Will SSI be accepted?

[Jef]

I was issued my OW last year from PADI and am wanting to get more instruction. I've been looking into both PADI and SSI and am leaning on finishing up with SSI. My question is; my wife and I are going the Cayman Islands this summer and we were wondering how accepted SSI is in the area?

Thanks for any input,
Jef

 

[earlj]

IF you go into your search engine and type in SCUBA certification associations, you will be directed to a site with all of the Intl. recognized ones.

From what I can find out, SSI is accepted around the world.

 

[TexasMike]

And if you ever travel to a very exotic location (read, very long plane ride, followed by long bus/train/boat/hike), you can always take the phone number of the international office of your agency that covers that region. That way if the charter operator looks at your card and says, "What the heck is "Imka?" (YMCA), you can have them call the regional office.

 

[scubabear]

Jef,

No problem with a S.S.I. cert. being accepted in the Caymans or any other place I've heard of. Indeed, back in the day, a S.S.I. card was one of the truly internationaly accepted cards.

Just a thought, since you started with P.A.D.I., you're already familiar with their instruction format. This continues throughout all additional levels. But switching to S.S.I. courses should be no big deal, cause it all good !! Enjoy yourselves and don't forget a trip report.



John

 

[JustAddWater]

I have not had a problem with my SSI certification overseas.

 

[Scottri]

Yep! Never had a problem with my SSI certification anywhere in the world. I've been to Grand Cayman a couple of times so I know for a fact it won't be a problem.

Good luck and have fun!


Scott

 

[Walter]

SSI is one of many very well known agencies. You should not have any trouble with it anywhere in the world.

 

[DiveRite-SW]

As previously noted, SSI is a legimate internationally-recognized training organization, and therefore you 'shouldn't' have any problems diving.

Not to say that it couldn't happen however. Have been folks who were denied diving privileges, only to find out that the dive-operator was trying to convert them to "their" pet-agency (ie: "I'm sorry, we don't accept your XYZ agency c-cards, but if you take our ZYX-refresher course we will let you dive today").

If anyone gets hassled, it'd be good to ask what the underlying reasons might be. Can't recall any dead-presidents EVER teaching scuba, but I bet a few of them have helped get people in the water!

 

[lakesdiver]

Little Cayman accepted SSI w/no question.

 

[Jef]

Thanks for your input, we feel better now about starting up some classes. I knew you folks would come through.