Are you a PADI Divemaster or Instructor and wondering what are the benefits of becoming a SSI Dive Professional ? In that case you found the right blog. Let's get into the practical details and what matters most to us dive professionals.
Both SSI (Scuba Schools International, established in 1970) and PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors, established in 1966) are respected organizations with extensive histories. However, the experience and unique advantages of becoming an SSI Dive Instructor are worth a closer look so you can make an informed decision.
Whether you're just starting out or are already an experienced dive professional, choosing the right certification organization is critical. For some, this choice may be straightforward, especially if the dive shop or region you're working in is already affiliated with a certain agency. However it might be worth checking which shops in your area are crossing over to SSI or offer both PADI and SSI courses. Becoming an SSI Instructor opens doors to more job opportunities and flexibility for you customers.
In this blog, we will discuss the key differences between SSI and PADI. Why SSI is now the preferred choice for many professionals around the world and the benefits you will enjoy by choosing SSI.
SSI fees are much lower than PADI
Online platform for professionals
Earning (SSI) recognition ratings vs paying (PADI)
Benefits of staying with SSI vs switching
SSI is fully digital
SSI Flexible Learning Path
SSI emphasis on Dive Experience
SSI Ecology Specialty Courses
Where do you want to work as Dive Instructor
What are the similarities between SSI and PADI ?
Safety & Fun: Regardless of which organization you choose, the fundamental principles of scuba diving remain consistent. Both SSI and PADI prioritize safety, education, and enjoyable and professional diving experiences.
Global Recognition: Both SSI and PADI certifications are recognized worldwide, allowing you to use your certification anywhere.
Flexibility in Switching up to Divemaster level: You can switch between organizations anytime up to Divemaster level. If you have a PADI Divemaster certification, you can continue your Instructor Training with SSI and vice versa you can be an SSI Divemaster and continue your Training with PADI. This is true for any level up to Divemaster. Starting from Dive Instructor level this changes. That leads us to the next point..
The SSI Crossover: At this point in time you can crossover as a PADI dive instructor (or any dive professional level) to SSI and become a SSI Dive Instructor. The reverse is not possible. If you are a SSI dive instructor you will need to do a full PADI IDC and IE to become a PADI dive instructor. This might change so if you are not sure which agency to choose we highly recommend to go with SSI for the reasons outlined below. Contact us directly if you are interested in the SSI crossover program.
Joining SSI is easy with the Crossover program.
Why choose SSI ?
While there are many similarities between the two organizations, there are also some key differences that could determine which one is right for you. If you're serious about building a career in the diving industry, the following points are essential for your future success.
SSI fees are much lower than PADI
As dive professionals, we are passionate about what we do, but we also need to earn a living from our diving careers. With the rising costs of daily life, it's reassuring to see how much SSI supports diving professionals. Let’s break down the numbers to see how much you can save as an SSI dive professional compared to a PADI dive professional.
When you finish your divemaster training, you’ll need to pay an application fee of $165 USD with PADI, compared to just $100 USD with SSI. For the following year, the annual membership fees are $250 USD for PADI (standard renewal) and only $85 USD for SSI. These are significant differences between the two organizations, and the difference becomes even bigger at the next professional level.
If you're serious about continuing your diving career, you’ll likely aim to become a Dive Instructor qualified to teach several Specialty Courses. With SSI, this recognition rating is called the Divemaster Instructor, with the PADI equivalent Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT). Let’s take a closer look at how much you can save by choosing to become a Divemaster Instructor with SSI compared to PADI (MSDT).
The graph above highlights the significant financial advantages of joining SSI. By choosing to become a SSI Divemaster Instructor you can save over $1500 USD.
Additionally, when you teach courses, you earn Reward Points with SSI. For every 200 points, you receive a $20 USD/EURO discount on your Annual Membership Renewal. This means you could end up paying reduced or even no membership fees.
In comparison, PADI charges an annual renewal fee of $250 USD for a Divemaster and $430 for a Dive Instructor. Over time, these higher renewal fees add up significantly.
The financial advantages of SSI are clear, but let's explore what else the organization has to offer.
Online platform for Professionals
As a PADI professional, finding the right course documents can be a challenge. You have to navigate two online platforms: the newer PADI website and the older PADI Pro platform, which can make it confusing to locate the information you need. This often results in a time-consuming and frustrating search for forms. Additionally, sending your students their online PADI materials can take at least 20 to 30 minutes.
Download the MySSI App for free. Create your profile and discover the benefits of SSI.
In contrast, SSI professionals enjoy 24/7 access to a fully integrated platform that is user-friendly and works seamlessly on all devices. The SSI website features an excellent search function, allowing you to quickly find what you need. All forms and materials are just a click away on the download page, and best of all, as a dive professional, you have free access to all student and professional materials !
The search function on the PADI Pro website is not effective, and you have to pay for instructor materials and updates, adding to your costs. With SSI, sending your students their online materials takes no more than 30 seconds. And all materials are continuously updated for free. All the latest updates or changes on courses, standards, campaigns etc. , along with a history of past updates dating back to 2020, can be found in the app under "News Bulletins." Having everything in one place is incredibly convenient.
These practical benefits of SSI shouldn’t be underestimated; they save you significant time in managing your courses, allowing you to focus more on what you love.
Earning (SSI) recognition ratings vs paying (PADI)
When you achieve milestones in your professional career, SSI automatically awards you recognition cards. You'll receive a congratulatory email, and the card will appear in your MySSI App at no extra charge. Which makes sense because you have worked very hard to achieve this rating.
In contrast, with PADI, you must apply and pay a fee to receive recognition ratings. For instance, as a dive instructor, if you meet the Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) requirements by certifying 25 PADI Divers and being qualified to teach 5 specialties, you'll need to submit a PADI MSDT application to your PADI Regional Headquarters for review, along with a processing fee of $114 USD (fees vary by region). On top of that, you’ve already paid between $88 and $140 USD for each individual instructor application, depending on the submission method. Altogether, this totals at least $555 USD just to earn the PADI MSDT rating. Which in reality is a recognition rating for your dedication to PADI.
With SSI, the entire process is simplified and more honest. The fully digital system automatically recognizes your achievements and sends your recognition card at no cost, thanking you for your hard work in delivering excellent courses. Designed by dive professionals, the SSI system aims to make your life easier and more cost-effective, saving you between $555 - $814 USD for the Divemaster Instructor rating. It’s just one more reason why SSI is so great !
Benefits of Staying with SSI vs. Switching
Let's say you complete your divemaster training with SSI, you’ll already be familiar with their skills and teaching methods. Therefore, it makes sense to continue your career with SSI if you decide to become a dive instructor. Switching organizations means you’ll need to learn new skills and teaching methods. That said, many PADI divemasters successfully transition to becoming SSI dive instructors and complete the SSI Instructor Training Course without any issues.
SSI is fully digital
We've already touched on some of the benefits of the MySSI platform, but it's also fully digital. SSI is committed to providing complete digital solutions for all users—whether students, divers, dive centers, or dive professionals. This means everything is handled online, with no need for physical paperwork!
As a PADI professional, you may find it challenging to navigate the site for the necessary paperwork, and completing and sending forms to PADI for approval can be extremely time-consuming. The SSI system is designed for a completely digital experience, eliminating the need for physical paperwork. All forms can be filled out online and submitted to SSI with just a click, all in one convenient location. This means that as a dive professional or dive center, you’ll always have access to your student records and forms, without the hassle of maintaining physical documents.
So, if a student returns after months or even years to continue their training, all their paperwork is conveniently stored in their online profile. It’s a huge time-saver, as there’s no need to dig through old files stored somewhere. PADI requires paperwork to be stored for seven years, and if you've ever had to store documents in the tropics, you know how quickly mold and insects can damage them. With SSI, everything is securely stored in the digital cloud!
Comprehensive Digital Learning: SSI’s online learning platform is more complete and fully integrated across all mobile devices and your computer. Your SSI digital learning syncs seamlessly with your free MySSI account. You can even download your course to study offline, like on a plane, and sync it once you’re back online. Course materials are available in over 40 languages and switching languages is easy with a simple button click. Plus, training material updates are free and available for a lifetime !
PADI professionals are using three different apps. The PADI app, the PADI training app and the PADI aware app. Which seems redundant as it could all fit in one app.
SSI integrated all digital tools in one easy to use “MySSI” app so another win for SSI ! You can download the app for free at https://www.divessi.com/en/join-ssi/register-free/myssi-app
Integrated Training System: The MySSI app offers a complete training system, logbook, and certifications all in one place. With 24/7 access, you can:
Access all your training materials, documentation, and certification cards.
Log every detail of your dives in the digital logbook.
Enjoy free online training courses and updates
Plan your dive travel and marine life encounters
Connect with the entire SSI network and more !
SSI Flexible Learning Path
Unlike PADI’s rigid order of skills, SSI emphasizes the importance of personalized instruction and encourages instructors to adapt their teaching methods to suit the needs of individual students. This results in a more efficient and effective learning experience for students who may benefit different learning styles.
If a student has difficulty with a skill, they can complete it later in the training, as long as all course skill requirements are fulfilled before certification. This SSI approach helps students build confidence naturally and effectively. For instructors and divemasters assisting on courses, this flexibility allows for smoother and more adaptable course planning.
SSI emphasis on Dive Experience
One of the core strengths of the SSI Divemaster program is the emphasis on practical experience and working with real customers in real life environments. At an SSI Career Center like Rich Coast Diving, you'll gain hands-on experience, assisting instructors in real-world diving scenarios, including challenging conditions that prepare you for professional diving roles worldwide.
Another example of SSI’s focus on real-life scenarios is the Night and Limited Visibility course. While PADI primarily emphasizes night diving, it's important to recognize that there are many daytime situations where visibility can be limited. The SSI Night Diving and Limited Visibility specialty is the ideal way to learn about night diving and practice the techniques necessary for becoming a safe and confident diver in low visibility.
With a blend of online learning and open water training dives, students will learn how to enter and exit the water, use specialized equipment, and effectively communicate with their buddy at night or in limited visibility.
Based on real-world experiences and conditions, dive professionals skillfully adapt training to meet the needs and abilities of their students. SSI prioritizes creating safe and confident divers that can handle real life situation.
SSI Ecology Specialty Courses
If you are passionate about diving then one of the reasons is probably because of the incredible marine life that we encounter as divers. Since we spend so much time underwater guiding and teaching our students it is great to have a better understanding of whats happening below the surface.
SSI teamed up with "First Education" who's mission is to develop engaging marine science curricula for divers, students and working professionals. They share SSI's commitment to creating and supporting a community of ocean enthusiasts who are passionate about experiencing and preserving our marine environments. Therefor all curricula is designed, written, and vetted by subject matter experts and constructed on research-based pedagogical practices.
With a wide range of Ecology courses available, SSI has done an outstanding job creating engaging, comprehensive, and fun courses on Marine Ecology. If you haven’t explored them yet, we highly recommend you do. This is a significant advantage over PADI, which currently doesn’t offer any digital courses on marine ecology.
At our Career Center in Costa Rica, the Ecology Specialties are among the most popular courses. We often combine these specialties with Open Water or Advanced courses, or with our diving trips to the Catalinas Islands, where we encounter Oceanic Mantas (through the Manta & Ray Ecology Specialty) or with our Bullshark diving (through the Shark Ecology Specialty) at Bats Islands. As a result, our instructors earn additional certifications. And because these ecology specialties are non-diving, Active-status Divemasters can also apply to become Ecology Specialty Instructors.
This is a major advantage over PADI, as it gives Divemasters the opportunity to gain meaningful teaching experience before becoming Dive Instructors. Our Dive Instructors and students both benefit from acquiring more certifications and knowledge—it's a win-win for everyone!
Where do you want to work as Dive Instructor ?
Did you know that there are over 120 different scuba diving training agencies in the world? Historically PADI has been the world's largest Scuba Diving agency but in recent years dive shops worldwide are increasingly switching to SSI, while the reverse trend is rarely seen. SSI is currently the fastest-growing organization and is becoming the preferred training agency in many regions.
SSI is the world’s largest business-based training agency, with over 50 years of experience supporting more than 3,500 dive centers worldwide. Recognized globally with ISO certification, the SSI network is expanding so rapidly that the demand for professionals now outpaces the supply.
The support provided by SSI is exceptional—thanks to more than 30 Service Centers around the globe, SSI is always close by and quick to respond. The agency takes pride in fostering personal relationships with its professionals and is dedicated to being a true partner in your diving career.
If you're considering a specific dive shop or location for your career, it's important to research which agency is most prominent in that area and whether they are transitioning to SSI. Many shops may be offering training from both agencies, so it's worth confirming to ensure job security and career opportunities.
Sign up for your SSI crossover program for PADI Divemasters and Dive Instructors.
Rich Coast Diving is the oldest Career Development and Training Center in Costa Rica. As such we always strive to offer our divers and professional candidates the best possible training and resources available to help them grow their career in the diving industry. For that reason, we are part of SSI which is the world’s fastest growing training agency offering the most attractive and complete programs in the industry.
And as such will offer our candidates the best possible career options towards the future. On the SSI website or MySSI App you find current job offers around the world.
Visit the SSI website for current job offers.
SSI courses receive great Reviews from our Customers
At the end of the day, the customer experience is what truly matters. If guests have a fun, safe, and enjoyable course, both the instructor and the dive center will receive excellent reviews. Over the past four months, we've taught more than 150 SSI courses, all with rave reviews from our guests. Our instructors are passionate about teaching SSI, and our guests are having an amazing experience—it's a win-win for everyone!
SSI Crossover for Dive Instructors and Divemasters in Costa Rica
Are you a Dive Professional and want to add SSI to your curriculum? We offer the SSI crossover for Divemasters and Dive instructors from PADI and other organizations. Becoming an SSI Instructor opens doors to more job opportunities and flexibility for you customers being able to offer SSI and PADI.
This will be the last opportunity, therefor you will need to register before 31 December and complete your training before June 2025.
Contact us directly for more information at info@richcoastdiving.com
Conclusion: Your Path to Success as an SSI Dive Instructor
Both SSI and PADI offer respected Divemaster certifications, but the benefits of becoming an SSI Divemaster, can give you the edge in terms of flexibility, cost-effectiveness, hands-on experience, and career opportunities.
Whether it’s the personalized learning, real-world dive experience, or integrated digital platforms, SSI offers a modern, comprehensive approach to professional dive training that’s hard to beat. And choosing SSI will save you money so you can spend it on other things you love.
Ready to dive into your future? Join our Professional courses at Rich Coast Diving and take the first step towards an exciting and fulfilling career in the diving industry.
For more information about becoming a Dive Instructor, Contact Rich Coast Diving
Mrs. Céline Monfort
Email: info@richcoastdiving.com
WhatsApp +506 8610 0914
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