Want to be certified but don’t know what the differences are between the diving organization.

Before starting scuba diving, you must select a destination and dive centre. Most diving organizations train instructors and offer scuba diving courses.  Before starting your courses, you will have a lot of offers from PADI, SSI, NAUI, CMAS, SDI, etc… you will be lost before starting, so we prepare a small and quick comparison following our experience of the significantly different diving organizations.

The first thing to remember is that some organizations are international, and others are local. ALL agencies in the world are following and applying the RSTC regulation, so you’ve got me after it’s the marketing with some specificities.

They are a LOT of organizations, but the international Cake is split into 5/6 organizations.

What is a diving organization teaching?

All diving organizations teach the safety and basic skills of scuba diving from beginners to guides and Instructors. They all have their standards that each diver will learn during the courses.

In our opinion, it does not matter which diving organization you choose, because the most important thing to take into consideration is your instructor who will pass you knowledge … You must have a chat, not focus on the price, you must feel confident, have trust into the person who will teach you. Bear in mind that even an instructor with 10.000 dives can somehow not fit with you. In that case, just ask to change for someone else.
To help you choose your organization, we prepared a brief characteristic of the most popular diving organizations.

PADI: (Professional Association of Diving Instructors)

PADI was founded in the United States in 1967 by John Crowin and Ralph Ericson. It is now the most significant diving organization in the world, which develops many of its programs and conducts research. The purpose of founding this diving organization was to promote diving in a business way that considerably helps the development of PADI Worldwide.

PADI developed a modular training system and introduced a standard for all courses. All courses are now 2022 online and accessible to anyone with an internet connection.

PADI quickly conquered the diving market, and more scuba diving centres began to join PADI. As a result, PADI dive centres are present in more than 180 countries worldwide. As many as 130 000 instructors and divemasters have professional qualifications issued by PADI, and 70% of all diving certificates in the world are issued by PADI.

Info: In some countries, some people do still not recognize PADI as a certification. To avoid any fight or any lost of time, just search another store next to where you would like to dive.

CMAS (Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques)

This organization was founded at a congress in Monaco in 1959 as a non-profit organization. The headquarters of this diving federation is located in Paris, and the first president was the famous Jacques-Yves Cousteau. CMAS promotes the development of diving and establishes a training standard between all federations of individual countries. That’s why if you are BSAC, ADIP, ANMP, or FFESSM, you will have the CMAS certification too.

Diving licenses of the CMAS federation are recognized worldwide, so there is no problem with diving with such licenses. With a CMAS certification, you can switch from one organization to another.

SSI (Scuba Schools International)

The SSI Diving Federation was founded in the 1970s in the United States to offer its customers a full range of training and equipment sales. In 1999, SSI merged with the National Association of Scuba Diving Schools (NASDS), with greater recognition. SSI Diving Federation instructors can only train at SSI-authorized dive centres, affecting training availability in less developed locations.

The training system is similar to other diving organizations, and the training standards are clearly defined and applied worldwide. SSI diving organization is known worldwide, and its certificates are recognized in every diving centre. There is also no problem with continuing training in another organization except at the Divemaster and Instructor levels. An SSI instructor can’t switch to PADI doing a cross-over.

RAID (The Rebreather Association of International Divers)

RAID is the last new organization founded in 2007 to train divers using Rebreathers. Since then, the federation has expanded its training to include introductory, freediving and technical diving courses. It’s enormous marketing that helps RAID to conquer the market. Nearly everything is accessible online, and more instructors are offering RAID courses, especially in the ASIA PACIFIC area.

We mentioned the most available agencies worldwide, but you can find many more depending on where you travel. TDI and IANTD focus on technical divers, and HSA & IHAD are for handicapped divers.

What About Tec Diving?

Technical diving is a type of scuba diving that requires advanced skills, specialized equipment, and extensive training. Technical divers explore deeper and more challenging environments, such as caves, wrecks, and deep walls. Technical diving organizations offer training, certification, and support for technical divers. But, which technical diving organization is the best?

The answer is not straightforward, as different technical diving organizations have different approaches, standards, and philosophies. However, some organizations are more prominent and established than others, and they have a good reputation among technical divers. Here are some of the top technical diving organizations:

PADI TecRec: PADI is the world’s largest recreational diving organization, and it has a dedicated technical diving division called TecRec. PADI TecRec offers a range of technical diving courses, from entry-level to instructor levels, and it follows strict standards and protocols. PADI TecRec has a large network of certified instructors and dive centers worldwide, providing excellent support for its members.

TDI/SDI: Technical Diving International (TDI) and its recreational arm, Scuba Diving International (SDI), are part of the International Training family of dive training agencies. TDI/SDI offers a comprehensive range of technical diving courses, including rebreather diving, cave diving, and mixed gas diving. TDI/SDI has a reputation for high-quality training, safety, and professionalism, and it has a global presence.

GUE: Global Underwater Explorers (GUE) is a non-profit organization that focuses on promoting safe and efficient diving practices, conservation, and exploration. GUE offers a rigorous and standardized training system that emphasizes mastery of fundamental diving skills, teamwork, and situational awareness. GUE also conducts scientific research, expeditions, and conservation projects worldwide.

IANTD: The International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers (IANTD) is one of the oldest technical diving organizations, founded in 1985. IANTD offers a diverse range of technical diving courses, including wreck diving, deep diving, and trimix diving. IANTD has a reputation for innovation, flexibility, and personalized training, and it has a global network of instructors and facilities.

RAID: Rebreather Association of International Divers (RAID) is a relatively new technical diving organization that focuses on rebreather diving, but it also offers other technical diving courses. RAID has developed an innovative and user-friendly e-learning platform that allows divers to learn at their own pace and schedule. RAID has a growing network of instructors and facilities worldwide.

In conclusion, choosing the best technical diving organization depends on various factors, such as your diving goals, location, budget, and personal preferences. However, the above-mentioned organizations are some of the most reputable and established in the industry, and they offer high-quality training, support, and resources for technical divers. Consider researching more about these organizations to see which one aligns best with your goals and needs.

So What is the best diving organization?

Depending on your geographic position and consideration about tec or recreational dicing, we encourage you to focus on the organization responding most to your interest. If you are still unsure, consider the most available agencies worldwide. As we said before, the most important is the structure with a precise and reliable staff, equipment, and boats, and the most important is the instructor and his approach to training any candidate.

What diving organization is Dragon Dive Komodo a member of?

As mentioned, a logo is less important than skills and experience. Nevertheless, our dive centre belongs to the largest diving federation PADI and joined with the FFESSM/ CMAS because the training and service standards allow us to provide training at the highest level.

We are PADI because the owners are PADI instructors, and when we opened in Indonesia 14 years ago, PADI was the easiest to affiliate with. After using the standards, training, and teaching pro level, we decided to stay and offer Divemaster and Instructors courses. We are now a PADI 5* IDC Dive Centre, the highest level in the scuba diving industry.

When choosing a training centre, remember that as a customer you have the right to demand a high standard of training. You are not just a customer but your future partner in diving projects for us. We want to make sure that you are well-trained.

After the covid Pandemic, it is NOW more than ever very important for all of you to check all the equipment, dive boats, and compressors and be sure that you will dive with the dive operator you book with. Except for being agreed with Sharing, co-sharing, or sent over to another Dive shop, customers must check the offers must AVOID the “agent dive centre” at any cost.

At dragon dive komodo, we keep our guests and offer the service whatever the situation. Our staff is trained, and no freelance is used, so we will always see the same guys.

Enjoy our Promotion, and see you soon in Komodo.