Dive Agency Crossovers BSAC, CMAS, SSI, NAUI & SAA to PADI
Its very possible that you may have been trained by another certifying agency like NAUI, SSI, CMAS & BSAC. However, most divers certified with those and other agencies want to crossover to PADI. Why? It’s simple economics.
The vast, overwhelming majority of dive centre — in excess of 75% worldwide — are PADI dive centres and want only PADI certified instructors. If you want to find a lucrative job easily, you need to be a PADI instructor. If you hold a certification from one of the agencies below (non-PADI certification) then refer to the chart to find out where you can enter the PADI diver education system.
The table below allows instructors from other agencies to see their PADI equivalent grade if they are crossing Over from BSAC, CMAS, SSI, NAUI & SAA dive agencies. The benefits to being a PADI instructor are normally obvious, PADI is the largest, most recognized and established diver training agency in the world offering more jobs to dive professionals than any other.
| BSAC | PADI Equivalent |
| Ocean Diver | Advanced Open Water Diver |
| Sport Diver | Rescue Diver |
| Dive Leader | Divemaster / Master Diver |
| Advanced Diver | Divemaster or IDC Candidate |
| Club Instructor | IDC Candidate |
| Open Water Instructor | IDC Candidate |
| Advanced Instructor | IDC Candidate |
| SSI | PADI Equivalent |
| SSI Open Water | Open Water Diver |
| SSI Advanced Open Water | Advanced Open Water |
| SSI Stress & Rescue Techniques | Rescue Diver |
| SSI Master Diver | Rescue Diver |
| SSI Dive Con | Divemaster |
| SSI Master Diver | Rescue Diver |
| SSI Open Water / Dive Con Instructor | IDC Candidate if instructor certified for 6 months |
| CMAS | PADI Equivalent |
| CMAS 1 Star Diver | Open Water Diver |
| CMAS 2 Star Diver (with verification of Night and Navigation dive) | Rescue Diver |
| CMAS 3 Star Diver | Divemaster or IDC Candidate |
| CMAS 1 Star Instructor | IDC Candidate |
| CMAS 2 Star Instructor | IDC Candidate |
| SSI | PADI Equivalent |
| SSI Open Water | Open Water Diver |
| SSI Advanced open Water | Advanced Open Water Diver |
| SSI Stress & Rescue Techniques | Rescue Diver |
| SSI Master Diver | Rescue Diver |
| SSI Dive Con | Divemaster |
| SSI O/W / Dive Con Instructor | IDC Candidate if instructor certified for 6 months. |
| NAUI | PADI Equivalent |
| NAUI Scuba Diver | Open Water Diver |
| Advanced Scuba Diver | Advanced Open Water Diver |
| NAUI Master Scuba Diver | Rescue Diver |
| NAUI Divemaster | Divemaster |
| Scuba Instructor | IDC Candidate |
| SAA | PADI Equivalent |
| Club Diver | Open Water Diver |
| Club Diver (with at least 20 dives and Experience in Deep and Navigation) | Advanced Open Water Diver |
| Dive Leader (with at least 20 logged dives) | Advanced Open Water Diver |
| Dive Leader (with Diver Rescue) | Rescue Diver |
| Dive Supervisor (with Diver Rescue) | Divemaster |
| Assistant and Club Instructor (with Diver Rescue) | IDC Candidate |
| SAA Regional Instructor | IDC Candidate |
