Professional Association of Diving Instructors
Encyclopedia
The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) is the world's largest recreational diving
membership and diver training organization founded in 1966 by John Cronin and Ralph Erickson. Cronin was originally a NAUI
instructor who decided to form his own organization with Erickson, and to break diver training
down into different courses instead of the single universal course then prevalent.
PADI courses range from entry levels (such as "Scuba Diver
" and "Open Water Diver
") to "Master Scuba Diver
" and a range of instructor certifications. Via their affiliate, Diving Science and Technology
(DSAT), they also offer various technical diving
courses, including decompression diving, trimix diving and gas blending
.
The PADI system is composed of modules with standardized learning objectives divided into theory and practical skills development. Theory is mainly conveyed by way of self-study using books, computer based training using CD-ROM or online learning. All study options are supplemented with video to help the student diver visualize what they have read. Confirmation of the student diver's level of mastery in standardized knowledge review sessions is carried out by a scuba instructor. Practical skills mastery is obtained through confined water training (pools or relatively shallow water) and performance evaluations in open water. Upon completion of each course, a certification is issued to the student.
PADI courses are performance based dive programs, and at the introductory level emphasize practical knowledge, safety and motor skills. The foundations of diving physics, physiology and chemistry are built during entry level programs. The more esoteric details of these concepts are left for later courses when the diver has gained practical knowledge and experience beyond the entry level. These practices fall within current modern learning philosophies and receive regular updates via peer review.
PADI is a member of the World Recreational Scuba Training Council
.
s, resorts, educational facilities, instructors, and divemasters, teach the majority of the world's recreational divers. PADI operates offices in Australia
, Canada
, Switzerland
, Japan
, Sweden
, the United Kingdom
, and the United States
. The corporate headquarters, PADI Worldwide, is located in California
, United States of America. PADI offices serve more than 130,000 individual professional members and more than 5,700 dive centers and resorts in more than 180 countries and territories. Translations of PADI materials are available in more than 26 languages.
Today PADI issues approximately 950,000 certifications a year, of which approximately 550,000 are entry level certifications. Over the years since its formation PADI has become a prominent provider of scuba diver training; an online extract of the 2007 edition of Frommer's Portable Aruba indicated that "70% of divers in the United States and approximately 55% of divers worldwide" were certified by PADI. Research by Leisure Trends for the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association shows that in 1999 almost 60% of retailers in the US issued PADI certificates, while NAUI and SSI
certificates were issued by about 20% each. Unfortunately there is currently no centralised source of accurate industry-wide information regarding the combined number of certifications issued by all the certifying agencies within the recreational diving industry. In the absence of a reliable source of independent industry-wide data, the above statement should be viewed as an estimate only and should not be relied upon as being evidence of PADI's current level of representation within the dive industry.
In 2006 PADI was severely criticized by a Coroner's court in the United Kingdom for providing what experts regarded as short and insufficient training. No representative of PADI gave evidence at the inquest, but PADI subsequently issued a rejoinder that in the decade since PADI had come to play a dominant role in diver training, the numbers of diving accidents had declined. Although PADI training standards differ from those formerly prevalent in the United Kingdom under the BSAC system, PADI training standards are consistent with World Recreational Scuba Training Council standards.
The accusation of profiteering is more difficult to justify. Although PADI is often referred to facetiously as a mnemonic for 'Put Another Dollar In', PADI is a for-profit organization, and thus is expected to generate commercial returns from diver training. Further, given the large number of competitor diver training organizations, PADI could not realistically be accused of market abuse.
A third, more benign criticism that is sometimes made is that PADI over-elaborates the training process, leading to the award of large numbers of different certificates, certification cards and embroidered patches for any diver who continues their diving education up to advanced levels. For instance, divers can earn a "boat diver" specialty certification. For many divers, boat diving is a common occurrence that does not require the special, costly course that PADI may appear to convince novice divers they do need.
to help conserve underwater environments. Project AWARE information has been integrated in most courses and divers are offered the chance to exchange their normal certificate for an AWARE-certificate by making a donation to the program when sending in their application for a new certificate.
Current Publishing Corporation develops marine science programs for high school and upper level educational facilities.
Diving Science and Technology Corporation (DSAT) is the development arm for the Recreational Dive Planner
and PADI's Tec-Rec program.
diver" and "Spiegel Grove Diver").
Recreational diving
Recreational diving or sport diving is a type of diving that uses SCUBA equipment for the purpose of leisure and enjoyment. In some diving circles, the term "recreational diving" is used in contradistinction to "technical diving", a more demanding aspect of the sport which requires greater levels...
membership and diver training organization founded in 1966 by John Cronin and Ralph Erickson. Cronin was originally a NAUI
National Association of Underwater Instructors
The National Association of Underwater Instructors is a non-profit 501 association of SCUBA instructors. It was officially CE and ISO certified in May 2007 in all three diver levels and both instructor levels.-History:...
instructor who decided to form his own organization with Erickson, and to break diver training
Diver training
Diver training is the process of developing skills and building experience in the use of diving equipment and techniques so that the diver is able to dive safely and have fun....
down into different courses instead of the single universal course then prevalent.
PADI courses range from entry levels (such as "Scuba Diver
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
" and "Open Water Diver
Open Water Diver
Open Water Diver is an entry-level full diver certification for scuba diving. Although different agencies use different names, similar entry-level courses are offered by all diving agencies and consist of a combination of knowledge development , confined water dives and open water dives...
") to "Master Scuba Diver
Master SCUBA Diver
Master Scuba Diver is a scuba diving certification level provided by several North American diver training agencies, such as National Association of Underwater Instructors , Professional Association of Diving Instructors , Scuba Diving International , and Scuba Schools International .Although the...
" and a range of instructor certifications. Via their affiliate, Diving Science and Technology
Diving Science and Technology
Diving Science and Technology is a corporate affiliate of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors and the developer of the Recreational Dive Planner. DSAT has held scientific workshops for diver safety and education....
(DSAT), they also offer various technical diving
Technical diving
Technical diving is a form of scuba diving that exceeds the scope of recreational diving...
courses, including decompression diving, trimix diving and gas blending
Gas blending
Gas blending or gas mixing is the filling of diving cylinders with non-air breathing gases such as nitrox, trimix and heliox.Filling cylinders with a mixture of gases has dangers for both the filler and the diver. During filling there is a risk of fire due to use of oxygen and a risk of explosion...
.
The PADI system is composed of modules with standardized learning objectives divided into theory and practical skills development. Theory is mainly conveyed by way of self-study using books, computer based training using CD-ROM or online learning. All study options are supplemented with video to help the student diver visualize what they have read. Confirmation of the student diver's level of mastery in standardized knowledge review sessions is carried out by a scuba instructor. Practical skills mastery is obtained through confined water training (pools or relatively shallow water) and performance evaluations in open water. Upon completion of each course, a certification is issued to the student.
PADI courses are performance based dive programs, and at the introductory level emphasize practical knowledge, safety and motor skills. The foundations of diving physics, physiology and chemistry are built during entry level programs. The more esoteric details of these concepts are left for later courses when the diver has gained practical knowledge and experience beyond the entry level. These practices fall within current modern learning philosophies and receive regular updates via peer review.
PADI is a member of the World Recreational Scuba Training Council
World Recreational Scuba Training Council
The World Recreational Scuba Training Council or was founded in 1999 and is dedicated to creating minimum recreational diving training standards for the various scuba diving certification agencies across the world. The WRSTC restricts its membership to national or regional councils...
.
Size
PADI members, including dive centerDive center
A dive center is the base location where sports divers usually start scuba diving. Divers commonly refer to dive centers as dive shops. It is normally a shop selling diving equipment equipped with a gas compressor to fill the cylinders. Classrooms are sometimes available...
s, resorts, educational facilities, instructors, and divemasters, teach the majority of the world's recreational divers. PADI operates offices in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The corporate headquarters, PADI Worldwide, is located in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States of America. PADI offices serve more than 130,000 individual professional members and more than 5,700 dive centers and resorts in more than 180 countries and territories. Translations of PADI materials are available in more than 26 languages.
Today PADI issues approximately 950,000 certifications a year, of which approximately 550,000 are entry level certifications. Over the years since its formation PADI has become a prominent provider of scuba diver training; an online extract of the 2007 edition of Frommer's Portable Aruba indicated that "70% of divers in the United States and approximately 55% of divers worldwide" were certified by PADI. Research by Leisure Trends for the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association shows that in 1999 almost 60% of retailers in the US issued PADI certificates, while NAUI and SSI
Scuba Schools International
Scuba Schools International or SSI is an organization that teaches the skills involved in scuba diving and supports Dive Businesses and Dive Resorts.SSI has well over 2,500 authorized dealers and 35 Regional Centers and Area Offices all over the World....
certificates were issued by about 20% each. Unfortunately there is currently no centralised source of accurate industry-wide information regarding the combined number of certifications issued by all the certifying agencies within the recreational diving industry. In the absence of a reliable source of independent industry-wide data, the above statement should be viewed as an estimate only and should not be relied upon as being evidence of PADI's current level of representation within the dive industry.
Criticism
PADI is oftentimes subject to criticism. In particular, two accusations are sometimes made against the organization: that it "dumbs down" scuba diving training courses, making them too short and easy; and that it "profiteers" from demand for diver training.In 2006 PADI was severely criticized by a Coroner's court in the United Kingdom for providing what experts regarded as short and insufficient training. No representative of PADI gave evidence at the inquest, but PADI subsequently issued a rejoinder that in the decade since PADI had come to play a dominant role in diver training, the numbers of diving accidents had declined. Although PADI training standards differ from those formerly prevalent in the United Kingdom under the BSAC system, PADI training standards are consistent with World Recreational Scuba Training Council standards.
The accusation of profiteering is more difficult to justify. Although PADI is often referred to facetiously as a mnemonic for 'Put Another Dollar In', PADI is a for-profit organization, and thus is expected to generate commercial returns from diver training. Further, given the large number of competitor diver training organizations, PADI could not realistically be accused of market abuse.
A third, more benign criticism that is sometimes made is that PADI over-elaborates the training process, leading to the award of large numbers of different certificates, certification cards and embroidered patches for any diver who continues their diving education up to advanced levels. For instance, divers can earn a "boat diver" specialty certification. For many divers, boat diving is a common occurrence that does not require the special, costly course that PADI may appear to convince novice divers they do need.
Project AWARE
In 1995, PADI founded Project AWAREProject AWARE
Project AWARE is a non-profit, worldwide, organization dedicated to "Conserving underwater environments through education, advocacy and action."...
to help conserve underwater environments. Project AWARE information has been integrated in most courses and divers are offered the chance to exchange their normal certificate for an AWARE-certificate by making a donation to the program when sending in their application for a new certificate.
Affiliate companies
Emergency First Response is a PADI affiliate providing CPR and First Aid training both for the lay person and in the work place.Current Publishing Corporation develops marine science programs for high school and upper level educational facilities.
Diving Science and Technology Corporation (DSAT) is the development arm for the Recreational Dive Planner
Recreational Dive Planner
The Recreational Dive Planner is a decompression table in which no-stop time under-water is calculated. The RDP was developed by DSAT and was the first dive table developed exclusively for recreational, no stop diving...
and PADI's Tec-Rec program.
PADI kids programs
PADI recreational diving certifications
- PADI Skin Diver (Snorkeling)
- PADI Junior Scuba Diver
- PADI Scuba Diver
- PADI Junior Open Water Diver
- PADI Open Water DiverOpen Water DiverOpen Water Diver is an entry-level full diver certification for scuba diving. Although different agencies use different names, similar entry-level courses are offered by all diving agencies and consist of a combination of knowledge development , confined water dives and open water dives...
- PADI National Geographic Diver
- PADI Adventure Diver
- PADI Advanced Open Water DiverAdvanced Open Water DiverAdvanced Open Water Diver is a scuba diving certification level provided by several diver training agencies, such as Professional Association of Diving Instructors , Scuba Schools International and Underwater Explorers' Federation...
- PADI Rescue DiverRescue DiverRescue Diver is a scuba diving certification level provided by several diver training agencies, such as PADI, SSI, SDI, and NAUI, which emphasises emergency response and diver rescue....
- PADI Speciality Courses
- PADI Master Scuba DiverMaster SCUBA DiverMaster Scuba Diver is a scuba diving certification level provided by several North American diver training agencies, such as National Association of Underwater Instructors , Professional Association of Diving Instructors , Scuba Diving International , and Scuba Schools International .Although the...
PADI specialty courses
PADI provide a range of specialty courses, examples of which include:- PADI Altitude DiverAltitude divingAltitude diving is scuba diving where the surface is 300 meters or more above sea level . The U.S. Navy tables recommend that no alteration be made for dives at altitudes lower than 91 meters and dives between 91 meters and 300 meters correction is required for dives over 44 meters sea water...
Specialty Course - PADI Boat Diver Speciality Course
- PADI Cavern DiverCave divingCave diving is a type of technical diving in which specialized equipment is used to enable the exploration of caves which are at least partially filled with water. In the United Kingdom it is an extension of the more common sport of caving, and in the United States an extension of the more common...
Specialty Course - PADI Deep DiverDeep divingThe meaning of the term deep diving is a form of technical diving. It is defined by the level of the diver's diver training, diving equipment, breathing gas, and surface support:...
Specialty Courses - PADI Digital Underwater Photographer Specialty Course
- PADI Diver Propulsion VehicleDiver Propulsion VehicleA diver propulsion vehicle is an item of diving equipment used by scuba and rebreather divers to increase range underwater...
Specialty Course - PADI Drift DiverDrift divingDrift diving is a type of recreational diving where the diver is transported by the currents caused by the tide or in a river.The current gives the diver the impression of flying and allows the diver to cover long distances underwater, possibly seeing more habitats and formations than usual...
Specialty Course - PADI Dry SuitDry suitA dry suit or drysuit provides thermal insulation or passive thermal protection to the wearer while immersed in water, and is worn by divers, boaters, water sports enthusiasts, and others who work or play in or near cold water. A dry suit normally protects the whole body except the head, hands, and...
Diver Specialty Course - PADI Emergency Oxygen Provider Course
- PADI Enriched Air Diver Specialty Course
- PADI Equipment Specialist Specialty Course
- PADI Ice DiverIce divingIce diving is a type of penetration diving where the dive takes place under ice. Because diving under ice places the diver in an overhead environment typically with only a single entry/exit point, it is considered an advanced type of diving requiring special training...
Specialty Course - PADI Multilevel Diver Specialty Course
- PADI Night DiverNight divingNight diving is a type of recreational diving which takes place in darkness. The diver can experience a different underwater environment at night, because many marine animals are nocturnal....
Specialty Course - PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty Course
- PADI Project AWAREProject AWAREProject AWARE is a non-profit, worldwide, organization dedicated to "Conserving underwater environments through education, advocacy and action."...
Coral Reef Conservation Specialty Course - PADI Project AWARE Fish Identification Specialty Course
- PADI Project AWARE Specialty Course
- PADI Search and RecoveryUnderwater search and recoveryUnderwater search and recovery is the process of locating and recovering underwater objects by divers. Although most underwater search and recovery is done by commercial divers as part of professional marine salvage operations, search and recovery diving is also frequently undertaken as part of...
Specialty Course - PADI Semiclosed RebreatherRebreatherA rebreather is a type of breathing set that provides a breathing gas containing oxygen and recycled exhaled gas. This recycling reduces the volume of breathing gas used, making a rebreather lighter and more compact than an open-circuit breathing set for the same duration in environments where...
Course Specialty Course - PADI Underwater Naturalist Specialty Course
- PADI Underwater NavigatorUnderwater navigationUnderwater navigation is the common reference term for navigation techniques learned by Scuba divers in order to accurately navigate in an underwater environment....
Specialty Course - PADI Underwater PhotographerUnderwater photographyUnderwater photography is the process of taking photographs while under water. It is usually done while scuba diving, but can be done while snorkeling or swimming.-Overview:...
Specialty Course - PADI Underwater VideographerUnderwater videographyUnderwater videography is a video production, the branch of underwater photography concerned with capturing underwater moving images either as a recreational diving or commercial documentary, or filmmaking activity.-Limitations:...
Specialty Course - PADI Wreck DiverWreck divingWreck diving is a type of recreational diving where shipwrecks are explored. Although most wreck dive sites are at shipwrecks, there is an increasing trend to scuttle retired ships to create artificial reef sites...
Specialty Course
"Distinctive" specialties
In addition to the mainstream specialty courses above, individual PADI instructors can prepare and teach (with PADI's approval) their own distinctive specialty courses, and dozens of such courses abound. Some of the courses represent less frequently used mainstream skills (such as "Twin-set diver", "Full face-mask diver", "Surface Marker Buoy" and "Advanced wreck diver" specialties). Others are abstract either with reference to skills or locale (it is possible to take specialties in "Golf ball diver", "Zen/Yoga diver", "Underwater wedding" or site-specific specialties such as "Wreck of the RhoneRMS Rhone
The RMS Rhone was a British packet ship owned by the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. She was wrecked off the coast of Salt Island in the British Virgin Islands on 29 October 1867 during a hurricane with the loss of approximately 123 lives...
diver" and "Spiegel Grove Diver").
PADI professional certifications
- PADI DivemasterDivemasterA Divemaster is a diving qualification used throughout most of the world in scuba diving for a diver who has overall responsibility for a group of divers...
- PADI Assistant Instructor
- PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI)
- PADI Specialty Instructor
- PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT)
- PADI IDC Staff Instructor
- PADI Master InstructorMaster InstructorA Master Instructor in scuba diving is one of the highest levels of professional training in North American based diver training organizations, usually only one step below Course Director for the Instructor Development Course ....
- PADI Course Director
External links
- Official site
- Project AWARE Official site
- Official PADI Instructor Development Calendar
- Sport Diver magazine, United Kingdom edition and North American edition - The official magazine of PADI