The short answer is this: it depends on your personal and professional needs. You get to decide. We’ll share some thoughts, and you can then make your own mind up. But one thing is for sure—anyone who tells you PADI is better than SSI, or SSI is better than PADI is sharing their preference based on their unique experiences. This is because the quality of the course a diver takes largely depends on the dive school and the instructor one trains with, not the agency itself. Dive Mentor can issue certifications through SSI or PADI, but we prefer SSI. Because both agencies are members of the RSTC (Recreational Scuba Training Council, WRSTC (World Recreational Scuba Training Council), and have ISO certification, the training you receive will be interchangeable.

Dive Mentor can issue certifications through SSI or PADI, but we prefer SSI for a number of reasons that make sense to us as as instructors and as a non profit organization. To be clear though, both agencies are members of the RSTC (Recreational Scuba Training Council and the WRSTC (World Recreational Scuba Training Council).

The RSTC and WRSTC are membership consortiums of major scuba diving agencies in the United States such as PADI, SSI, TDI, NAUI, and many others. These Councils goes out of their way to develop a consensus on training standards to ensure that there aren’t major discrepancies among recreational scuba diving industry wide.

All of these agencies also have ISO certification, which means the courses you take are based on the exact same standards no matter where you go in the word, provide the school or shop you train with is a member follows these standards. In other words, no agency has better standards because the standards each agency uses are entirely identical.

That said, the actual quality of training and the education you receive is largely going to be based on the school you train with, and the instructors who are with you in the classroom and water. Unfortunately, some shops and schools don’t always follow published standards.

Dive Mentor exceeds industry standards in both our training, and in our recruitment of our dive Mentors. To work with us, you must have more dives, a higher level of certification, advanced medical courses, pass a background check, and meet our internal standards and policies.

The Beginning

The SSI was founded in 1970 by Bob Clark, who wanted to develop a unique and effective educational system. Ultimately, his vision led to the development of the largest school-focused scuba training agency in the world.

Training Philosophy

Currently, SSI offers more than 50 different courses. The SSI learning system allows instructors to be more flexible with the content of their courses, but to mitigate risk SSI is more conservative when it comes to safety than many other agencies. One of the biggest differences between the two agencies is in the flexibly SSI gives to its instructors so they can handle real life challenges during courses. PADI is far more rigid and unforgiving in their educational model. Both agencies of course, require their instructors to follow standards to the letter and students must satisfy every requirement to earn certification.

ISO Certification

Since June 1, 2010, SSI has had a worldwide ISO certification. The ISO is a non-governmental organization that serves as a bridge between the public and private sector, as the biggest world developer and publisher of international standards. This means SSI’s programs meet or exceed industry standards in every way.

The Beginning

John Cronin, a scuba equipment salesman for U.S. Divers, and Ralph Erickson, an educator, university water polo coach, champion swimmer, lifeguard and waterman started PADI together in 1966. It is now the largest certifier of individual recreational divers in the world.

Training Philosophy

PADI has strict policies for their instructors in place, that must be followed to the letter. Not just standards. In part, this is because PADI as a company focuses on certifying independent instructors working in the industry, not schools or shops. To mitigate risk therefore, there is very little (if any) flexibility for PADI instructors in the way they can structure their courses. They must follow PADI teaching guidelines rigorously without any deviation.

In theory, this makes perfect sense. In practice however, it can pose real problems for instructors and students both.

To be clear, this is not the same things as following standards; all agencies (SSI, NAUI, PADI, etc) require instructors to follow standards to the letter, but SSI allows instructors to make informed decisions in the way they present and structure courses. Students participating in SSI programs must still complete all training requirements as set forth in the current SSI Training.

Like PADI, all SSI Dive Professionals must follow the teaching system provided. This includes all academic, confined, and open water requirements. But SSI allows Instructors to develop their own teaching style and program schedules including the order and number of classroom and confined water sessions, and the order of skills in confined and open water training dives.

This flexibility rule ensures instructors can respond to real life situations without having to stop the course or violate standards. Unfortunately, PADI’s rigidity to course structure has often put instructors in the difficult position of having to make a choice between making appropriate and logical change in skills orders, which violates PADI standards or rescheduling a course. This can cost instructors and students valuable time and money. New instructors don’t always understand this problem early on, but experienced instructors know all too well how incredibly important it is to have that flexibility available to them.

ISO Certification

Like all members of the RSTC and WRSTC, PADI is fully ISO certified.

SSI empowers instructors to add information and/or skills that improve the quality of a course. PADI instructors must follow the published Power Points and other teaching materials they’re provided. The latter limits what PADI instructors can share during a course with their students. For example, if you are learning in an area that has a large turtle population, and you have a real interest in those turtles, a PADI instructor cannot (as a part of their course) actually include those details. An SSI instructor can, without any problem whatsoever. This allows SSI instructors to improve upon and add value, based on their location, experience, and other factors that ultimately creates a more comprehensive and educational program.

Many people don’t realize it, but PADI generates a considerable amount of their income (they are a profit company after all, and those profits go into the pockets of the owners) by publishing training material. Really, they are a publisher first and foremost. So books play a big role in their business model. Because of this, they have been very slow to go entirely digital and have rolled out substandard (and more expensive) digital products.

To make matters worse, PADI instructors are faced with having to pay higher costs for digital products, which makes buying books the cheaper option for them. With sometimes slim profit margins, this is particularly egregious to instructors and their bottom line. But probably one of the biggest problems we see with PADI right now is their carbon footprint. Not all of their books are not printed on recycled paper or from paper grown in sustainable forests, and they ship all over the world. Think about all of the fossil fuels that must be burred to ship books globally.

SSI is entirely digital now. You can access your training materials anywhere on your phone, tablet, or computer. And, you can switch languages at a tough of a button. SSI has cut down on their carbon footprint considerably, meaning they live what they claim they believe about protecting the environment.

SSI believes in protecting the environment, and they also want you to be able to learn the diving topics that interest you. As such, they give out their digital books for free. You can get a free account online at their site or download their app anytime you like, and you’ll instantly have access to the learning material for courses like Open Water. PADI requires that you purchase the materials, no matter if you are traveling around the world or learning at home. Imagine having to carry a bunch of books around in your backpack. It just doesn’t make any sense in an industry that is known for exploring the world.

Yes, all of SSI’s certifications are digital. No plastic cards to be mailed. No waiting for them to arrive. You get them instantly, right to your phone and they’re accepted anywhere in the world. Not to mention, SSI isn’t contributing to more plastic being produced in the world. PADI, for some reason, still only issues a temp card that is good for 30 days. And you have to wait for your official card to get mailed to you. Imagine if you were traveling and got certified in Thailand, but then wanted to come train in Mexico. Are you supposed to go back home to pick up your card first?

Yes. A lot in many cases.

Both PADI and SSI offer online training (academic part), which can really be of benefit when you are traveling. Except that, PADI only offers some of their products online. SSI offers all of their courses. PADI’s online version is much more expensive than SSIs. That is a fact. We have both PADI’s and SSI’s price lists to their instructors, shops, and schools and PADI is by far more expensive. That means, the costs have to be passed onto the student.

SSI courses online are free to study anytime you like. Get an account, login, and study. Both SSI and PADI’s material will teach you everything you need to become a knowledgeable and safe diver. Ultimately though, it’s often the instructor that matters the most. Not the agency. Not all instructors follow standards. Not all instructors have significant real world experience. Not all instructors care about safety. So do your research.

We care about you, and your future. And the proof is in the reviews we get from real students.

Yes, it doesn’t matter which organization your card is issued by. Both PADI and SSI cards can be used anywhere in the world.

Yes, you can cross between PADI and SSI as much as you like for the recreational dive levels. At the professional level, it can become a bit more complicated. But SSI has made it a lot easier recently or PADI pros to crossover.

Both PADI and SSI have an online system, so Dive Mentor can look you up since we have instructors in both agencies. If you’ve done your training through another agency, we can contact them on your behalf. A logbook helps.

No reputable dive school or dive center will allow you to dive without seeing some proof of training. It would be irresponsible, and potentially dangerous. It also violates standards for both SSI and PADI.

When doing PADI Courses, you must buy books. Without exception. PADI’s strategy is to also have you write in your books, and have them signed by your instructor so you can’t share them or sell them online once you are finished with them. This ensures they continue to make a significant profit from printing books. When you become a pro, they use hologram stickers to ensure you buy your own books. This sticker must be sent with your application to PADI headquarters.