OK, so they are different. Can anyone tell me about the SSI Tides, Waves and Currents certification. I'm wanting to take the class to gain experience and get better at dealing with currents. So is it a waste of time and money to take it? Is the PADI Drift Diving class better suited? My goal is to get better at dealing with currents and to react the correct way if I'm caught in a current. I understand that practice, practice, practice works best but I'm looking for a good foundation in which to start. Besides living in Texas I have no where to locally dive currents (Gulf is 6hrs away) so my exposure to currents and drift diving is very limited.