SDI OW to PADI OW

[StreetDoctor]

This question is not for me but my brother. He's trying to get on the fire department dive team. The team only accepts PADI certifications however there is an SDI OW course that fits his schedule perfectly at a discounted price. Is it possible to get an SDI OW card transferred (for a fee I presume) to a PADI OW card.

Ultimately I believe he will take the course either way and do PADI AOW if necessary as that's what I ended up doing.

[TwoBitTxn]

Short answer. No.

I don't understand why a FD dive team would only accept PADI either.

[StreetDoctor]

Majority of fire departments including the one I work at only use one certification agency. What's the reasoning behind not being able to "apply" to there open water. I believe both agencies cover the same skill sets?

[jpcpat]

Long answer, from the PADI instructors manual "
If a diver wants a similar PADI certification, the diver must
take that PADI course. A better suggestion, however, is to encourage
divers to enroll in the next higher level PADI course given
that they meet all other prerequisites"

How's your bro feel about AOW from PADI?

[TwoBitTxn]

Majority of fire departments including the one I work at only use one certification agency. What's the reasoning behind not being able to "apply" to there open water. I believe both agencies cover the same skill sets?

Actually, no they don't. SDI does not do tables. It's been too long since I worked in an SDI OW class to give any more examples of differences.

[StreetDoctor]

Hmm, my sdi class in spring went over tables... although we did use computers on our dives. I guess it was up to the instructor.

He's going to have to take PADI AOW then, thanks guys

[caver]

This question is not for me but my brother. He's trying to get on the fire department dive team. The team only accepts PADI certifications however there is an SDI OW course that fits his schedule perfectly at a discounted price. Is it possible to get an SDI OW card transferred (for a fee I presume) to a PADI OW card.

Ultimately I believe he will take the course either way and do PADI AOW if necessary as that's what I ended up doing.

What city is this? Sounds like BULL**** too me. PADI, SSI, SDI, TDI, NAUI, YMCA, ANDI, GUE or whatever agency, the FD team members will have to have PSD training also. Does this FD team require PSD traing also?

[StreetDoctor]

Chicago.

Yes they do there own in house PSD stuff, they want you to have PADI open water (possibly advanced open water) though in order to apply to the position. Sounds ridiculous to me also but welcome to the windy city.

[Walter]

How do you know they only accept PADI certifications?

[StreetDoctor]

How do you know they only accept PADI certifications?

Because that's what they told him when he inquired about a transfer. It's not a volunteer team, he's already a member of the fire department.

[captndale]

Hmm, my sdi class in spring went over tables... although we did use computers on our dives. I guess it was up to the instructor.


SDI requires the use of dive computers for dive planning but tables are in the book and most instructors teach the use of tables. PADI requires the use of either tables or an electronic device similar to a calculator for dive planning. This "erdp" is a PADI product and essentially does the same thing as a dive computer does in its planning mode. Most PADI instructors now seem to be teaching the use of this electronic product in lieu of teaching tables.

[caver]

Because that's what they told him when he inquired about a transfer. It's not a volunteer team, he's already a member of the fire department.

My bet is that someone in the team is saying "PADI only"....I bet the real people in charge don't know that most ANY OW CERT is equal in value. And that person is PADI affiliated.

[Walter]

Because that's what they told him when he inquired about a transfer. It's not a volunteer team, he's already a member of the fire department.

Sounds like a misunderstanding to me. It's likely someone said, "PADI" thinking it's the only agency. I'd be surprised if they didn't accept all the major agencies. He should look at the acutal regulation instead of going by what was told to him.

[StreetDoctor]

LOL, you guys obviously aren't familiar with Chicago politics. :) I'm not saying you are wrong, but I work for a fulltime department in the suburbs and our team also only uses PADI certification, straight from the captain that's in charge of the team after he heard the department paid to send me to an SDI class. :doh2::confused:

edit:

Alright, he got more information and I guess currently they accept only PADI or SDI/TDI certifications.

[Walter]

I guess if he sees the policy in writing, it'll show no agency mentioned by name.

[ZenDiver.3D]

Actually, no they don't. SDI does not do tables. It's been too long since I worked in an SDI OW class to give any more examples of differences.

This is not true. I teach full use of tables in Every class. Did you take an SDI course and they not teach you tables? If you taught SDI, you should know better and you should have been teaching tables during the dive planning module. We mandate use of technology but also teach tables because technology can always fail... I get really tired of being told that I don't teach tables.