Scuba Schools International
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Scuba Schools International or SSI is an organization that teaches the skills involved in scuba diving.
SSI has well over 2,000 authorized dealers and 225 Global Regional Centres in 90 countries.
SSI offers complete training programs from the level of absolute beginner all the way through several specialist certifications, including Dive-Master, Dive Control Specialist, Scuba Rescue and Recovery and Instructor.
Much of their training system has been modelled on the PADI system of diver education, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, and both organizations offer largely the same information and training. One notable difference in their programs and certification processes is that SSI requires their member instructors to be associated with a dive center, while PADI-certified instructors may teach anywhere, independently. The SSI instructor has the advantage of access to additional resources, new gear and properly inspected rental equipment. The PADI advantage is that one may not have a bona fide dive center anywhere nearby.
Rather than acting competitively, certifications from one or another agency are respected by the others, as the "dive community" tends to see itself as a whole, with the view that everyone involved contributes to the furthering of the sport (or for some, the profession). By this token, one's choice of training agency is more a matter or personal preference than anything else.
SSI is headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado and is owned by Concept Systems, Inc.
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