Abbreviation SDI Type NGO | Formation 1999 (1999), | |
Purpose Underwater Diver training Location 1321 SE Decker Ave Stuart, FL 34994 USA | ||
Scuba Diving International (SDI) is a Scuba training and certification agency. It is the recreational arm of Technical Diving International, the world’s largest technical diver training organization.
Contents
- SDI History
- Training
- Entry Level Courses
- Specialty Courses
- Advanced Courses
- Professional Courses
- EUF Certification
- Affiliations
- References
SDI is a member of the United States RSTC, the RSTC Canada and the RSTC Europe.
SDI History
SCUBA Diving International, launched in 1999, is the sister organization of Technical Diving International. Thus, SDI was created by dive professionals from the technical diving field. This gives the organization a perspective that other recreational diving certification agencies do not have, which is teaching recreational diving through the lens of experienced technical diving.
SDI’s philosophy is to take recreational scuba diving to new levels, enhancing older – maybe even outdated - diving practices by incorporating new diving technology and emphasizing safety. The curriculum is set up to take divers from the beginner level to instructor level and structures its courses around a logged dive and specialty course approach. Divers who progress through SDI’s recreational diving courses are then in a position to advance to technical diving with the courses offered by Technical Diving International.
Training
Whereas TDI and ERDI (the two sister companies of SDI) handle technical diving courses and emergency personnel courses respectively, SDI covers the recreational aspect of diving by offering the following courses:
SDI is the only diver training agency that requires students to have access to a modern dive computer on all dives during training from the very start.
SDI is also unusual amongst recreational diver training organisations in that it recognises solo diving as part of recreational diving, and offers a special training course relating to it. Most major recreational diver training organisations mandate diving with a "buddy" at all times. SDI was the first recreational diver training agency to provide certification as Solo Diver.
Entry Level Courses
These courses are meant for people interested in taking the first steps towards Scuba diving:
Specialty Courses
Advanced Diver Development Program - The aim of this program is for the diver to experience four different specialties to improve comfort level and skills in the water. To qualify as an advanced diver a minimum of 25 logged dives, which may include training dives, is required. These courses are for already certified divers, independent of their skill level, who wish to expand their knowledge of a specific area of interest:
Advanced Courses
These courses are for already certified divers, wishing to further progress on their certification level:
Professional Courses
The courses below are considered professional courses as they involve training other divers:
EUF Certification
The SDI and the TDI training systems obtained CEN certification from the EUF certification body in 2006.
Affiliations
Scuba Diving International is the sister company of Technical Diving International, which focuses on the technical side of recreational diving, as well as Emergency Response Diving International, the company's public safety diving branch.