PADI stands as Professional Association of Diving Instructors. This is the largest organization devoted to scuba dive training. It was founded by two friends in Illinois 50 years ago, John Cronin, a scuba equipment salesman for U.S. It was founded by John Cronin, a scuba equipment salesman from the United States, and Ralph Erickson. Erickson is a former water polo coach, champion swimmer and lifeguard. Both men had concerns about the state of scuba diving instruction, and wanted to improve the industry.
PADI is the world's largest dive organization
The largest scuba diving organization in the world, PADI offers certification courses for a variety of diving specialties and technical qualifications. Over 25 million scuba certifications were issued by PADI in 2017 alone. Scuba Schools International is another scuba dive organization. Its founder, Robert Clark, revolutionized scuba diving training by developing a standardized teaching curriculum. SSI was actually the first to use a full teaching program and full motion video.
The first meetings of PADI were held in Niles and Morton Grove, Illinois. Cronin later renovated a section of his basement as a headquarters. He also hired a neighbor to work as a part-time secretary and his son Brian to stuff envelopes. The founders started offering specialty diver courses when the organization grew. The organization had 400 members at the end of the 1960s.
It offers professional level scuba diving training
If you've been in love with scuba diving for years, you've likely heard about PADI's professional level scuba diving courses. But what is this certification? A PADI Professional Level course is a good option if you're looking for a new career. There are many reasons this course is worth taking. Find out more about PADI Scuba Diving certification.
PADI and SSI offer courses that can be used for professional and recreational purposes. Both courses are flexible, so students can learn at their own pace. PADI requires students to purchase manuals. SSI courses allow students the option of borrowing them once they have signed up. While both offer searchable databases and online manuals, PADI requires students purchase physical cards. You decide which one suits your needs best.
There are several dive centers and resorts in the area.
PADI Dive Centers are located all around the globe and offer some of the most memorable diving experiences. These institutions adhere to international regulations and local ordinances. In addition, they provide training at the most reasonable prices. To locate a dive shop near to you, you can use our dive shop locator. You can also view the online calendars of dive shops to confirm availability if you have already booked your next diving vacation.
PADI is a private corporation with offices in Australia, Canada, Japan, and the United States. Their global network comprises more than 6,600 dive sites and more 128,000 professional members. PADI issues more than 1 million certifications each year and over 29 million worldwide. PADI's mission is to encourage ocean exploration through education safety and adventure. PADI promotes environmental awareness. The organization provides these experiences to encourage people from all walks and backgrounds to protect the ocean.