SSI or PADI?

[richkeller]

My niece is interested in taking up diving and the LDS offers both SSI and PADI OW certifications for the same price. I have an SSI card only because they took over for NASDS when they went out and I need a replacement card from them. Which organization would you recommend and most importantly why?

[jhupka]

the organization that gives the card doesn't matter as much, the MOST IMPORTANT thing is the instructor/s

[Johnmpcny]

Find the instructor who will spend the most time working with you one on one and you like the best. I think both are pretty equal, hell at some time they will most likely merge. The business world is merging in all it makes sense as costs go higher.

That said look for smaller class size and group that makes you feel welcome. That is more important to me that the alphabet group you choose.

[rjflynn@ptd.net]

Find the instructor who will spend the most time working with you one on one and you like the best. I think both are pretty equal, hell at some time they will most likely merge. The business world is merging in all it makes sense as costs go higher.

That said look for smaller class size and group that makes you feel welcome. That is more important to me that the alphabet group you choose.

I am PADI certified for OW, AOW and Rescue and SSI for Dive Con and Instructor. The basics are the same so I will echo the advice above......find an instructor you like and trust and enjoy diving.

[boulderjohn]

At the OW level, the agencies' requirements are pretty much identical, so, yes, it comes down to the shop and the instructor.

[SC_Hoaty]

My wife is PADI, I am SSI certified. The basic OW is pretty much the same. I had a GREAT instructor, who went way above minimum standards. I had read some debates on SB years ago where the "super instructors" bashed PADI by claiming PADI prohibitted teaching beyond the minimums. I would ask the instructor before I accepted if it were true or not, because it probably varies.

One difference is at the AOW level - SSI has a requirement for a certain number of logged dives, PADI does not. But one could get an SSI OW and PADI AOW right after, so I don't see that as much of a difference.

If it is the same LDS, and the same instructor (which would be kinda unusual) then it would be good to query the shop about what the difference is from their perspective.

[richkeller]

I am not worried about anything past OW at this point. Once she is done I will teach her what I learned in OW 40 years ago that is no longer part of that course now. Get into some basic equipment repair then see what her interests are beyond that.