SSI vs PADI
Why be an SSI dive professional?
- SSI (Scuba Schools International) is the world’s largest store based training agency. SSI Instructors and Dive Masters, must be affiliated with a physical store.
- Internationally recognised certification
- Started in 1970, SSI is represented in more than 110 countries with over 2500 Dive Centers and Resorts, and has materials printed in more than 30 languages
- The SSI brand is not as well known as PADI, however SSI is gaining market share at a rapid rate. Since it was purchased by HEAD in 2014, SSI has grown in leaps and bounds.
- SSI focuses on small class numbers, high quality service and personal time with each student
- Skills are taught through repetition. You complete a skill over and over in the pool, so you never forget.
- Instructors teach through a dive store. It is natural to believe that the owners and management of the store want their students to be 100% safe and comfortable when diving.
- SSI Instructors train using the 80/20 rule. 80% of the course structure is set by SSI, and 20% can be flexible and based on local dive conditions, students ability, and students learning methods etc.
SSI vs PADI
Why be an PADI dive professional?
- PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) is the world’s largest scuba training agency. PADI Instructors can teach independent of a dive store.
- Internationally recognised certification
- Started in 1967, PADI has over 6300 Dive Centers and Resorts, and more than 136,000 individual Professionals
- Strong brand-name, most dive resorts are PADI
- Most PADI stores focus on larger numbers (great if you want to have a lot of fun and meet lots of people)