A few PADI VS SSI questions ...

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

Hello everyone:

Firstly, I understand that this should have been posted in GO PRO forum, but for some weird reason I do not have rights to post things in it. If any of the mods feel it necessary, they can move this thread where they think it belongs. Thanks.

I would like to do a DM certification. After reading all the debates about PADI vs SSI, I am trying to understand a few things here.

1. SSI would eventually expect its Dive Control Specialists and Instructors to work under a shop! What exactly does that mean? Dont most PADI instructors do it anyways? I have only come across one instructor who teaches in his basement. Everyone else is with a shop. Why should that be a bad deal? Does SSI also regulate the terms under which you will be working under a shop? Do they regulate salaries, benefits or are after certification you are left totally at the mercy of the shop owners?

2. Am I correct to understand that SSI has one step less to instructorship as they have compressed DM and Assistant Instructor into one certification? Does that make it cheaper to become an SSI instructor than a PADI instructor or is it only on paper that it looks that way?

3. After you are certified, is the annual insurance cost less for SSI instructors than PADI instructors?

4. If you are an SSI dive con and you wanted to become a PADI instructor. Would PADI treat your certification as DM or Assistant Instructor? In other words would you be able to sit in PADI instructor exam or would they expect you to take some more PADI courses to authorize the crossover?

Thanks a lot for shedding light into this matter.

Cheers -

Sinbad.

 

[tstormdiver]

Hello everyone:

Firstly, I understand that this should have been posted in GO PRO forum, but for some weird reason I do not have rights to post things in it. If any of the mods feel it necessary, they can move this thread where they think it belongs. Thanks.

I would like to do a DM certification. After reading all the debates about PADI vs SSI, I am trying to understand a few things here.

1. SSI would eventually expect its Dive Control Specialists and Instructors to work under a shop! What exactly does that mean? Dont most PADI instructors do it anyways? I have only come across one instructor who teaches in his basement. Everyone else is with a shop. Why should that be a bad deal? Does SSI also regulate the terms under which you will be working under a shop? Do they regulate salaries, benefits or are after certification you are left totally at the mercy of the shop owners?

With SSI a dive professional must be affiliated with an SSI dive shop, live aboard or resort to be active. PADI allows for independant dive professionals. Whether aPADI professional works for/ with a shop is completely up to the instructor. With SSI it not an option. Other than shop/ resort standards & ethics rules, SSI does not regulate the terms under which an SSI professional works with an affiliated shop/ resort. I would say that an SSI professional is *mostly* under the"mercy" of the facility, but as stated before,... there are standards & ethic codes to be followed & adhered to.

2. Am I correct to understand that SSI has one step less to instructorship as they have compressed DM and Assistant Instructor into one certification? Does that make it cheaper to become an SSI instructor than a PADI instructor or is it only on paper that it looks that way?

The SSI Dive Control Specialist is a combined roll of Dive Master & Assistant Instructor. Actually now, SSI has divided the roll up into 3 levels- Dive Guide, Dive Master & Dive Control Specialist. These can be taken seperately or concurrently, in order, as a whole course. As whether it is cheaper, it depends on the instructor & the structure of the course.

3. After you are certified, is the annual insurance cost less for SSI instructors than PADI instructors?

As for the cost, it really depends on the insurance agency & how you are covered. By that I mean,... At my LDS, it used to be that we had to carry our own insurance individually, that ran about $400/ yr. For the last 3 yrs, the owner of the shop has put all insurance under an umbrella policy. The cost of the Dive Control Specialist's & Instructor's is totalled up & divided between the instructors. The Dive Control Specialists are paid for by the instructors, since they assist us & make very little $. Our insurance costs are about $225/ yr. The policy on insurance might be a question you might ask of the shop you plan to affiliate with, if you do.

4. If you are an SSI dive con and you wanted to become a PADI instructor. Would PADI treat your certification as DM or Assistant Instructor? In other words would you be able to sit in PADI instructor exam or would they expect you to take some more PADI courses to authorize the crossover?

Thanks a lot for shedding light into this matter.

Cheers -

Sinbad.

From my understanding, & I could be mistken, PADI does not recognize any SSI professional levels. There is no crossover, basically a full PADI course must taken to obtain those levels in the PADI oragnization. SSI, however does recognize PADI's levels & will crossover at the appropriate levels.

Personally, I've been blessed to work for an SSI shop that treats me as a professional & decently compensates me for my services.
Hope that helps you out a bit.

 

[oly5050user]

Tammy has it all pretty much right..
Though if you are a SSI dive con (I believe that is equal to a PADI dm-have not kept current on my SSI rating) you can enter a PADI IDC and become an AI which leads to OWSI. No need to be a PADI DM to get into IDC..if looking for a chance to teach and you are affiliated with a SSI facility near you that you feel comfortable with then go for SSI..but be aware that if that is the only SSI facility in the area and you leave your ability to teach is no longer an option unless you locate another SSI facility. With PADI facilities being all over the place that is not as much an issue, and you can always go independent. There are independent instructors that use/rent our facilities-classroom and inhouse pool-they bring their student to our LDS and in exchange work out a deal with the store owner that suits both of them.
I do both, teach and work in the facility and have a deal where I can bring in my own private students to use classroom and pool. Keeps me fairly busy.

 

[tstormdiver]

Tammy has it all pretty much right..
Though if you are a SSI dive con (I believe that is equal to a PADI dm-have not kept current on my SSI rating) you can enter a PADI IDC and become an AI which leads to OWSI.

By ISO Standards, a Dive Control Specialist is equivalent to an AI. SSI now has a Dive Master Level below Dive Control Specialist that is on par with PADI's Dive Master level.

 

[EastCoastWreckDiver]

I would also say that in my area PADI is everywhere, so it also depends on where you will be working. Check out the local area and see which one provides the most opportunity. I finished my DM and OWSI through PADI and I really like how their courses are set up. Also the fact that while I am looking for work I can still teach and make a little extra cash on the side is a bonus.

Oh and insurance for a PADI OWSI runs about $400 U.S. a year, but a lot of shops I know provide insurance for their instructors.

 

[oly5050user]

By ISO Standards, a Dive Control Specialist is equivalent to an AI. SSI now has a Dive Master Level below Dive Control Specialist that is on par with PADI's Dive Master level.

this may be true , but a Dive Control Specialist still has no idea about PADI standards and procedures and needs to get work done to be certified as a PADI AI to continue onto completing the IDC and IE. Same applies if an SSI instructor wants to cross over to PADI.Must attend an IDC and IE..I would recommend that the crossover instr attend the full IDC as standards are covered there and the style of presentations are done also.

 

[TMHeimer]

CAPTAIN SINBAD, Once you decide where you'll take your course(s) you can probably join Going Pro Forum by getting your shop owner to vouch for you that you're enrolled. At least that was the case with me.

 

[tstormdiver]

this may be true , but a Dive Control Specialist still has no idea about PADI standards and procedures and needs to get work done to be certified as a PADI AI to continue onto completing the IDC and IE. Same applies if an SSI instructor wants to cross over to PADI.Must attend an IDC and IE..I would recommend that the crossover instr attend the full IDC as standards are covered there and the style of presentations are done also.

That is why I put that a professional in SSI can not crossover to PADI, they must take a full course, where as a PADI Dive Master can crossover at SSI's Dive Master Level, a PADI AI can crossover to SSI's Dive Control Specialist & a PADI OWSI crosses over at OWSI in SSI. Unfortunately, it only goes 1 way, but that is the way of things. Yes, there are some differences in standards & procedures, but let's face it,... the basics are pretty much the same. Both agencies are under the RSTC.

 

[Rogersea]

If I were just starting out and your choices were restricted to SSI or PADI, I would probably take the PADI route, There are so many more potential employers and you have the ability to work independently (if your goal was to work in the industry).

As was already been mentioned as a SSI Pro you must affiliate with a SSI dive store/facility and conduct your courses through them. That is highly benificial to the SSI facility and not as benificial to the Instructor.

As someone who is already in the "profession" I like the SSI system and some of its standards which seem to allow me more flexibility as a Dive Pro.

HTH

Cheers,
Roger

 

[boulderjohn]

Here is what it says in the sticky at the top of the Going Pro section:

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