Mixing PADI/SDI certification advice

[cduffey]

I have an OW PADI certification (9 years, 200-300 dives). I would like to obtain my nitrox certification. The SDI certification looks attractive because it is online and doesn't require that I do certification dives through a local dive shop. What is the wisdom of mixing certifications and is the SDI nitrox certification widely accepted?

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

There is no issue at all. Before I turned pro I earned certs from several agencies.

 

[Tollie]

No problem with mixing certs. I have certs from PADI and SSI including the SSI Divecon rating and the PADI Instructor MSDT and SDI Instructor.

BTW PADI now no longer requires dives for the Nitrox cert.

 

[Bryan]

To ask a follow-up question related to the OP's, how good are the various agencies at recognizing one another's certifications?

For example, if somebody got an AOW with PADI, could they do rescue with NAUI, etc.? After getting Rescue from NAUI, could one go on to earn their Master Diver through PADI?

 

[cduffey]

BTW PADI now no longer requires dives for the Nitrox cert.

Unfortunately, my LDS requires dives -- I think it's their way of making a few more bucks on the cert. Can it be done online?

 

[pir8]

Anybody should accept a SDI Nitrox cert.
Actually I thought that their Nitrox cert was through TDI technically. Not sure of the online program.

 

[captndale]

SDT/TDI offer more than one nitrox certification course. The TDI version includes more theory and math and is a better preparation for technical diving if the student is headed that way.

 

[PinkPADIgal]

To ask a follow-up question related to the OP's, how good are the various agencies at recognizing one another's certifications?

For example, if somebody got an AOW with PADI, could they do rescue with NAUI, etc.? After getting Rescue from NAUI, could one go on to earn their Master Diver through PADI?

To answer your question...yes. To become a PADI Master Scuba diver, you could complete OW, AOW and Rescue diver with another agency. You would have to do all 5 of the required specialties with PADI.

 

[desparoz]

I have an OW PADI certification (9 years, 200-300 dives). I would like to obtain my nitrox certification. The SDI certification looks attractive because it is online and doesn't require that I do certification dives through a local dive shop. What is the wisdom of mixing certifications and is the SDI nitrox certification widely accepted?

No problem with regards to the acceptance of either qualification.

Your only issue might be if you plan to get a PADI Master Scuba Diver rating in the future. For this, the specialties MUST be PADI specialties.

Cheers

Des

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

The SDI nitrox course is Computer Nitrox. They teach it using a nitrox compatible computer. The TDI course is more theory getting you ready for the Advanced Nitrox course.