PADI stands to Professional Association of Diving Instructors and is the largest organization dedicated solely to scuba diving instruction. John Cronin from Illinois, who was a U.S. Scuba Equipment Salesman, established the organization fifty years ago. It was founded by John Cronin, a scuba equipment salesman from the United States, and Ralph Erickson. Erickson is a former water polo coach, champion swimmer and lifeguard. Both men were concerned by the current state in scuba diving instruction.
PADI is the largest dive organization in the world.
PADI is the largest international scuba diving organization. They offer certification courses in a range of diving specialties. PADI issued more than 25 million scuba certificates in 2017. Scuba Schools International (SSI) is another scuba diving organisation. Robert Clark, its founder and the first to develop a standard teaching curriculum, revolutionized scuba dive training. In fact, SSI was the first organization to utilize a full teaching curriculum and full motion video.
The first meetings of PADI were held in Niles and Morton Grove, Illinois. Later, Cronin refinished a portion of his home basement to serve as the company's headquarters. Cronin also hired his neighbor to help him as a part time secretary and his younger son Brian to stuff the envelopes. As the organization grew, the founders realised the need for an educational course structure and started offering specialty diver courses. The organization had 400 members at the end of the 1960s.
It offers professional-level scuba dive courses
PADI's professional level scuba dive courses are something that many people have heard of if they've been diving for years. But what is this certification? Consider a PADI Professional Level Course if your goal is to make a career change. It is worth looking into this course for a number of reasons. You can find out more about PADI Scuba Diving certifications below.
PADI, SSI and SSI offer courses at both the recreational and professional level. Both courses can be learned at your own pace and are flexible. PADI requires that students pay for manuals. SSI students can borrow them from the instructor when they register for the course. Both organizations provide online manuals and searchable databases, but PADI requires students to purchase actual cards. It's ultimately up to you to decide which one will work best for your needs.
It also has resorts and dive centres.
PADI Dive Centers and Resorts offer the best diving experiences around. These establishments adhere to international health guidelines and local ordinances and also offer training at the most affordable prices. The dive shop locator can help you locate one close to you. You can also view the online calendars of dive shops to confirm availability if you have already booked your next diving vacation.
PADI is a privately owned corporation with offices throughout Australia, Canada, Japan and the United States. PADI has over 6,600 dive centres and more than 128,000 members. PADI issues over 1,000,000 certifications annually and more than 29 million globally. PADI promotes ocean exploration by safety education and adventure. The organization also promotes environmental awareness. By providing these experiences, the organization helps inspire people from all walks of life to explore and protect the ocean.