There are many courses and brands available for open water diving certification. Luckily, there are several options for this type of course. You have the option to become certified with SSI and PADI. It is best to wait several years if you are just starting scuba diving. After all, you will need it to dive.
PADI
PADI open water diving certification will allow you to have many options for your diving vacation. You can either dive in the local waters, or you could explore the great Barrier Reef or Belize Blue Hole. Depending on where you learn, you can expect to spend anywhere from $350-$500 for this certification. For example, you could take private lessons for three hours and then join a PADI instructor on a dive trip for the remainder.
SSI
SSI has the distinction of being the world's most widely recognized scuba certification body. Through rigorous training and continuing education programs, SSI's mission is to develop competent divers. There are many SSI certification options. The SSI Autonomous Diver Program offers the best introductory training. This course can also be offered digitally. To get started, sign up for a free student package or the lifetime "diamond" package.
SSI eLearning
When choosing between a PADI and SSI open water scuba certification, it's important to consider what you want from the course. PADI courses adhere to a strict curriculum which makes it difficult for students to adjust their learning pace. SSI courses make it possible to customize the course to meet your needs.
SSI courses
PADI & SSI have a lot of things in common. But what makes them different? Both companies require advance purchase of course materials. PADI courses come in a paper book format, while SSI courses are online. The difference lies in how you use the materials. PADI courses have a more extensive curriculum, and they often require more adventure dives than SSI courses. PADI courses often require more adventure diving than SSI, so make sure to familiarize yourself with all the options before choosing a training facility.
SSI classes
SSI's reputation for quality training materials is solid. SSI's open water scuba classes can help you get a certification, or simply learn more about diving. The SSI Digital Training System offers apps that enable you to log dives, track progress, and view your qualification from your phone.
Other scuba certifications
It is possible to wonder if there are any other open water certifications that you can use. There are many bodies and training agencies that offer diving certifications. The table below is a guideline for those who want to obtain a similar certification. These guides are based at maximum air depth. However, some grades may be deeper with more training. These maximum depth guidelines are only for air and may not be considered definitive.