Different badges.
The same ocean.
Find where your scuba qualification fits. Compare certification levels and plan your next course with Ocean Tribe in Diani Beach, Kenya.
Find your equivalent certification
Choose your agency, type the name on your card, or try an example below.
A practical comparison, not an automatic certification transfer. We confirm course eligibility from your card, experience and the programme’s prerequisites.
SSI
PADI
SDI
NAUI
RAID
CMAS
BSACYour certification. Across agencies.
Use SSI as the reference column, then compare the closest training level. Notes flag broader programmes, different course structures and ratings that need individual review.
| Training stage | SSI reference | PADI | SDI | NAUI | RAID | CMAS | BSAC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start divingTry diving experiencesA first taste of scuba | Try Scuba / Basic DiverPool and ocean options have different scopes. | Discover Scuba DivingIntroductory experience. | Scuba DiscoveryIntroductory experience. | Introduction to ScubaIntroductory programme. | Try DiveIntroductory experience. | Try Scuba / Introductory Scuba ExperienceProgramme scope varies. | Try DiveIntroductory experience. |
| Start divingSupervised diverDive with qualified supervision | Scuba Diver | Scuba Diver | Supervised Diver | No direct match shownNAUI Scuba Diver / Open Water Scuba Diver belongs in the Open Water comparison. | Scuba DiverCheck the conditions on your card. | No direct match shownOne Star Diver belongs in the Open Water comparison. | Discovery DiverA supervised qualification; distinct from Ocean Diver. |
| Start divingOpen Water DiverYour first autonomous diver qualification | Open Water Diver | Open Water Diver | Open Water Scuba Diver | Open Water Scuba DiverOlder cards may say Scuba Diver. | Open Water 20 / Open Water DiverUse the title and limits shown on your card. | One Star DiverNational federation conditions may differ. | Ocean DiverCheck qualification conditions and experience. |
| Continue divingAdvanced Open Water DiverBuild experience in different types of diving | Advanced Open Water DiverPreviously Advanced Adventurer. Older SSI AOWD recognition cards are different. | Advanced Open Water Diver | Advanced Adventure DiverDifferent from the SDI Advanced Diver recognition. | Advanced Open Water Scuba DiverOlder cards may say Advanced Scuba Diver. | Explorer 30 / Advanced 35Related advanced programmes with different requirements. | Two Star DiverBroader grade. Individual assessment. | Sports DiverBroader grade including rescue elements. |
| Continue divingDiver Stress & RescuePrevent problems and respond effectively | Diver Stress & Rescue | Rescue Diver | Rescue Diver | Scuba Rescue Diver | Master Rescue Diver | Rescue Diver / Two Star DiverReview the federation syllabus and completed rescue training. | Sports DiverReview the rescue training and experience completed. |
| RecognitionAdvanced Specialty DiverA recognition of specialty training and experience | Advanced Specialty DiverFour qualifying specialties and 24 logged dives. | No direct match shownReview individual specialties and logged dives. | Advanced DiverFour specialties and 25 logged dives. Requirements differ. | No direct match shownReview individual specialties and logged dives. | No direct match shownReview individual specialties and logged dives. | No direct match shownStar grades follow a different structure. | No direct match shownBSAC grades follow a different structure. |
| RecognitionMaster DiverRecreational achievement, not a professional rating | Master DiverRecognition requirements apply. | Master Scuba DiverRecreational recognition. | Master Scuba DiverRecognition requirements differ. | Master Scuba DiverA course with its own training requirements. | Master DiverRecognition requirements differ. | No direct match shownThree Star Diver is a leadership grade. | No direct match shownAdvanced Diver is a leadership grade. |
| Go proDivemaster / Dive leadershipLead certified divers and develop professional skills | DivemasterBuilt on Dive Guide plus Science of Diving requirements. | Divemaster | Divemaster | Divemaster | Divemaster | Three Star Diver / DivemasterReview the grade and federation requirements. | Dive LeaderReview experience and professional prerequisites. |
| Go proAssistant InstructorDevelop supervised teaching responsibilities | Assistant InstructorLegacy Dive Control Specialist: ask for a rating review. | Assistant Instructor | Assistant Instructor | Assistant Instructor | Rating review requiredSend your exact leadership or assistant-level card. | Rating review requiredCMAS instructor grades are not assumed to match this level. | Rating review requiredAssistant and legacy Club Instructor grades need review. |
| Go proOpen Water InstructorTeach within your agency authorisations | Open Water Instructor | Open Water Scuba Instructor | Open Water Scuba Diver Instructor | Scuba Instructor | Open Circuit InstructorConfirm your exact instructor rating. | CMAS InstructorGrade and teaching scope require review. | Open Water InstructorReview active status and teaching scope. |
Scroll across the chart to see every agency. The training stage stays in view.
Start divingTry diving experiences
- SSI
- Try Scuba / Basic DiverPool and ocean options have different scopes.
- PADI
- Discover Scuba DivingIntroductory experience.
- SDI
- Scuba DiscoveryIntroductory experience.
- NAUI
- Introduction to ScubaIntroductory programme.
- RAID
- Try DiveIntroductory experience.
- CMAS
- Try Scuba / Introductory Scuba ExperienceProgramme scope varies.
- BSAC
- Try DiveIntroductory experience.
These are introductory experiences. They do not replace an autonomous Open Water Diver certification.
Start divingSupervised diver
- SSI
- Scuba Diver
- PADI
- Scuba Diver
- SDI
- Supervised Diver
- NAUI
- No direct match shownNAUI Scuba Diver / Open Water Scuba Diver belongs in the Open Water comparison.
- RAID
- Scuba DiverCheck the conditions on your card.
- CMAS
- No direct match shownOne Star Diver belongs in the Open Water comparison.
- BSAC
- Discovery DiverA supervised qualification; distinct from Ocean Diver.
Supervised qualifications are a different level from Open Water Diver. Check the supervision and depth limits recorded by your training organisation.
Start divingOpen Water Diver
- SSI
- Open Water Diver
- PADI
- Open Water Diver
- SDI
- Open Water Scuba Diver
- NAUI
- Open Water Scuba DiverOlder cards may say Scuba Diver.
- RAID
- Open Water 20 / Open Water DiverUse the title and limits shown on your card.
- CMAS
- One Star DiverNational federation conditions may differ.
- BSAC
- Ocean DiverCheck qualification conditions and experience.
These are broadly comparable entry-level diver qualifications. Age, depth, conditions and supervision rules still follow your own certification and experience.
Continue divingAdvanced Open Water Diver
- SSI
- Advanced Open Water DiverPreviously Advanced Adventurer. Older SSI AOWD recognition cards are different.
- PADI
- Advanced Open Water Diver
- SDI
- Advanced Adventure DiverDifferent from the SDI Advanced Diver recognition.
- NAUI
- Advanced Open Water Scuba DiverOlder cards may say Advanced Scuba Diver.
- RAID
- Explorer 30 / Advanced 35Related advanced programmes with different requirements.
- CMAS
- Two Star DiverBroader grade. Individual assessment.
- BSAC
- Sports DiverBroader grade including rescue elements.
Advanced programmes do not all contain the same dives or teach to the same depth. CMAS Two Star and BSAC Sports Diver are broader grades, so the team reviews their training rather than treating them as identical courses.
Continue divingDiver Stress & Rescue
- SSI
- Diver Stress & Rescue
- PADI
- Rescue Diver
- SDI
- Rescue Diver
- NAUI
- Scuba Rescue Diver
- RAID
- Master Rescue Diver
- CMAS
- Rescue Diver / Two Star DiverReview the federation syllabus and completed rescue training.
- BSAC
- Sports DiverReview the rescue training and experience completed.
Rescue entry requirements, first-aid currency and practical training must be checked. A related broader grade does not automatically satisfy every requirement.
RecognitionAdvanced Specialty Diver
- SSI
- Advanced Specialty DiverFour qualifying specialties and 24 logged dives.
- PADI
- No direct match shownReview individual specialties and logged dives.
- SDI
- Advanced DiverFour specialties and 25 logged dives. Requirements differ.
- NAUI
- No direct match shownReview individual specialties and logged dives.
- RAID
- No direct match shownReview individual specialties and logged dives.
- CMAS
- No direct match shownStar grades follow a different structure.
- BSAC
- No direct match shownBSAC grades follow a different structure.
SSI Advanced Specialty Diver replaced SSI’s former Advanced Open Water Diver recognition. It is separate from the current five-dive Advanced Open Water Diver course. Similar recognition names do not mean identical requirements.
RecognitionMaster Diver
- SSI
- Master DiverRecognition requirements apply.
- PADI
- Master Scuba DiverRecreational recognition.
- SDI
- Master Scuba DiverRecognition requirements differ.
- NAUI
- Master Scuba DiverA course with its own training requirements.
- RAID
- Master DiverRecognition requirements differ.
- CMAS
- No direct match shownThree Star Diver is a leadership grade.
- BSAC
- No direct match shownAdvanced Diver is a leadership grade.
Master Diver and Master Scuba Diver are recreational achievements. They are not Divemaster qualifications. CMAS Three Star and BSAC Advanced Diver have leadership responsibilities and should not be treated as direct matches.
Go proDivemaster / Dive leadership
- SSI
- DivemasterBuilt on Dive Guide plus Science of Diving requirements.
- PADI
- Divemaster
- SDI
- Divemaster
- NAUI
- Divemaster
- RAID
- Divemaster
- CMAS
- Three Star Diver / DivemasterReview the grade and federation requirements.
- BSAC
- Dive LeaderReview experience and professional prerequisites.
Leadership grades can support an application for further professional training. Professional registration, assisting privileges, rescue competence and experience need individual review. SSI Dive Guide and Divemaster are distinct ratings.
Go proAssistant Instructor
- SSI
- Assistant InstructorLegacy Dive Control Specialist: ask for a rating review.
- PADI
- Assistant Instructor
- SDI
- Assistant Instructor
- NAUI
- Assistant Instructor
- RAID
- Rating review requiredSend your exact leadership or assistant-level card.
- CMAS
- Rating review requiredCMAS instructor grades are not assumed to match this level.
- BSAC
- Rating review requiredAssistant and legacy Club Instructor grades need review.
Assistant-level teaching permissions differ between agencies. Legacy ratings such as SSI Dive Control Specialist and BSAC Club Instructor need an individual review of the actual qualification and current status.
Go proOpen Water Instructor
- SSI
- Open Water Instructor
- PADI
- Open Water Scuba Instructor
- SDI
- Open Water Scuba Diver Instructor
- NAUI
- Scuba Instructor
- RAID
- Open Circuit InstructorConfirm your exact instructor rating.
- CMAS
- CMAS InstructorGrade and teaching scope require review.
- BSAC
- Open Water InstructorReview active status and teaching scope.
An instructor rating does not transfer automatically. Ocean Tribe reviews your current status and qualifications, then confirms the appropriate SSI crossover training and Instructor Evaluation requirements.
Similar levels.
Different requirements.
Changing training agency does not usually mean starting again. Your existing certification can support entry into an appropriate next course, once its prerequisites have been checked.
- Supervised is different from autonomousA Scuba Diver qualification may require direct supervision. Open Water qualifications sit at a different training level. NAUI Scuba Diver and BSAC Ocean Diver belong with Open Water, not the supervised row.
- Master Diver is different from DivemasterMaster Diver or Master Scuba Diver is a recreational achievement. Divemaster is a leadership qualification with additional responsibilities.
- Older SSI cards need a closer lookThe former Advanced Adventurer course is now Advanced Open Water Diver. The older Advanced Open Water Diver recognition is now Advanced Specialty Diver. Check your training record if your card uses an older name.
- Depth and experience still matterA comparable title does not change your depth limit or authorise unfamiliar activities. We review training, logged dives, age and any restrictions before recommending a course.
CMAS grades at a glance
CMAS national federations can adapt programmes. These are broad reference points rather than automatic transfers.
What ISO levels tell you
ISO 24801 distinguishes supervised divers, autonomous divers and dive leaders. ISO 24802 describes instructor competencies. These standards help explain training categories; they do not award you another agency’s certification.
Explore CMAS training standards →Your next adventure starts here.
Grow your diving skills
Explore advanced training, buoyancy, navigation and specialties that match the diving you want to do.
Explore advanced courses →Build a professional career
Bring your current qualification and experience to a conversation about Divemaster or SSI instructor training.
Explore professional training →Cross over as an instructor
Already qualified to teach? We review your rating and active status, then explain the SSI crossover and evaluation route.
Explore instructor crossovers →Your certification questions.
Can I take an SSI course with a PADI certification?
A recognised equivalent qualification can support entry into the appropriate SSI course. We also check the course’s other prerequisites, such as logged experience, minimum age, rescue training and first-aid requirements.
Will I automatically receive an equivalent SSI card?
No. This chart compares training levels. Receiving an SSI certification requires the applicable training, assessment and certification process. Instructor crossovers have their own requirements.
What if my certification is not listed?
Send us the agency, exact course title, certification date and your recent diving experience. Older cards, national federation grades and qualifications from other organisations can be reviewed individually.
Why does my qualification appear in more than one comparison?
Some programmes combine training that another agency separates into several courses. CMAS Two Star and BSAC Sports Diver are examples of broader grades. We review the actual training completed rather than assuming a one-to-one match.
Does Junior Open Water count as Open Water?
A junior qualification may sit at the same broad training stage, but age-related depth and supervision restrictions still apply. Tell us your age and the exact card you hold so we can confirm suitable diving and training.
Bring your card.
We’ll help with the rest.
Send Ocean Tribe your certification details and latest logged-dive information. We’ll help you understand which course fits your experience.
