are we talking about needing to verify a certain number of dives because you are going to take a course that requires a certain number of logged dives? If so, I'm not sure what the question is. You could log you dives on a computer (DC, etc.), on your phone (somehow, I guess, Aps, etc.) or like me with a paper log book. Either way, wherever you are going to take the course, they will have to take your word for it that the dives you logged are in fact real, no? So, what do you mean by "verifying" your dives?
If you're talking about showing a charter boat crew member how many dives you have, they too have to take your word for it.

 

[Dody]

So many silly comments here. SSI simply uses this as a recognition system.

And guess what? When someone qualifies for master scuba diver, they receive that recognition FOR FREE! (Unlike another large agency that requires a fee for recognition). I remember receiving a t shirt and a card in the mail one day before I turned pro


I don't get why people like recognition, as I honestly couldn't possibly care any less, but at least SSI isn't charging anyone for it.

I like free recognition. Makes me feel that the company really values its customers. Even if I am not naive. But that’s an easy choice between dive shops.

 

[Dody]

I knew nothing about SSI until I read this thread and then went to the SSI website to learn more. I found it interesting

SSI has a relatively large number of recognition ratings; Specialty Diver 2 specialties and 12 dives, Advanced Open Water Diver 4 specialties and 24 dives, Master Diver 4 specialties Stress and Rescue and 50 dives, Century 100 dives, Silver 300 dives, Gold 500 dives, Platinum 1000 dives, and Platinum Pro 5000 dives. I can see that this might be a good system for divers who like being recognized for achieving various milestones and to keep them engaged with SSI over the long term.

And it’s free

 

[Dody]

I haven't read the ton of posts and apologize if my question has been answered.
Are we talking about needing to verify a certain number of dives because you are going to take a course that requires a certain number of logged dives? If so, I'm not sure what the question is. You could log you dives on a computer (DC, etc.), on your phone (somehow, I guess, Aps, etc.) or like me with a paper log book. Either way, wherever you are going to take the course, they will have to take your word for it that the dives you logged are in fact real, no? So, what do you mean by "verifying" your dives?
If you're talking about showing a charter boat crew member how many dives you have, they too have to take your word for it.

Verifying a dive is not a word that I made up. It is the SSI terminology in the app. I understand that it is confusing as there is no real verification process.

 

[Dody]

One thing I did not factor before your posts in this thread. I think that we have all had poor experiences with various shops not necessarily diving. If you go to France for example, your PADI/ SSI cards will only make them smile. We are not autonomous divers in their eyes even with a tech c card. If you go to a PADI shop, you will get what you will get. When I go to an SSI shop with my Century Diver card, I am treated like in the Skyteam lounges worldwide with my Platinum card. I get the red carpet. That’s why I prioritize Skyteam over Star Alliance.
I am an old man. I like being treated nice . That’s good marketing.

 

[scubadada]

...I am an old man...

Ha, you're middle aged, and on the younger side

 

[Centrals]

I knew nothing about SSI until I read this thread and then went to the SSI website to learn more. I found it interesting

SSI has a relatively large number of recognition ratings; Specialty Diver 2 specialties and 12 dives, Advanced Open Water Diver 4 specialties and 24 dives, Master Diver 4 specialties Stress and Rescue and 50 dives, Century 100 dives, Silver 300 dives, Gold 500 dives, Platinum 1000 dives, and Platinum Pro 5000 dives. I can see that this might be a good system for divers who like being recognized for achieving various milestones and to keep them engaged with SSI over the long term.

What is the incentive to get to Platinum Pro? Any privilege to obtain such a mile stone? Extra discount or what?

 

[Centrals]

One thing I did not factor before your posts in this thread. I think that we have all had poor experiences with various shops not necessarily diving. If you go to France for example, your PADI/ SSI cards will only make them smile. We are not autonomous divers in their eyes even with a tech c card. If you go to a PADI shop, you will get what you will get. When I go to an SSI shop with my Century Diver card, I am treated like in the Skyteam lounges worldwide with my Platinum card. I get the red carpet. That’s why I prioritize Skyteam over Star Alliance.
I am an old man. I like being treated nice . That’s good marketing.

How did the dive shop treat you differently from others?

 

[Lorenzoid]

When I go to an SSI shop with my Century Diver card, I am treated like in the Skyteam lounges worldwide with my Platinum card. I get the red carpet. That’s why I prioritize Skyteam over Star Alliance.
I am an old man. I like being treated nice . That’s good marketing.

Fascinating. I have never heard of this, but yes, it sounds like clever marketing. What, specifically, do they do for you as a Century Diver that they would not do for another diver?