If you are interested in becoming certified in open water scuba diving, you may be wondering about the different brands and courses that are available. There are many options for this course. There are two options for getting certified: SSI or PADI. You should wait until you're more experienced in scuba diving before you purchase scuba gear. After all, you will need it to dive.
PADI
A PADI Open Water Scuba Certification will give you a range of options when it comes to your diving vacation. You can choose either to dive in your home city or to explore the Great Barrier Reef and Belize Blue Hole. The cost of this certification will vary depending on where you learn. For example, you can take private lessons for about three hours and then join a dive tour with a PADI instructor for the remainder of the trip.
SSI
SSI is the most recognised and largest scuba certification organization in the world. Through rigorous training and continuing education programs, SSI's mission is to develop competent divers. There are many SSI certification choices. One option is the SSI Autonomous Diver program, which offers the most comprehensive introductory training. The course is also available in digital format. You can sign up for a lifetime "diamond", or a student pack, to get started.
SSI eLearning
When choosing between a PADI and SSI open water scuba certification, it's important to consider what you want from the course. PADI courses are rigid and make it difficult for you to alter the pace of your learning. SSI courses let you adapt the course to suit your schedule and time in the water. This is a great option if you are looking to get your certification while you're on vacation.
SSI programs
PADI and SSI have a lot in common, but what makes them different? Both require that you purchase course materials in advance. PADI courses come in a paper book format, while SSI courses are online. The difference is in the material. PADI courses often have a longer curriculum, and may require more adventure divers than SSI. You will also need to be more comfortable with PADI courses than SSI courses.
SSI classes
SSI is known for its high quality training materials. SSI's openwater scuba courses will help you reach your goals, whether you are looking for a certification. The SSI Digital Training System has apps that let you log dives, track your progress and view your certifications from your smartphone.
Additional certifications for divers
You might wonder if any other open water scuba certifications match yours. While there are many training agencies and bodies that award diving qualifications, the table below provides a rough guide for those seeking to gain a similar certification. These guides assume maximum air depth. Certain grades may require additional training to go deeper. You should also note that the maximum depth guides given here are based on air only, and are not definitive.