If you are looking to get a diving qualification then there are various different training agencies that will issue your certification. While not all courses are the same, they are all interchangable, meaning you can dive any where on any certification. So for instance a PADI diveshop will accept an SSI certification and Visa Versa.
With many of our gap year diving courses the The Open Water, Advanced and EFR/Rescue courses can be taught either PADI or SSI.
The divemaster courses tend to be a specific version depending on location, although not always.. On our Thailand Divemaster for instance we train under the either the PADI or SSI accreditations.
However, in the Gili Islands we issue Divemaster qualifications under SSI (this is actually called a Dive Control Specialist) Why? We find that SSI is much better suited to the conditions in Gili Trawanang, so we rarely teach PADI unless specifically requested.
Should you be worried that you are not getting a PADI certification when training under SSI?
No! Absolutely not! SSI and PADI are just two different certifying agencies offering courses to learn to dive. All certifications are exactly the same and are recognized in the same way world wide. There is not a value added between PADI and SSI, they are the two largest dive agencies and both are very good. As for the hierarchy of courses between the two agencies this is where the differences occur. SSI puts a great emphasis on the fact that there is no substitute for experience in the water and so treats the Advanced certifications slightly differently to the PADI structure by rewarding divers based on their number of logged dives and experience accumulated.
SSI is the fastest growing agency at present and has been for some time. There is a huge need for SSI professional around the globe as there are SSI facilities, but not enough professionals to fill vacant positions at these SSI facilities. On the other hand there are a lot PADI professionals, but a decreasing amount of PADI facilities, especially in Australasia. SSI have a great teaching system which has a lot more flexibility, making it more realistic to real world diving, easier for students to learn and instructors to teach.
Also SSI hold high standards, this also means that it is a requirement to have first aid as well as oxygen providers certification. SSI teach “respond right ” for this instead of Emergency first response (EFR)the respond right has fantastic materials.
Below outlines the hierarchy of the SSI certifications between Open Water and Dive Control Specialist.
SSI Advanced Adventurer – this is directly equivalent to the PADI Advanced Open Water
The Advanced Adventurer course is optional and can be skipped if divers prefer to go straight to the Specialty Diver or the Advanced Open Water certifications.
The Advanced Adventurer
Can be the entry to continuing education, especially for those divers who cannot decide which specialty courses they want to learn. During the Advanced Adventurer Program you will have the chance to try out 5 different specialties. You will complete one open water training dive per specialty in order to get a better understanding for each specialty area. Later, you can choose to complete all or just a few of your selected.
SSI Specialty Diver
This is SSI’s intermediate diver rating and is higher than any other agency’s advanced courses.
To earn the certification for Specialty Diver, you must complete two specialty courses and have done a total of 12 dives. The Specialty packages are specifically designed to achieve this rating either by completing 2 of the Single Specialties or one of the Combined Specialty packages. The Rescue Course is also counted as a Specialty within SSI.
SSI Advanced Open Water Diver
SSI’s Advanced Diver rating stands alone in the industry with the highest combination of diving knowledge and experience. No other agency’s advanced diver level compares. To earn the certification for Advanced Open Water Diver, you must complete four specialty courses and have done a total of 24 dives.
SSI Master Diver (the Padi Divemaster Equivalent )
SSI’s Master Diver rating is one of the most elite ratings in diving today. Divers that have completed this level have combined the knowledge, skills and experience to truly call themselves Master Divers. To earn the certification for Master Diver, you must complete four specialty courses, the Rescue course and have done a total of 50 dives.
SSI Dive Control Specialist (equivalent to PADI assistant instructor)
The Dive Control Specialist with SSI has a larger emphasis on practical teaching of students in the classroom, pool and ocean whereas PADI has a more in depth theory content. Both qualifications are recognized in every dive centre in the world, you can go on and complete the Instructor course of either agency once you have completed your internship.
The Dive Control Specialist is considered a higher certification then the PADI Divemaster within the diving community and is equivalent to PADI Assistant Instructor.
Currently the best place to get your Dive Control Specialist with Xtreme Gap is in the Gilis on the Gili Dive Control specialist program and you can also do your SSI Divemaster in Koh Tao as well.
