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Unforgettable aquatic adventures for kids – Go underwater and discover the wonder of Snorkel, Scuba, Mermaid, and Freediving Explorer programs
The SSI Classified Diving program has been created to enable persons with disabilities who might not be able to earn full certifications the ability to dive and get certified with different safety parameters. Learn to work with disabled divers.
The Go-Pro dive equipment package concepts have been designed to recognise that dive professionals should have their own set of diving equipment.
Their ‘tools of the trade’ if you will.
When you have passed a Divemaster course or SSI Instructor Training Course, then you are a professional diver. This is a career.
It would be unreasonable to expect you to be a professional footballer without a pair of boots, so the same principle should apply to diving.
The internship dive equipment packages have been put together not just for our interns to save on price (although that is important).
As a professional diver you are expected to be a role model diver. Your students and divers should look at the equipment you wear. They should think you look professional. They should want to emulate you.
If you are wearing the same rental gear as them, it does not give you much scope for dive equipment sales (a potential revenue source for a dive pro).
As such even the basic dive internship equipment package is not all equipment used for rental, but rather upgrades that will set you aside as someone who should be taken seriously.
All of the dive internship equipment packages come from top scuba diving equipment manufacturers including Apeks Aqualung, Beaver Sports, Cressi, Oceanic, Hollis, Scubapro, Suunto, and Shearwater.
All participants in the Divemaster Career Internship or Dive Instructor Career Internship receive a complete equipment package included in their program. Already have your own gear? No problem! You can opt-out if needed.
This special pricing is available to all professional course participants, including:
Train with top-quality dive gear and gain the skills to become a confident, well-equipped dive professional.
BCD- Oceanic- Biolite or Ocean Pro
Regulator- 1st Stage/2nd Stage/Octo Oceanic- Alpha 8
Gauges, Compass, and Dive Computer– Oceanic- Veo 4.0 Navcon
Mask- Oceanic- Shadow
Snorkel– Oceanic-Ultra SD
Fins- Oceanic- Viper 2 Full foot
Reel- Beaver – 30m Finger
SMB- Beaver – with Valve
Slate- Beaver
Wetsuit- Ocean Tribe Deep Blue 3mm Shorty
This is the basic package included with dive internship packages
For purchase as an SSI Divemaster Course or SSI ITC Candidate, special price is $1399
BCD- Scubapro- Hydros Pro
Regulator- Scubapro- MK11/C370
Gauges– Scubapro- Compact 2
Compass– Beaver Sports- Wrist Compass
Dive Computer– Shearwater Peregrine
Mask- Scubapro – Solo
Snorkel– Scubapro – Spectra
Fins- Scubapro- Go Travel
Reel- Beaver – 30m Finger
SMB- Beaver – with Valve
Slate- Beaver
Wetsuit- Ocean Tribe Deep Blue 3mm Shorty
Boots- Deep Blue
To upgrade the internship package the cost is $500
For purchase as an SSI Divemaster Course or SSI ITC Candidate, special price is $1899
Contact us when booking and we can design your perfect equipment package based on your requirements. This can include: Wings, air integrated computers, different exposure options, and more.
Kenya delivers unforgettable experiences, from thrilling wildlife encounters to breathtaking landscapes. Home to world-renowned African wildlife, its national parks teem with iconic species, while the Great Rift Valley, Mt. Kenya, and Mt. Kilimanjaro create stunning backdrops. Along the Indian Ocean, pristine beaches and vibrant coral reefs await.
At Ocean Tribe, we offer exclusive dive and safari packages, combining the best of Kenya’s land and sea. Embark on a thrilling safari across the African savannah, unwind on the spectacular shores of Diani Beach, and dive into the crystal-clear waters teeming with marine life.
Looking for a personalized adventure? We tailor custom dive and safari experiences to match your dream itinerary. Let us craft the perfect Kenya getaway just for you!
Our exclusive dive and safari packages take you on an incredible journey across Kenya’s most breathtaking destinations. Depending on your chosen package, your adventure may include:
Travel in comfort in a spacious 4×4 Land Cruiser, guided by an experienced safari expert. Your guide will help you track Africa’s most famous wildlife, including the Big Five—lions, elephants, leopards, buffalo, and rhinos—ensuring an unforgettable safari experience.
Diani Beach, Kenya’s top coastal destination, is famous for its white sandy beaches, turquoise waters, and endless adventure opportunities. Are you planning a relaxing getaway or an action-packed trip? Here are the most frequently asked questions about Diani Beach (FAQs)to help you plan your perfect vacation.
Diani Beach is on Kenya’s south coast, about 30 km (18 miles) south of Mombasa in Kwale County. It stretches along the Indian Ocean and is known for its stunning coastline, vibrant marine life, and laid-back atmosphere.
There are several ways to reach Diani Beach:
Yes, Diani Beach is considered one of Kenya’s safest destinations. However, always take basic precautions:
Absolutely! Diani Beach has warm, clear waters perfect for swimming. It is ideal for families due to the shallow shoreline and gentle waves make. But always be cautious of the tides.
Diani Beach is a watersports paradise! Popular activities include:
The best time to visit is during the dry seasons:
Avoid the rainy season from April – June when heavy rains can disrupt activities.
Diani offers accommodations ranging from luxury resorts to budget-friendly stays:
🏝️ Luxury: The Sands at Nomad, Almanara Villas, Swahili Beach Resort
🏝️ Mid-Range: Leopard Beach Resort, Baobab Beach Resort, The Zubeida
🏝️ Budget: Diani Backpackers, Pendo Villas, Soul Breeze Beach Resort
Diani has fantastic Swahili and seafood cuisine. Must-try dishes include:
🍛 Swahili Biriani – A rich, spiced rice and meat dish.
🐟 Grilled Seafood – Fresh fish, lobster, and calamari.
🥥 Coconut Beans & Chapati – A delicious vegetarian option.
🍢 Mishkaki – Spiced meat skewers.
Top restaurants to visit:
Yes! Diani Beach is close to several safari destinations:
Check out our Dive and Safari Packages
Visit Colobus Conservation, a rescue center dedicated to protecting endangered colobus monkeys. You’ll also spot vervet monkeys and Sykes monkeys around hotels and beachside areas.
The Kenyan Shilling (KES) is the local currency. Many places readily accept USD, EUR, and GBP; however, to ensure a smoother experience, it’s best to carry Kenyan Shillings (KES) for local purchases. Since smaller shops and markets may only take cash, having local currency on hand will make transactions easier and more convenient.
Most visitors need an eVisa, which can be applied for online at evisa.go.ke. Some nationalities qualify for visa-on-arrival services.
Diani Beach has good mobile coverage with Safaricom and Airtel. Most hotels, cafes, and restaurants offer free WiFi.
Shop for handcrafted Kenyan souvenirs such as:
🖼️ Maasai jewelry – Beaded necklaces and bracelets.
🦁 Wood carvings – Handmade sculptures of African wildlife.
👜 Kikoy & Kitenge fabrics – Traditional Swahili clothing.
🐚 Seashell crafts – Unique ocean-inspired décor.
Visit the Diani Beach Art Gallery or the local markets for authentic gifts.
Diani Beach is a tropical paradise offering relaxation, adventure, and unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re looking for thrilling activities or a peaceful escape, you’ll find it all here.
The dive agency equivalent certifications chart below is useful when enrolling on a new scuba diving course with Ocean Tribe. If you have been certified through SSI, NAUI or CMAS, then you will need to know which PADI course your diving certification allows you to enrol on. While there are other diver training organizations we have listed the ones that meet the ISO safety standards and are recognized as the largest.
Ratings are shown as to what the direct equivalent is and therefore you can enter the next course below on the scale. So for example a SSI Open Water Diver is equivalent to an PADI Open Water Diver and therefore able to enroll on the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver program.
If you have any questions about entry requirements for any of the scuba diving courses in Kenya, held at Ocean Tribe then please contact us
Here’s a comprehensive certification equivalency chart that starts with SSI levels and includes major WRSTC/ISO-aligned agencies—PADI, SDI, NAUI, RAID, plus CMAS and BSAC, using ISO standards for reference:
| SSI Level | PADI | SDI | NAUI | RAID | CMAS | BSAC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Try Scuba / Basic Diver | Discover Scuba | Try Scuba / Shallow Water Diver | Scuba Diver (intro) | Recreational Diver (entry) | — | Discover Diver |
| Scuba Diver (Supervised, ISO 24801‑1) | PADI Scuba Diver | Supervised Diver | NAUI Scuba Diver | Recreational Diver | CMAS 1★ Diver¹ | Ocean Diver |
| Open Water Diver (Autonomous, ISO 24801‑2) | Open Water Diver | Open Water Scuba Diver | NAUI Scuba Diver | Open Water 20 | CMAS 1★ Diver¹ | Ocean Diver / Autonomous Diver¹ |
| Advanced Adventurer / AOWD | Advanced Open Water Diver | SDI Advanced Adventure | NAUI Advanced Scuba Diver | Advanced Open Water Diver | CMAS 2★ Diver² | Sports Diver |
| Diver Stress & Rescue (ISO 24801‑3) | Rescue Diver | Rescue Diver | Rescue Scuba Diver | Rescue Diver | CMAS 2★ Diver² | Sports Diver |
| Dive Control Specialist / Divemaster | Divemaster | Divemaster | Divemaster | Divemaster | CMAS 3★ Diver³ | Dive Leader |
| Assistant Instructor (ISO 24802‑1) | Assistant Instructor | Assistant Instructor | Assistant Instructor | Assistant Instructor | CMAS 1★ Instructor³ | Club Instructor |
| Open Water Instructor (ISO 24802‑2) | Open Water Instructor | OW Scuba Dive Instructor | Scuba Instructor | Open Circuit Instructor | CMAS 2★ Instructor³ | Open Water Instructor |
| Master Diver (non‑leadership) | Master Scuba Diver | Master Scuba Diver | Master Scuba Diver | Master Diver | CMAS 3★ Diver³ | Advanced Diver |
Supervised Diver (e.g., SSI Scuba Diver, PADI Scuba Diver, CMAS 1★) aligns with ISO 24801‑1 .
Autonomous Diver (e.g., SSI Open Water Diver, PADI OWD, SDI OWD, CMAS 1★) aligns with ISO 24801‑2 .
Diver Stress & Rescue and leadership certifications (e.g., SSI Rescue, PADI Rescue, CMAS 2★, BSAC Sports Diver) align with ISO 24801‑3 Dive Leader standards .
Instructor levels (Assistant & Open Water Instructor) are standardized under ISO 24802 across agencies .
CMAS star system equivalencies summarized from multiple sources:
Clear Progression: SSI’s structure guides you through from beginner to instructor, and nearly every level maps directly to PADI, SDI, NAUI, RAID, CMAS, BSAC equivalents.
Global Compatibility: Your SSI certification is recognized by agencies worldwide—making it easy to crossover or continue with another organization.
Leadership & Teaching Routes: Climbing SSI ranks opens doors to equivalent professional roles like Divemaster or Instructor in other systems.
If you’ve fallen in love with scuba diving, turning it into a career might feel like the next big step. Becoming a dive instructor is exciting, rewarding, and full of opportunities. But how long does it actually take?
The answer depends on your current certification level. If you’re brand new to diving, the full path takes longer. You’ll need to move through each course step by step. That means starting with Open Water Diver, progressing to Advanced, then Rescue Diver, and finally reaching Divemaster.
Each of these certifications takes time and experience. You also need to log a certain number of dives. For SSI, that number is 100 before you can begin your Instructor Training Course (ITC).
If you’re diving regularly and focused on your training, you could become an instructor in about six months to a year. Some people complete the journey faster by joining full-time internships or dedicated professional programs. Others take longer, especially if they’re diving part-time or only on holidays. The beauty of scuba is that it fits around your lifestyle.
Once you’re ready, the Instructor Training Course typically lasts around two weeks. During that time, you’ll learn how to teach, manage student divers, and follow international standards. You’ll be evaluated on both classroom knowledge and in-water performance. It’s intensive, but incredibly rewarding.
After passing the final instructor exam/evaluation, you’re qualified to teach new divers and issue certifications. This opens doors to working in dive resorts, liveaboards, training centers, and more. You’ll be part of a global community, sharing your passion and helping others experience the underwater world.
For most people, the journey to instructor level takes several months to a year. It depends on how often you dive, how quickly you progress, and how much time you can dedicate to training. But if you’re committed and enthusiastic, you’ll get there—and it’s absolutely worth the effort.
Set up your SSI digital learning account to start your scuba diving journey with SSI? The first step is creating the account. It’s fast, easy, and gives you instant access to SSI’s eLearning platform. Whether you’re signing up for your first course or continuing your diving education, everything begins with registration.
To get started, visit the official SSI registration page to set up your SSI digital learning account, using this direct affiliation link: https://my.divessi.com/register/ref/772107
This link ensures you’re registered with Ocean Tribe, an SSI-affiliated dive center that can assign your courses, track your progress, and certify you when you’re ready. It also gives you local support from experienced dive professionals. If you are registering with another dive centre then leave off the number on the end.
Once on the registration page, fill in your personal details. Use your full legal name, as it will appear on your certifications. Choose a strong password and remember your login details—you’ll use them throughout your training.
You’ll also be asked for your email and phone number. Make sure they’re accurate, as this is how your dive center will contact you about course updates and scheduling.
This step is important. You must upload a clear photo of yourself, similar to a passport photo. This image will appear on your digital certification card, so make sure it’s a good one. No sunglasses, hats, or distractions in the background.
Next, enter your complete home address. SSI requires this information to complete your profile and match your records across systems. Double-check everything before submitting.
Once your profile is complete and linked to Ocean Tribe, your instructor can register you for the right SSI course. You’ll then receive access to the digital learning materials through the MySSI app or website. You can start studying right away—at your own pace, from anywhere in the world.
Download the MySSI App for iPhone or iPad
Download the MySSI App for Android
Setting up your SSI digital learning is quick and simple, but it’s also the start of something exciting. With Ocean Tribe as your training partner, you’ll get expert guidance, world-class materials, and a seamless path to becoming a certified diver. So don’t wait—sign up, dive in, and explore a whole new world beneath the surface.
“Do I need to be able to swim to scuba dive? The answer isn’t a straightforward yes or no. It depends on the type of scuba diving experience you’re looking for.
If you want an Open Water Diver license or scuba certification, the answer is yes. Entry-level courses require swim and floating tests to earn certification. On the Open Water Diver course this is a 200m swim and a 10 minute tread or float.
The swim requirement isn’t about swimming while scuba diving. This ensures your safety and your group’s by helping you stay afloat if you need to remove your equipment, including your BCD.
However if you are looking at doing a Try Scuba experience. It is not 100% necessary to be able to swim. You will be under the direct supervision within arm’s reach of an SSI Instructor. Your Instructor will teach you to kick properly using fins in the water. The rest of the time you will be neutrally buoyant underwater. We still recommend being able to swim prior to trying or learning to scuba dive. This will enhance your confidence and the experience for you.
Ocean Tribe generally will do the scuba diving experience for non-swimmers. In a swimming pool or an other shallow water area. If you then decide you really want to continue with scuba diving. We have professional swimming instructors on staff who can run programs to aid you to learn to swim.
The exception to this rule is. Those people with disabilities taking part on one of our SSI Classified Diver level 3 diver programs. These divers will be taken through the water by 3 SSI dive professionals. The pros are experienced in working with divers with disabilities. Therefore, swimming for these participants is not required due to the added safety measures.
For people with disabilities who are wishing to scuba dive or try diving. Contact our SSI Instructor Trainer Mark who is a specialist in this field. You will be surprised how many “disabled”conditions are able to get in the water and experience the wonders of scuba diving.
Contact us at Ocean Tribe in Diani Beach today. For more information regarding swimming lessons. Or to book your Try Scuba Diving experience or Open Water or Scuba Diver course.
Scuba diving is an exciting and rewarding adventure, but it can be physically demanding. To stay safe, consider key factors before diving. Learn about the health and medical requirements for scuba diving here.
As a general rule it is a good idea to be able to swim before undertaking scuba diving activities. Find out more about swimming requirements for dive programs here.
Before scuba diving, you must complete a dive medical to determine if further assessment is needed. Below, you’ll find self-assessment questionnaires and physician forms to get started.
Complete the Try Diver Medical Statement & Questionnaire or Physician’s Approval to Dive to determine if you need a medical evaluation before scuba diving. Failing to complete this may prevent you from participating. If required, download and bring the Diver Medical Examiner’s Evaluation Form to your physician.
Review the Diver Medical Examiner’s Evaluation Form carefully. If you answer ‘yes’ to any health questions, you must take the completed form to your physician for medical clearance before starting your scuba diving course.
All participants training for an entry-level recreational diving certificate must be at least 10 years old. Divers under 18 require parental or guardian consent to begin training.
For divers under 12, please inform us before the course starts, as a private instructor will be required.
Certified divers are not required to take a medical again prior to diving in Kenya. But we do advise that you only dive in good physical health. Abstain from alcohol and drugs before diving. Check if you are on any medication that is a contradiction to diving.
A medical evaluation is required for continuing scuba education. Print and bring the Diver Medical Examiner’s Evaluation Form to your physician. Without this, you may not be allowed to participate in your scuba diving course.
All students on Dive Guide, Divemaster, Instructor Training Course, Specialty Instructor Course or Assistant Instructor Trainer course. Must get a Diver Medical Examiner’s Evaluation Form filled out by a physician and bring it to their course. Failure to do so will mean you cannot participate in the program. SSI Pros are also required to have an annual dive medical to prove they are still fit to dive.
Completing the medical questionnaire accurately and honestly is essential for your safety while scuba diving. Many people underestimate the impact of medical conditions on diving or are unaware of potential risks. Failing to disclose health issues or providing false information can lead to serious injury or even death during a dive. Thoroughly completing the medical form is vital to protect both the diver and their group.
If it becomes clear during the activity that the medical form was completed incorrectly, either by omission or false statements, we reserve the right to prohibit participation in any scuba diving or snorkeling activities. The trip leader aboard the boat will have full discretion in these decisions.
All medical forms and information sheets are available in PDF format. If you don’t have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can download it for free from Adobe.
For more details, check out our Frequently Asked Questions page or learn more about the process of starting your scuba diving journey.
We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect against trip cancellations due to illness, poor weather, travel delays, itinerary changes, lost luggage, or legal costs. However, most travel insurance policies do not cover diving accidents or related treatment and evacuation. For comprehensive scuba diving coverage, we suggest a dedicated policy like those offered by Dive Assure.
Dive Assure provides insurance specifically designed for divers, including coverage for overnight experiences. Their rider covers incidents such as flight delays or cancellations leading to missed departures, vessel mechanical issues, medical inability to dive, inclement weather, and named storms or cyclones. If you’re traveling during cyclone season (December to April), we strongly advise purchasing insurance well in advance that includes force majeure coverage for natural disasters.
Not all travel insurance policies cover scuba diving or water activities, so it’s essential to review policy details carefully. In the event of a medical emergency, evacuation, medical expenses, and vessel relocation costs are the financial responsibility of the customer.
For peace of mind, ensure your insurance covers all aspects of your diving adventure before your trip.
Scuba diving regulations recommend waiting at least 12 hours before flying or going to altitude after a single no-decompression dive. For multiple dives, the recommended wait time is at least 24 hours to ensure safety.
The SSI ITC schedule in Kenya. We try to arrange an ITC every couple of months and if demand is high enough then we can also run extra SSI ITCs on request. The SSI ITC schedule can also include an African safari on specific ITCs. For those of you who would like a shorter ITC in Kenya, or would like to enhance your IDC experience by completing the dry sections of the ITC in advance of arriving in Kenya then we also have the option of scuba dive online workshops and presentations.
| May | Jul | Sep | Oct | Nov/Dec | |
| Prep | 1-3 | 14-15 | 1-3 | 17-19 | 25-27 |
| Assistant Instructor | 4-8 | 15-19 | 4-8 | 20-24 | 28-1 |
| ITC | 4-13 | 15-24 | 4-13 | 20-29 | 28-7 |
| IE | 14-15 | 25-26 | 14-15 | 30-31 | 8-9 |
| React Right Instructor | 17 | 28 | 17 | 2 | 11 |
| Specialty Instructor Training | 18-19 | 29-30 | 18-19 | 3-4 | 12-13 |
| Assistant Instructor Trainer | 4-13 | 15-24 | 4-13 | 20-29 | 28-7 |
You are considering becoming a certified scuba diver. Obviously you are looking for the best place to learn. Under the guidance of a highly trained professional backed up by standards and regulations.
The two largest diver training agencies in the world are: PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) and SSI (Scuba Schools International).
We get asked the question a lot at Ocean Tribe: “What are the differences between PADI and SSI diving courses? Which is better for certification?” So let’s compare the two organisations to help pick the best choice for you.
Certifications from PADI and SSI are both internationally recognised. Both PADI and SSI are members of the World Recreational Scuba Training Council (WRSTC). The WRSTC regulates and audits both agencies and agrees on minimum standards a dive training agency must meet to be an approved agency.
SSI certifications and PADI certifications are recognised all over the world and accepted as approved certifications. So you don’t have to worry about being turned away with either card.
Here is where there are some slight differences between the agencies.
Both SSI and PADI allow you to complete the dive knowledges sections of the course online through SSI Digital Learning and PADI eLearning. This means you get more time on your holiday without having to sit in a classroom, which used to be the case.
However when it comes to the practical training PADI requires that dive students complete the training skills in a specific order in order to pass and proceed to the next section.
SSI on the other hand. Is a lot more flexible and if a your are having trouble mastering a skill, allows for rearranging the skills in order to build your confidence by completing the other skills first and not wasting time. This ensures that the program is student focused. And everyone can progress at their own pace. SSI Instructors are also permitted to add information and/or skills if that improves the quality of the scuba diving student.
In a broad sense both the training agencies include all the skills you need to become a safe diver. The online learning, backed up by instructor knowledge and workshops ensures you know the theory. This is true of both SSI and PADI.
But as mentioned above there are some differences in how the courses can be taught.
Are these considerations important to you as a diving student? Well imagine that you are having problems with a skill on the course. With PADI you must complete it before you can progress to the next skill set. This can affect your confidence and occasionally for some students can be a little embarrassing. Especially if other students are waiting for you and not encountered the same issues.
On an SSI course the instructor can move the show on and perform a few “easier” skills to boost your confidence and then come back to the problematic area later. When you are more comfortable. This generally results in a much lower “drop-off” rate when students who can’t master a skill just give up.
Both SSI and PADI require you to master all of the performance requirements for certification. Neither allows short cuts if you can’t do a skill or haven’t completed a section.
Once you are certified both SSI and PADI will issue you with a digital certification as soon as you are processed. This will show up on the dive agency’s app as proof of certification. No waiting around for a card to be delivered.
If you wish to have a physical card then SSI allows either the dive centre or regional office to print one for you for a small fee. PADI allows you to apply for your physical card online which is then mailed out to you. SSI is normally cheaper than PADI in this regard but not by much.
In this category there is a clear winner. Both agencies have their own apps for divers to access: Training materials, certifications, digital dive logs, creature and safety information, dive centre locators and a lot more.
But SSI keeps all of the information in a single app, with a very clean and easy-to-use interface. PADI in contrast have three different apps for accessing their content. PADI app, PADI Training App and PADI Adventures App.
All apps rely on the internet but the SSI one has been reported to be more reliable for offline work than its PADI counterparts.
But for ease of accessing everything you need as a scuba diver digitally the SSI app is better. Hands Down.
The only difference in this section is the relative cost to the diver for the digital learning. SSI provides some of their programs free of charge. Almost of their digital courses are cheaper than their PADI equivalents.
The fact is that SSI membership and pro renewal are much cheaper for the dive schools and instructors. This coupled with lower material cost, enables the dive businesses to charge less for SSI courses as their overheads have slightly gone down.
The equivalents of the core PADI and SSI courses are shown below.
Entry Level- PADI Open Water = SSI Open Water
Getting Advanced- PADI Advanced Open Water = SSI Advanced Adventurer
Rescue Diver Training- PADI Rescue Diver = SSI Diver Stress & Rescue
Go Pro- PADI Divemaster = SSI Divemaster
Teach Diving- PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (IDC) = SSI Open Water Instructor (ITC)
There are some huge differences though in the makeup and requirements of the system.
SSI offers a lot more recognition for diver accomplishments than their PADI rival. Divers can constantly earn new levels once they achieve certifications and log dives. You will earn more cards and move up the diver levels in the app. This puts receiving dive centres more at ease when you can show your experience in addition to your logged dives.
SSI also doesn’t charge for recognition levels and they are awarded on merit.
PADI on the other hand does give substantial charges for getting recognition ratings such as PADI Master Scuba Diver.
So in upshot there are no real differences between PADI and SSI core courses but SSI does give you more recognition.
This is a major difference in training standards between PADI and SSI.
SSI requires all dive professionals to be affiliated with, and teaching SSI courses at a recognised, renewed SSI dive centre. This means that an SSI course will always have to be taught at a dive centre who have met the requirements for materials, safety standards and presentation.
PADI allows their pros to teach unaffiliated with a dive centre. While this is not a bad thing per se. It does mean that PADI professionals are not as regulated with what equipment they are using to teach and they generally have to charge more for materials as they don’t get dive centre rates from the organisation.
Absolutely not. Both SSI and PADI are at the peak of the diver training industry offering approved programs and meeting all safety ratings. Whichever you choose is up to you. You are really choosing the instructor rather than the training agency. They after all are going to be the ones who are guiding you on your certification journey.
Say you did an SSI Open Water certification and you have travelled to an area that only offers PADI. Would this hinder you from being able to say get your advanced certification? Absolutely not. Dive agencies will simply look at what the equivalent of your certification is in comparison to theirs and you can take the next level. So yes you can move freely between PADI and SSI and vice versa.
In the past it used to be much easier to become a PADI Instructor on an IDC and then crossover to SSI as it simply required a short course and the crossover was achieved in a matter of days.
In 2025 though this has changed with SSI, like PADI requiring instructor training and an instructor exam to crossover to them.
So absolutely identical in terms of requirements for crossover now.
The end result is that it is up to you. There is no right or wrong answer. Based on all of the considerations we show above. We believe that you will get more value for money, better materials and flexible training if you choose SSI. And as mentioned you are able to move between the two if you so wish. We are able to offer both agencies at some levels and that’s our opinion.
Like we said. It is not the training agency but the instructor you pick. In reality we want our instructors to be able to utilise the training agency materials and standards the best, so that you get the best and safest diving experience possible.
Ocean Tribe Dive Team
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