any scuba divers out there that have any thoughts on this? Looking into getting just a basic open water certification and leaning towards PADI but have heard that SSI is the same thing and does not cost as much...any insight?
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Scuba Diving - Padi v SSI?
- Thread starter ski stef
- Start date
I went for a PADI intro scuba dive when I was on a cruise back in February. It was awesome.
I thought the other big one in the USA was NAUI. I don't know about SSI.
I have heard from freinds who are certified that PADI is a little less technical and that NAUI is more in-depth, more science based, more book learning.
I think any internationally recognized certification is probably good..... i'd love to do this down the road at some point. My wife kind of freaked in the water a bit when we went in the Cayman Islands, and didn't end pu doing it, but she still wants to in the future. I think starting in a pool would probably have been more prudent for her in retrospect.
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I thought the other big one in the USA was NAUI. I don't know about SSI.
I have heard from freinds who are certified that PADI is a little less technical and that NAUI is more in-depth, more science based, more book learning.
I think any internationally recognized certification is probably good..... i'd love to do this down the road at some point. My wife kind of freaked in the water a bit when we went in the Cayman Islands, and didn't end pu doing it, but she still wants to in the future. I think starting in a pool would probably have been more prudent for her in retrospect.
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Cannonball
New member
I did my original certification through PADI. Then later went through AAUS (not something you'd likely do).
PADI, NAUI, and SSI are all fine for learning and certification. Usually it's the quality of the individual instructor that makes the biggest difference. So ask around about shops/instructors that people have had good experiences with. The other thing is to think about where you'll dive most often. If you'll need to rent gear, fill tanks, etc it's good to have a relationship with a shop. And many times if you take a course through a shop they'll offer you incentives for the future. For example, the shop I got certified through offered really cheap gear rentals forever to any of their students.
PADI, NAUI, and SSI are all fine for learning and certification. Usually it's the quality of the individual instructor that makes the biggest difference. So ask around about shops/instructors that people have had good experiences with. The other thing is to think about where you'll dive most often. If you'll need to rent gear, fill tanks, etc it's good to have a relationship with a shop. And many times if you take a course through a shop they'll offer you incentives for the future. For example, the shop I got certified through offered really cheap gear rentals forever to any of their students.
snowmonster
New member
Funny how things change. When I was younger and everyone around me was getting into diving, it was basically PADI v. NAUI. I went out with a girl who certified through SSI and everyone made fun of her saying that it was fake. Anyway, any of the three are industry standards now. Most diving operations will recognize certifications from any of the three. From my observation, PADI operations are more common overseas.
What's the aaus? Ended up getting certified just open water with PADI. Don't know exactly how often I'll dive but I hope a lot more now on different vacations, goal is once a year minimum, maybe getting advanced water later down the road,
I think the wreck diving would be pretty interesting.
I think the wreck diving would be pretty interesting.
Cannonball
New member
aaus = American Academy of Underwater Sciences. I spent my grad school years working as a research diver in the Pacific and locally. So that certification covered specialty skills like blue-water safety. But to be honest, what I learned through PADI was plenty even for most of the craziest dives I've done.
The absolute #1 thing about diving is just feeling comfortable and relaxed. That allows you think clearly and handle pretty much anything.
darent
Active member
diving went through some changes in the eighties, diving coarses were less technical with all certification agencies looking to put more divers in the water, was this good? who knows, but I have dived with people who shouldn't be in the water. so get your certification and put some extra effort into it and try to understand the technical aspects of diving, it will make you a better,safer diver, find a PADI or better yet a NAUI dive manuel from the 70's .
Definitely have heard and dove with people who weren't comfortable... I've only got 15 dives under my belt but I feel very comfortable and my buoyancy is pretty good. Got in a seriously strong current that scared the heck out of me and brought us to come across two white tip reef sharks but my air stayed ok so that was good....I can't imagine if you panicked in that sort of situation and all the things that could go wrong.
Cannonball
New member
You got it!! Being comfortable and relaxed is what it's all about. If you are already feeling it, even in tough conditions, then you're doing great.
I had some diving work to do yesterday. It was great to squeeze it in just as the summer/fall switch was flipped....
That's cool - what are you doing Cannonball?
And Stef - where are your pictures?
And Stef - where are your pictures?
Is that in a lake? Id like to dive in our lake but I think id need a dry suit and I don't have any of my own equipment yet.
Pics are coming...just getting settled in, ill get on it this weekend.
Pics are coming...just getting settled in, ill get on it this weekend.
Cannonball
New member
Not a lake, it's a small private harbor on the cape. We are doing a long-term eelgrass tracking project.
I've done a few lake dives. They tend to creep me out more than ocean dives. I've never had a fear of sharks (seen lots of them) but snapping turtles scare the hell out of me for some reason. I've done zero-visibility diving in the ocean and in lakes. It's hard for me to manage my heartbeat and breathing when I'm in absolute darkness on the bottom of a lake....just waiting for something to come walking up. But zero-viz dives in the ocean I actually find relaxing. Go figure
Sounds like a fun / very cool job. What are you actually tracking ? Damage in the harbor to aquatic life or something .
When I was in high school one of my dream jobs was marine biologist. Of course here I am a complete computer nerd. So who knows :lol:
Cannonball
New member
Exactly. I do a lot of these. Folks decide the want to build a private pier. One of the concerns about a project like that is potential harm to the aquatic life...specifically eelgrass. Eelgrass plays many critical ecological roles so it's pretty heavily protected. As part of the permitting they are often required to have an annual survey conducted about the health of the eelgrass. That's where we come in.
darent
Active member
like your last sentence, love night dives ,turn all lights out and just float and relax, must come from those brown water dives in the military!!
vdk03
New member
+1 Its amazing how the corals and certain fish species come alive at night. I was suprised how well your eyes adjust with the lights off. We also saw some bioluminescence which was pretty cool.
darent
Active member
bioluminescense is fun to play with, waving your arms around and making patterns of light, being like the underwater merry pranksters !!
Talisman
New member
Do PADI, NAUI and SSI open water cerification have a mandatory swimming requirement these days?
I have been diving for years had no official certification and couldn't get tanks filled any more and was certified by the YMCA (not sure they still do this ) in early '70's. The Y had all kinds of swimming requirements including dragging someone with all their scuba gear (no BC in those days). The instructor was an ex-navy UDT swimmer and Korean war vet who was scary looking. My grilfriend wanted to get certified so we took a NAUI course in '80 that was long on book work and pool work with gear but really short on the swimming.
I have been diving for years had no official certification and couldn't get tanks filled any more and was certified by the YMCA (not sure they still do this ) in early '70's. The Y had all kinds of swimming requirements including dragging someone with all their scuba gear (no BC in those days). The instructor was an ex-navy UDT swimmer and Korean war vet who was scary looking. My grilfriend wanted to get certified so we took a NAUI course in '80 that was long on book work and pool work with gear but really short on the swimming.
bigbog
Active member
Yeah....big snaping turtles = nasty critters.
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