PADI vs SSI DM

[Hostage]

At first I thought DM was a bad idea, no money other than what you spend. Though my last dive outing I found out it was a lot of fun to help people and guide them while diving. This got me interested in diving for peanuts. I know shops will give you discounts, free air, and diving. Also, it might be fun to give close friends and family cheap instruction.

We have three shops in my area 2 PADI, 1 PADI moving to SSI this weekend. The shop that is moving to SSI generally has the best deals, they are new kids on the block, and I like the personalities the best. I also think that shop has the best chance of using my DM as the other ones seem to not have a lack of qualified DMs. Though they also seem to have some growing pains. I do hear that SSI you have to be affiliated with a shop and my biggest concern is being pigeon holed into a organization if they ever close etc.

So while I have read that the training is result of the instructor and not the org, I am curious about a couple of things. How are the cost between the two? I know PADI you have to pay yearly. If I do SSI how hard is it to get a PADI DM if I need to switch, etc? Any other feedback?

Thank in advance,

Hostage

 

[WheelsUSN]

The costs for the class are up to the shop or instructor that you are taking it from. I'm not sure how the annual membership cost compare between the two agencies. Since the SSI shop has the personalities that you get along with the best then the SSI certification is probably your best bet.

PADI does not have a cross over program for DMs so if you decide to switch to PADI later you would have to either retake the DM course or take the PADI Assistant Instructor course and move up while moving between agencies.

Another possibility, it is likely that since the shop is just now changing over to SSI it has one or more instructors that are still active PADI instructors as well as being SSI instructors. You might be able to work out a deal with them where you can meet the requirements of both agencies and and get certified by both. Even if you decide not to keep your PADI DM cert in an active status it would be relatively easy to update it later if you do decide or need to switch agencies.

 

[Sevenrider860]

...and I like the personalities the best.

This would be ( and was ) my number one criteria.

 

[flots am]

At first I thought DM was a bad idea, no money other than what you spend. Though my last dive outing I found out it was a lot of fun to help people and guide them while diving. This got me interested in diving for peanuts. I know shops will give you discounts, free air, and diving. Also, it might be fun to give close friends and family cheap instruction.

Until recently, SSI didn't actually offer a DM class, they had Dive Control Specialist, which was a DM and an Assistant Instructor. They've recently changed and now offer a lineup that as far as I can tell is identical to PADIs, and includes DiveCon after DG and DM (and I think something else), but before OW Instructor.

The compensation, including cheap/free air, classes, etc. is more than offset by the time and effort required and the expenses. If you're doing it for the perks, don't bother. You'll be ahead of the game to get a job at McDonalds and pay cash for your diving.

Also, you'll need to pay an annual renewal for your DG/DM/DiveCon card. I believe it's around $125 now. Also you'll need to obtain liability insurance. I have no idea how much that is, since my shop covers it, but if you have to pay for it yourself, I'm guessing it's not cheap.

Sorry, I have no idea about PADI.

The only reason I teach is because I enjoy it. I consider the costs to be just money that it takes to do what I like. I'm certain that I spend a lot more money than I get in either cash or perks.

As for which one you pick, I'd check out the various shop's OW classes and see if any of them have classes that are based on student performance and comfort and not on a fixed schedule. IE. Ask how long an OW class takes. If one says "x days or sessions" and the other says "until the student is ready", go for the second one. DMing students in OW, that aren't ready for it is astonishingly stressful.

flots.

 

[abyss_scuba]

If you are looking at this as a business decision then personalities are the last thing you should care about. As a dive shop owner the only time I lose money is when I try to be a "nice guy" There is a SSI shop that is closing it's doors who's instructors will have no affiliation and therefore all the money they spent to become SSI instructors is down the tubes as there are no SSI shop anywhere nearby. I MAY become an SSI shop to give them a home but that remains to be seen as I do most of my certs through PADI and there is no reason for me to pay to become a SSI shop if there is no return on my investment. Now if you still want to work with the SSI shop just throw the money concerns out the window and be the best diver example you can be. In the long run you will be happier if you make a clear cut decision.

 

[Pin83]

For the first few years of diving, I picked a site, found the nearest operator, and went diving. I had no association or loyalty with any shop, and it was fine.
Almost by chance I found my current shop, and clicked with the staff. I'd never really had that before. I chose to do my DM mostly because I was going back to uni, and wouldn't be able to afford to pay to dive.
Insurance through my shop was $215. Annual registration is less than $200. Although you'll never get rich working in SCUBA (unless you own PADI or something), my wages cover all SSI expenses and gear maintenance, and I get to keep diving. I also enjoy diving more than I used to, and I get back to the mooring on every dive! If I didn't like they people I was working for/with, however, things like money, cold water and early starts might get to me...

Go with the shop you like, and have a good time. If something changes later, rethink then.

Dave.

 

[eponym]

Ask each of the shops what your annual liability insurance would cost. Some shops have a group policy (mine does) and we each spend a fraction of what most independent instructors and divemasters have to pay.

That might become one additional factor in your decision . . .

 

[Crowley]

I know shops will give you discounts, free air, and diving. Also, it might be fun to give close friends and family cheap instruction.

If you are looking for a DM course that gives you discounts, free air and diving and cheap instruction, then neither PADI nor SSI nor any other agency is right for you. If you want to work in the business; if you really want to help other people, then take whichever course is most relevant to the area in which you wish to work. If PADI is the prevalent agency, then PADI is the way to go; if SSI offers alternatives and advantages, then that's the way to go. If NAUI is the most commonplace agency in your chosen area of employment, then probably NAUI is the agency with which to become affiliated.

Personality is great - but this is also a common mistake and misconception in the dive industry - you can be the most amazing, friendly, jovial, even sexy instructor or divemaster on the planet and still be counted as some sort of hero even though you break standards on a regular basis. Charisma is enticing, but it's not necessarily safe. I have lost count of the number of "agency professionals" I've met who were simultaneously fun, charismatic, popular, and extremely dangerous - and the important thing is that they came from pretty much every agency you could care to name. Personality and charisma are two things that get morons elected into governmental positions.

Look closely at what's being offered in terms of training and expertise, not what's being offered in terms of discounts available to friends and family, because I promise you absolutely, that there is nothing "free" when it comes to diving.

Good luck.

C

 

[gizmo1972]

i would go the PADI Pro route then if you decide to become an instructor you will then be able to do a crossover to SSI at a later date and it s alot easier that way then you have both instructor ratings!

 

[scubasurf]

I certified quiet a few PADI and SSI Dm's lately and the good ones found jobs right afterwards. The others, well... In my opinion the SSI Dive guide course is more focused on leading divers than the PADI, and leading divers is what 95% of the Dms that find employment do. I went through PADI and then crossed over to SSI, but that doesn't mean it's the right way to do it, and that's what most of the people tend to think: "I did it this way so it is the best".
Enjoy the best job in the world