PADI
PADI: Professional Association of Diving Instructors®
The Way the World Learns to Dive®
PADI is the world’s leading scuba diver training organization.
With more than 6200 PADI Dive Centers and Resorts, and more than 136,000 individual PADI Professionals who have issued more than 23 million certifications around the world, you’ll find PADI diver courses and scuba diving services nearly everywhere.
The PADI System of diver education is based on progressive training that introduces skills, safety-related information and local environmental knowledge to student divers in stages. PADI courses are student-centered and provide maximum practice and realistic application.
PADI Professionals make underwater exploration and scuba diving adventures possible while maintaining the highest standards for diver training, safety and customer service. PADI’s “Four E's Philosophy” is that the dive lifestyle requires four elements:
PADI Members influence decisions by sharing their opinions through advisory boards, one-on-one contact, group meetings, member seminars and responding to surveys sent out by PADI Worldwide or PADI Offices. However, the business activities of PADI Members are independent, and not owned, operated or controlled by PADI Worldwide or PADI Offices. PADI Dive Centers, Resorts and individual professional members agree to follow established standards for PADI diver-training programs, but are responsible for the day-to-day conduct of PADI programs and supervision of divers by themselves and their staff.
PADI: Professional Association of Diving Instructors®
The Way the World Learns to Dive®
PADI is the world’s leading scuba diver training organization.
With more than 6200 PADI Dive Centers and Resorts, and more than 136,000 individual PADI Professionals who have issued more than 23 million certifications around the world, you’ll find PADI diver courses and scuba diving services nearly everywhere.
The PADI System of diver education is based on progressive training that introduces skills, safety-related information and local environmental knowledge to student divers in stages. PADI courses are student-centered and provide maximum practice and realistic application.
PADI Professionals make underwater exploration and scuba diving adventures possible while maintaining the highest standards for diver training, safety and customer service. PADI’s “Four E's Philosophy” is that the dive lifestyle requires four elements:
- Education: Beyond simply learning to scuba dive, you expand your capabilities as a diver through continued education. PADI’s full range of diver courses introduces you to new underwater activities and can even help you make a career move to become a PADI Professional.
- Experience: PADI dive shops offer a variety of experiences from local dive tours to exotic dive travel. Diving is a social activity and, by affiliating with a PADI Dive Center or Resort, you can explore dive sites nearby or visit vacation destinations around the world with others who share your interests. Joining the PADI Diving Society® and logging in to ScubaEarth® also provides opportunities to interact with other divers.
- Equipment: Scuba gear makes diving possible. The best place to learn about all the fun gadgets and new scuba equipment available to you is at your local PADI Dive Center or Resort.
- Environmental Conservation: A healthy underwater environment is essential to good diving and divers are great advocates for protecting our water resources. Throughout PADI courses, divers learn the importance of protecting fragile aquatic ecosystems and are encouraged to become involved in local and global conservation efforts. For more than two decades, PADI has partnered with Project AWARE® – a global nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting our ocean planet – one dive at a time.
PADI Members influence decisions by sharing their opinions through advisory boards, one-on-one contact, group meetings, member seminars and responding to surveys sent out by PADI Worldwide or PADI Offices. However, the business activities of PADI Members are independent, and not owned, operated or controlled by PADI Worldwide or PADI Offices. PADI Dive Centers, Resorts and individual professional members agree to follow established standards for PADI diver-training programs, but are responsible for the day-to-day conduct of PADI programs and supervision of divers by themselves and their staff.
INTERNATIONAL TRAINING From its humble beginning in 1994 to today, the group of training agencies Scuba Diving International (SDI), Technical Diving International (TDI), and Emergency Response Diving International (ERDI) form one of the largest diving certification agencies in the World – International Training.
With 24 Regional Offices servicing more than 100 countries, the company today far exceeds the original vision the founders had when they conceived the idea on a napkin, sitting at a kitchen table in the early 1990’s.
SCUBA DIVING INTERNATIONAL
In 1998 the membership of TDI could no longer be held back from the demand to create a sport diving division of TDI and thus was born Scuba Diving International (SDI). The primary reason for this expansion was that dive instructors valued dealing with an agency that listened to the instructors in the field and created programs that were, and continue to be, very profitable because they are tailored to the way today’s diver wants to learn to dive.
One Stop Education Solution
Scuba Diving International (SDI) has its roots deep in advanced diving. It was created by professional educators, who know what it takes to educate qualified divers at all levels. Technical Diving International (TDI) is the largest technical training agency in the world. It was the launch pad for SDI, and Emergency Response Diving International (ERDI), which is the first global training agency for public safety divers. You will never outgrow the training opportunities offered by Scuba Diving International and its family of agencies.
Your Complete Sport Diving Solution
Training with SDI gives you many options for personal development. Following your first scuba course, there are literally dozens of continuing education opportunities for you to follow. These courses prepare you to dive with confidence and have fun in your local waters or oceans worldwide. In addition, SDI offers an easy-to-follow educational system for personal development, and a proven pathway to dive leadership should you desire a career as a dive professional. Divemaster, Assistant Instructor and Open Water Instructors are among the professional level courses offered and available online.
Global Recognition
Scuba Diving International certifications are recognized worldwide. We have more than 24 international offices and thousands of SDI facilities and instructors around the world. We are members of the World Recreational Scuba Training Council (WRSTC) through its regional RSTCs in Europe, Canada and the US. SDI programs are approved by the European Underwater Federation (EUF) and the International Organization Standardization (ISO). The certifications you earn with SDI will be accepted by dive centers, charter operators, and dive destinations anywhere your adventure may take you!
Innovative Education
From day one of your Scuba Diving International experience you will notice that you are plugged into the most innovative educational system in the diving industry… worldwide!
Scuba Diving International was:
- First to make online open water training mainstream.
- First to present online specialties such as wreck, computer nitrox, deep and navigation.
- First and only insured sport-level Solo Diver™ program.
- First to release kids’ diving programs.
- First to allow you to teach “as they dive,” permitting students to learn to dive utilizing a Personal Dive Computer (PDC).
Experienced divers know that the quality of their instructor makes a real difference to the quality of their training. Scuba Diving International’s instructors are among the leaders in the sport diving industry. Many also teach technical programs through TDI. With SDI, you are assured that your well-being and education is in the hands of a dedicated professional who has worked through a rigorous training system to earn the respected status of SDI Instructor.
VIP Service… By Design
Scuba Diving International’s training centers have built their reputations by putting extra effort into customer service. When you have a question about diving or dive travel, they are there to help. After all, customer service is a big part of how a facility earns our 5-STAR rating, which has become synonymous with “excellence”. When you become an SDI diver, you join our team of members and we’re always ready to help.
e-Friendly Organization
International Training has a fast, efficient and ever growing online Member’s area on its website. It features an online store, links to our Associate Member’s newsletter, links to information about dive sites, dive news and dive stores, and it’s available when you are, 24/7/365! Scuba Diving International is an e-friendly organization. We are the world leader in convenient online diver training for open water and specialties. The SDI lifestyle gear is also available directly from our online store, and will have you looking like a confident diver in no time. There is also a diver feedback section that you can use to speak directly to headquarters staff at anytime.
Communicating With You
Scuba Diving International uses new technologies and social media to connect with todays tech-savvy divers. As an member of SDI you will receive our Electronic Members Newsletter, and you can interact with headquarters staff instructors on various internet dive forums.
Flexible Programs
With Scuba Diving International, you are part of an organization that is making diving more accessible. For example, our Scubility™ program opens up the adventure of diving to just about everyone living with a disability.
Jump In!
Scuba Diving International is the fastest growing training agency in the world because people like you demand the best in underwater education. Join the leader in innovation, fun and progressive training. Join Scuba Diving International today.
TECHNICAL DIVING INTERNATIONAL
Technical Diving International was one of the first agencies of its kind. It’s focus was and still is on providing training materials and education for specialized diving situations ranging from Nitrox to Closed Circuit Rebreathers, as well as for overhead environments such as caves and wrecks.
Your Technical Training Solution
The Technical Diving International (TDI) diver training program is straight forward, proven effective and offers divers a comprehensive path from Intro to Tech™ to Advanced Trimix. Formed in 1994, TDI has built a reputation for a complete curriculum that includes cavern to full cave, decompression diving, trimix, and wreck penetration training. We also offer four levels of diver certifications on closed-circuit rebreathers to a depth of 100 metres or 330 feet. Round these offerings off with programs for gas blending and preparing equipment for oxygen service and the program selection is complete. Simply put, TDI is a one-stop technical training solution that you will not out-grow.
Applications to Suit All Conditions and Environments
Technical Diving International believes that local conditions demand local knowledge. While our programs are structured to deliver a solid understanding of technical diving and develop skills that are universally applicable, our instructors are encouraged to go beyond the minimum allowable to produce courses that account for, and that are tailored to, location specific environments. For example, diving in the North Atlantic may require a different approach than drift diving in the warm waters of Indonesia. Our training makes sure you are qualified as well as certified. Should you desire a career as a dive professional, TDI & Scuba Diving International (SDI) offer: Divemaster (DM), Assistant Instructor (AI), Instructor, IT Staff Instructor and Instructor Trainer (IT) at the professional level.
Largest Technical Diving Agency in the World
Technical Diving International is the largest technical diving agency in the world. Its courses and certifications are recognized everywhere as the gold standard by which others are measured. International Training has more than 24 regional offices worldwide and through its sport diving sister agency, Scuba Diving International, it is associated with many leading industry groups such as the Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC) USA, Canada and Europe; the European Underwater Federation (EUF); and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Your card, and most of all your training, will be recognized and respected the world over!
TDI’s Innovation
By training with Technical Diving International, you are plugged into the most innovative educational system in the diving industry. Above all else, this means your training will include what’s happening in the technical diving community NOW. Technical Diving International was:
- First to present nitrox training in a simple format that required no dives to complete.
- First to present an advanced wreck program teaching overhead diving techniques outside the cave diving format.
- First to make trimix training accessible to recreational divers.
- First to have a technical divemaster certification.
- First to offer online courses including leadership programs like TDI Divemaster. The online academics and preparation for these programs allow you more “in-water” quality time!
- First to make certification cards available directly through your participating dive center.
With Technical Diving International (TDI) you are part of an organization that is making advanced diving more accessible and more fun. Our Intro-to-Tech™ program puts technical diving’s adventure within the reach of a whole new community of dive enthusiasts.
Respectful Service
We grew to be the leader in technical diving by taking care of our instructors and the divers they teach, pure and simple. Our organization was founded on the respect for the value of good education and customer satisfaction. We take that very seriously. If you need help with a lost c-card, a training issue or have a question about our programs, we are only an email or phone call away. During business hours our phones are answered by live customer service representatives, this means you will get answers fast.
The Best Instructors
TDI Instructors are among the best in the industry. Since the very start of the agency, our instructor list has read like a “Who’s Who” of Technical Diving. Today, that elite team of Instructors and Instructor Trainers are pushing the envelope on all seven continents. Learn from the professionals who are diving the dream.
Dive with the Pros
Through our monthly Member’s Newsletter and TDI Newsletter you will learn about some of the most exciting dive destinations in the world. You can then book your exotic dive vacation through your local TDI/SDI facility. These guided trips feature once in a lifetime diving on luxury liveaboards, from the South Pacific to the Arctic. Each trip has a special theme and all are lead by experts in the field.
Take the Lead with Technical Diving International Technical Diving International™ (TDI) has a well developed leadership development program for experienced instructors and technical divers who want to step up to the next level of diving. Make TDI part of your future.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE DIVING INTERNATIONAL With the membership now happy about their options for both sport and technical dive training through SDI and TDI, they continued to ask for more specialized training in public safety diving, and thus Emergency Response Diving International (ERDI) was born in 2000. ERDI was and continues to be the only training program that is supported by a major certification agency catering exclusively to public safety diving.
Throughout the years ERDI has written programs that have trained very established dive teams such as the Chicago Fire Department, numerous state police dive teams, and several federal agencies.
Public Safety Diving is Different
The Emergency Response Diving International™ (ERDI™) public safety diver training program delivers specialized training that is intended to prepare PSD team members for the rigors of this type of demanding diving. Conditions are often harsh, pressure to perform high, and risks many and widely varied. The training offered by sport agencies and even technical diving agencies does not address the very highly specialized needs of the typical PSD team. ERDI’s is a proven education system and curriculum built by public safety professionals for public safety professionals.
One-Stop Business Solution
Emergency Response Diving International™ offers a wide range of programs designed to deliver training in ALL key areas of public safety diving.
Innovative Quality Education
Choosing ERDI training, a public safety diver will be plugged into the most innovative educational system in the diving industry… anywhere! Above all else, ERDI training will reflect what’s happening in the public safety diving community NOW! Emergency Response Diving International is the leader in innovative forward thinking training because:
- Only PSD training available online. With Education for WHOLE team through three-part OPS training (Awareness, Operations, and Technician).
- First to provide instructors and facilities standards underwritten and supported by appropriate insurance
- First to offer training through a true network of professional facilities
- First to present programs which are OSHA and NFPA compliant.
ERDI Divers are part of an organization that is working to build general awareness of the role public safety diving in YOUR local community. Through a growing network of facilities, instructors, professional dive teams (including firefighters, law enforcement departments, federal agencies and others) ERDI and its sister agencies, Scuba Diving International, and Technical Diving International, has the largest community of professional and non-professional ‘associates’ helping to raise the profile of PSD, which translates into better access to resources, support and funding opportunities.
Respectful Service
ERDI grew to be the leader in public safety diving by taking care of our instructors and the divers they teach, pure and simple. Our organization was founded on the respect for the value of good education and customer satisfaction. We take that very seriously. If you need help with a lost C-card, a training issue or have a question about our programs, we are an email or phone call away. During business hours our phones are answered by real customer service representatives. You will get answers fast.
e-Fluent People
ERDI has a fast, efficient and ever growing online area on its consumer and password protected member websites. It features an online store, links to our Public Safety Diving newsletter, links to information relevant to PSD teams, 24/7/365!
The Best Instructors
ERDI Instructors are among the best in the industry. Since the very start of the agency, our instructor list has read like a who’s who of public safety diving. Today, that elite team of instructors and instructor trainers are pushing the envelope on all seven continents. Learn from professionals who dive the dream.
Stay Current
Through our affiliated quarterly eNewsletter, and our active participation in forums, expos, training events and shows, we have opened two-way communications between our agency and YOUR dive team. This gives us constant and direct feedback and useful information to guide the development of new even more innovative ideas for the PSD Community.
Take the Lead with Emergency Response Diving International
ERDI has a well-developed leadership development program for experienced team members who want to step up to the next level and become instructors and instructor trainers. Make ERDI part of your professional development plans.
Committed to Serve and Protect™
ITDA - The International Technical Diving Agency is a well-seasoned group of professional diving educators with a common goal: to achieve the highest levels of safety training along with best possible customer service within their field of expertise.
ITDA has brought these accomplished members together to create the ultimate force in the diving industry covering; Sports Scuba, Technical Diving, Instructor Training Programs, Commercial Diver Training and Hyperbaric Medicine/First Aid.
Founded in Europe in 2002, ITDA has some of diving's most experienced full time professional technical and sports diving educators and our library of training materials and texts have become known as one of the industry's best and most influential resources. Most importantly, the ITDA has the best safety record of all diver training agencies. The founding members were, and still are, currently certified diving professional educators from nationally and internationally recognised certifying organisations.
The training and standards of ALL our programs meet or exceed current standards set by the RSTC (Recreational Scuba Training Council) and CMAS (World Underwater Federation). Plus we have enhanced our training programs to reflect the needs of divers at a regional and local level.
If you have made the decision to seek ITDA for the best scuba training available - Congratulations, You are the Future of Diving.
ADIP - Association Des Instructeurs de Plongée
ADIP has got a high richness in know-how and in teaching ability.
This richness is intensified by the variety of the products like teaching kits, experiences and each instructor's training.
To improve permanently the professionalism of each of us and to apprehend at best the developments of our sportand the competition, the ADIP uses the development of abilities, as main line of its policy, training and evolution are the most important components.
With teaching kits, slides, standards in several languages and a professional site in constant progress. Our lessons are made of theory, protected environment, writing tests ( multiple choices ) and tests in natural environment.
The quality is the master word of the ADIP.
Our instructors must respect the standards and procedures and above all the pupils'security.
The continuous training is proposed for each speciality to increase the pupils'knowledge and to help them to have the best training in all security.
ADIP has got a high richness in know-how and in teaching ability.
This richness is intensified by the variety of the products like teaching kits, experiences and each instructor's training.
To improve permanently the professionalism of each of us and to apprehend at best the developments of our sportand the competition, the ADIP uses the development of abilities, as main line of its policy, training and evolution are the most important components.
With teaching kits, slides, standards in several languages and a professional site in constant progress. Our lessons are made of theory, protected environment, writing tests ( multiple choices ) and tests in natural environment.
The quality is the master word of the ADIP.
Our instructors must respect the standards and procedures and above all the pupils'security.
The continuous training is proposed for each speciality to increase the pupils'knowledge and to help them to have the best training in all security.
