Students and dive professionals alike often wonder, what is the difference between SDI and PADI? At their core, they both teach the minimum requirements for each course as designated by the World Recreational Scuba Training Council (WRSTC). No matter which agency you choose, the training standards will be met.
Thanks to excellent marketing, you often hear someone say they “completed their PADI” as a synonym for completing their Open Water Diver training. But that doesn’t mean SDI courses are less informative or of a lesser quality.
Think of SDI and PADI as beer; PADI is your classic Budweiser and SDI is a craft beer. Yes, you can get Budweiser anywhere, but when a craft beer is available, won’t you want to enjoy the upgraded premium beverage?
I personally prefer SDI for a number of reasons.
Flexible Programs
SDI focuses on their students and their needs. A 50 year old probably learns differently than an 18 year old and their courses allow the flexibility to focus on the training style and teaching method that works best for the student.
When working with PADI, their courses strictly move from skill A to skill B in a linear format. If a student struggles with skill A, they will not be able to move to skill B. They must master skill A first.
SDI’s student focused learning allows a student to move to skill B, regain their confidence, and then revisit skill A. Their goal is to take the stress out of scuba and put students at ease by focusing on their strengths first.
SDI originated with Technical Diving
The courses were all created with procedures needed for technical dives in mind. This means all divers who get certified through SDI will have an excellent foundation of technical diving skills. They’ll also have a jump start if they want to pursue technical diving in the future.
Free Electronic Certification eCard
While both PADI and SDI offer eCards, SDI provides an instant downloadable electronic card free of charge on top of the physical card you’ll receive in the mail. SDI’s electronic card will be instantly sent to your phone for convenience and safe keeping. You’ll also never have to worry about silly replacement fees costing you over $30.
Conclusion
When it comes down to it, the decision is entirely up to you. Both PADI and SDI will give you an excellent diving education. They are both governed by the WRSTC and are held to the highest training and safety standards. Both are professional organizations that have been around for over 20 years.
In fact, you can even jump between agencies for various certifications. Did you know that you can get your Open Water certification with PADI and then switch to SDI for your Advanced Diver?
I am a certified instructor for both PADI and SDI and I prefer to teach SDI for all the reasons stated above.