Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI)

 PADI – The Organisation

The American organisation PADI offers diving training courses all over the world. Around 6,200 diving bases belong to the organisation in a total of 183 countries. It is the largest commercially operating diving training organisation, which currently exists in the world.  This organisation was founded in 1966. The majority of the diving training courses are ISO standardised and, as such, recognised worldwide.

PADI’s founders were John Cronin and Ralph Erikson. The foundation took place in Morton Grove in Illinois. The organisation itself provides the information that around 900,000 certificates are issued annually.  It operates in accordance with the PADI-Standards. These standards describe both the contents and the procedure of the courses, for diving instructors as well as for assistants. Consequently the diving instructors should be legally secured. The standards are constantly adapted to the most recent findings.

PADI operates with EUF certified training.

Courses offered

Introductory courses

Discover Scuba Diving

Discover Scuba Diving is a good opportunity to get a general idea about diving.

• Procedure: The course begins with a short introduction about the topic of diving. Afterwards, there is a practical part, which is carried out in a swimming pool or in conditions similar to a swimming pool. The maximum depth is at 6m. Optionally, a dive in open water follows, at a depth of 12m.
• Requirements: Fundamental swimming skills must be present
• Minimum age: 10 years
• ISO-Certification: Introductory Dive in accordance with ISO 11121:2009

• Bubblemaker
• Seal Team
• Skin Diver

Beginners’ Courses

Scuba Diver

As a beginners’ course, the Scuba Diver makes it possible to gain a first insight in diving. Procedure: Following a theoretical part, it goes on to the diving course which is first performed in restricted water and afterwards in open water, up to 12m.

• Requirements: Swimming skills
• Minimum age: 15 years
• ISO-Certification: Supervised Diver in accordance with ISO 24801-1:2007 and EN 14153-1:2003
• Junior Scuba Dive Course

OWD (Open Water Diver)

With this diving course, it is possible to become a certified diver.

• Procedure: It begins with the knowledge transfer in the theory, which is followed by dives in restricted as well as unrestricted open water.
• Requirements: As requirement, solely fundamental swimming skills must be proven.
• Minimum age: 10 years – 13 years with eLearning
• ISO-Certification: Autonomous Diver in accordance with ISO 24801-2:2007 and EN 14153-2:2003

Advanced Courses

AOWD – Advanced Open Water Diver

This is the continuing course which can be taken after the Open Water Diver Course.

• Procedure: The course is made up of three sections. There is underwater navigation as well as deep diving up to 30 metres and additional Adventure Dives at one’s own option.
• Requirements: Completed Open Water Diver or equivalent diving certificate.
• Minimum age: 15 years

Rescue Diver

This course teaches important contents regarding problem detection and the prevention of problems.

• Procedure: The course includes contents about self-rescue, detection of stress among other divers as well as the correct behaviour, emergency management, rescue of divers in panic, rescue of unresponsive divers
• Requirements: Proof of a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Certification, First-Aid Course with CPR within the last two years
• Minimum age: 12 years

Master Scuba Diver

Whoever would like to expand their knowledge even more, this diving course is spot-on for them.

• Procedure: The course conveys all the contents necessary in order to be able to demonstrate extensive training as well as diving experience in diverse diving exercises.
• Requirements: Completed PADI Rescue Diver or equivalent, five PADI Speciality Diver Courses, 50 logged dives
• Minimum age: 12 years

Special Courses

• Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox in accordance with ISO 11107:2009)
• Adventure Diver
• Buoyancy in perfection
• Underwater navigation
• Boat diving
• Scuba Review Programme
• Emergency First Response
• Emergency Oxygen Provider
• Dry-suit diving
• Deep diving
• Wreck diving
• Night diving
• Gear specialist
• Current diving
• Diving in altitudes
• Cave diving
• Ice diving
• Multilevel diving
• Semi-closed rebreather
• Search and Recovery
• Sidemount diver
• Digital underwater photography
• Underwater scooter
• Underwater video photography
• Technical diving

Professional Sector

• Assistant Instructor (Instructor Level One in accordance with ISO 24802-1:2007 and EN 14413-1:2004)
• Divemaster (Dive Leader in accordance with ISO 24801-3:2007 and EN 14153-3:2003)
• Open Water Instructor (Instructor Level Two in accordance with ISO 24802-2:2007 and EN 14413-2:2004)
• Master Scuba Diver Trainer
• Master Instructor Rating
• Speciality Instructor
• Open Water Scuba Instructor
• Technical Diving Instructor
• IDC Staff Instructor
• Course Director

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