Both are organisations/brand names that provide the materials for diver training. There are more organisations, such as RAID or CMAS, in various forms (each country has its own differences), but PADI and SSI are probably the best known worldwide. No matter which organisation you choose in the end, the instructor is much more important than the organisation.
How the training systems differ
I will only go into PADI and SSI here, as I am authorised to teach both. I could only provide dangerous half-knowledge about others, which I avoid. In SSI, there are exercises characterised by technical diving. However, the basic exercises are almost the same.
What both agencies have in common (ISO standards & basics)
If you want to get your diving license, the difference is not really that big.
Both organisations follow the ISO standard, which means that a diving certificate from one organisation is recognised worldwide and by any other organisation.
Both trainings teach you (should teach you) how to be a responsible and safe diver. The Open Water Diver certification means you are safe enough to go underwater alone with another certified diver (dive buddy) if the worst comes to the worst.
Think of the diving course like your driver’s license. Here too, you had to learn how to deal with dangerous situations – which hopefully will never happen if you do everything else right. Every learner driver must learn the same rules and safety exercises. But how they are taught may differ slightly.
In contrast to the driver’s license, however, the diving licence from these two organisations is recognised worldwide. And it is valid for life (which could be questioned….).
Where PADI and SSI differ in practice
Here are a few examples of the differences:
- PADI teaches an ascent rate of 18m/min
- SSI 9m/min (most instructors will tell you that this is the safer option; tech diving uses 10m/min)
- With PADI, you are an “Advanced Open Water Diver” after your 2nd course.
- With SSI, you complete the same course, but it is called “Advanced Adventurer” here. Only after 24 logged dives and 4 specialties is it renamed “Advanced Open Water Diver”.
- In the PADI “Advanced Open Water Diver” course, the deep and navigation dives are mandatory.
- The SSI “Advanced Adventurer” course does not require a dive, but every decent dive shop will carry out deep and navigation dives; otherwise, you will not have the same level as the PADI certificate.
- Update: As of October 2025, SSI has changed the course name to “Advanced Open Water Diver” with the same rules.
These are just a few examples to illustrate that there is no significant difference.
How the apps and digital logbooks compare
With both organisations, you can log your dives in the respective app.
Only SSI uses QR codes for this. In SSI, dives are “verified”, i.e., even after obtaining a diving license, if you participate in so-called fun dives, these can be verified using the QR code of the shop.
Many divers who come from SSI and dive with a PADI shop ask for this QR code.
A PADI shop cannot have this, as each shop must choose one organisation and cannot offer services from both. (If they do, I don´t know how they do it.)
However, this does not mean that your dives are not official. Since you are officially allowed to dive alone with a buddy with your certificate, any other certified diver can verify your dive. There doesn’t have to be a green checkmark in the app. As long as you enter the dives, everything is okay.
Why logging your dives actually matters
Firstly, as professionals, we can assess what you need in our shop based on your previous dives and the equipment you used.
For this, you should at least enter the BCD size you used, the tank size and material, the wetsuit, and the equipment you need.
It is also your proof of the total number of dives you have done, which includes various types of dives (deep, navigation, current…) to demonstrate your experience level.
In case you have forgotten your certification card, do not have a picture, and there is no internet connection, so you cannot provide any proof, this logbook can also be considered proof that you are a certified diver and your experience level.
Comparing the training materials
As it is the right time, I will only go into the online material here. Some dive shops still use books – for what reason is not clear to me.
As sorry as I am for PADI, I personally find SSI’s online training material better for students.
However, I find the part for diving instructors with all the standards, etc., better at PADI.
PADI app and eLearning (for recreational divers)
PADI offers 2 different apps:
- PADI App – for certification cards, logbook, course material, etc
- PADI Adventure – for travel bookings
There are also numerous homepage links hidden within the app under seemingly unrelated app functions. Here, you are directed back to the PADI homepage, and in the worst case, you have to log in there again. This technology is suitable for a beta version, but it is no longer up to date.
Especially not if you are creating material for diving students who often do their training in remote countries without constant access to an internet connection.
SSI app and digital learning system (for recreational divers)
For my ITler taste, the SSI app is much better structured, more intuitive to use and combines everything in a single app. The overall layout is also more contemporary.
In addition, SSI utilises QR codes in various areas of the logbook function, making it easier to enter a dive buddy, certify training dives with an instructor, and verify a fun dive using the shop´s QR code.
Side-by-side comparison of the course content
I would not presume to judge the respective content, as I would not be capable of putting something like this together.
Additionally, everyone learns differently and understands teaching material in their own unique way.
In my own personal experience with the courses, however, I felt more comfortable with SSI (except for the calculation formulas, as I hate maths)
With PADI, you can fail, and the dive shop has to check this; with SSI, you repeat until you achieve 100%.
Does the agency matter if you want to go pro?
Simply put: YES.
In this case, you should find out in advance which organisation has more shops, depending on where you want to go in the world.
Here is a brief overview of the number of shops displayed on the relevant organisation pages. I take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.
But you can already see from this that SSI now predominates.
However, PADI is still the most well-known in terms of popularity.
Many divers come to our shop not asking for the “Open Water” course. They say, “I want to do my PADI.”
I haven’t collected any figures here, but in Europe, particularly in Germany and France, CMAS is likely still predominant.
Key differences in the Divemaster pathway
The PADI Divemaster course is a comprehensive program that includes all diving theory.
SSI has divided this course into 3 parts. The “Dive Guide”, “Science of Diving” and “Divemaster”.
A certified and active PADI Divemaster may conduct refresher courses independently.
A certified and active SSI Divemaster may not. In SSI, only an assistant instructor is authorised to conduct a refresher course.
Read more in I am thinking about doing my Divemaster training (DMT)
Important differences in the Instructor pathway
PADI Instructors can work independently, i.e. I can simply rent equipment, buy the materials and teach everyone without belonging to a shop.
PADI instructors are therefore also solely responsible!
If a shop books a freelance instructor and this instructor carries out a service requested by the shop that endangers the safety of the students and violates the PADI standards, the instructor will be questioned. The shop will only receive an informative email. The instructor is also accountable to PADI.
In the worst case, this can result in the loss of active status, which means the instructor is no longer permitted to teach.
SSI has a different approach here. An SSI instructor can only teach in conjunction with a shop. This means that I could not simply teach my friends independently with SSI.
However, this also means that in the event of a breach of standards or danger to students, the entire shop is checked by SSI. Not only the instructor.
According to SSI standards, instructors may carry and use an action camera for group photos during the Try Scuba course. PADI standards specifically mention that instructors are not allowed to engage in any other activity, such as taking photographs or videos, for the Discover Scuba Diver program.
Both organisations are very clear that the instructor needs to be in control and have almost always direct supervision of all students. Now it is debatable whether SSI is undermining its own standards here.
Many shops now offer photos included in the price.
According to the standards, this is only legal in two cases: either SSI Try Scuba and then only one action camera. An additional fun dive is also offered after certification as part of the course. Open Water courses, for example, officially include 4 official Open Water training dives in both organisations. If the shop offers 5 dives and the students are already certified on the last dive, they are considered Fun Divers, and the instructor may take a camera with them.
If you are offered something else, please bear in mind that your instructor is breaking, or has to break, standards.
Why your instructor matters more than the agency
Let’s take the driving license as an example again. I had 3 different driving instructors during my motorcycle training, and only the last one was really good. Of course, I would have passed my motorcycle license with one of the first two, but would I have become as good a driver as I was with my final instructor? No.
The driving instructor made a huge difference here, and I rejected the 2nd one after just one day.
Safety, intuition and experience
Diving is still a dangerous sport, don’t forget that!
As much fun as the course and diving are, you want to be safe after completing the course and not risk your life.
My advice to all my diving students: trust your intuition.
How to choose the right instructor for you
Not every instructor is the right person to teach YOU.
We all have different approaches to our teaching style.
I personally teach with a lot of fun, but that stops when it comes to the safety of my divers. I take a lot of time to explain things and would never force someone to do something they don’t feel comfortable with.
However, this is not the right teaching style for all students. I’ve also had some who needed a stricter approach. But that’s not me.
But we are also paid on a commission basis. This means that, depending on where we work, we only get paid when the student completes the course (which, in my personal opinion, does not speak in favour of the dive shop).
My personal approach here is: I’d rather give up money than ruin someone’s diving experience. Even if that means letting go of my ego and finding someone better for that student.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case. What’s more, we’re only human and we can have bad days too.
But I can give you one thing along the way: Whether it’s a driving or diving instructor, someone who doesn’t have the patience to teach you something is not a good teacher! You shouldn’t feel unsafe or be pushed into something too much for you.
If you don’t feel comfortable, please speak with management.
What’s the worst-case scenario that can happen? You lose money. How does that compare to a good experience and the knowledge that you’ll be safe in the end?
However, a solution can usually be found.
This is not “snitching” or anything like that. You pay, and you should feel comfortable. If this is not the case, it is a good reason to talk about it.
Final thoughts: PADI vs SSI – which is right for you?
I completed the main part of my diving training with PADI, but also took some additional courses with SSI on the side.
As long as you don’t get into the professional area, it doesn’t matter. You can jump back and forth between the two organisations.
At the professional level, especially as a diving instructor, things become interesting, and here you should conduct your research in advance.
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