Scuba Diving International (SDI) is a

Scuba Scuba, originally SCUBA, often expanded to scuba set, is any self contained underwater breathing apparatus, a source of breathing gas used for underwater diving which is carried by the diver. Scuba may also refer to: * Scuba diving, swimming unde ...

training and certification agency. It is the

recreational Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or plea ...

arm of

Technical Diving International Technical Diving International (TDI) claims to be the largest technical diving certification agency in the world, and one of the first agencies to offer mixed gas and rebreather training. TDI specializes in more advanced Scuba diving techniq ...

, a

technical diver Technical diving (also referred to as tec diving or tech diving) is scuba diving that exceeds the agency-specified limits of recreational diving for non-professional purposes. Technical diving may expose the diver to hazards beyond those normally ...

training organization. SDI is a member of the United States RSTC, RSTC Canada and RSTC Europe.

History

SCUBA Diving International, launched in 1998 or 1999, is the sister organization of

. SDI was created by dive professionals from the

technical diving Technical diving (also referred to as tec diving or tech diving) is scuba diving that exceeds the List of diver certification organizations, agency-specified limits of recreational diving for non-Professional diver, professional purposes. Technica ...

field. This gives the organization the perspective of teaching

recreational diving Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasur ...

through the lens of experienced technical diving. SDI's philosophy is to improve recreational scuba diving training, enhancing older 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

courses are then in a position to advance to

with the courses offered by

Training

Whereas TDI and

ERDI Erdi is commonly a male name and surname found in Central and Southeast Europe, and West Asia. Notable people with the name include: * Erdi Öner (born 1986), Turkish footballer * Erdi Bakırcı (born 1989), Turkish footballer * Mária Érdi (b ...

(the two sister companies of SDI) handle technical diving courses and emergency personnel courses respectively, SDI covers the

aspect of diving by offering the following courses: SDI requires students to have access to a modern

dive computer A dive computer, personal decompression computer or decompression meter is a device used by an underwater diver to measure the elapsed time and depth during a dive and use this data to calculate and display an ascent profile which, according to ...

on all dives during training from the very start. SDI is also unusual amongst recreational diver training organisations in that it recognises

solo diving Solo or SOLO may refer to: Arts and entertainment Characters * Han Solo, a ''Star Wars'' character * Jacen Solo, a Jedi in the non-canonical ''Star Wars Legends'' continuity * Kylo Ren (Ben Solo), a ''Star Wars'' character * Napoleon Solo, fro ...

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 Buddy may refer to: People *Buddy (nickname) *Buddy (rapper), real name Simmie Sims III (1993–Present) * Buddy Cage (1946–2020), American pedal steel guitarist, member of the New Riders of the Purple Sage *Buddy Holly (1936–1959), artistic ...

" at all times.

Entry Level Courses

These courses are meant for people interested in taking the first steps towards Scuba diving: * - A course designed to provide children between the ages of 8 & 9 an introduction to scuba diving in a controlled environment under the direct supervision of an instructor. Once the future buddy turns 10 they can enroll in the SDI Junior Open Water Diver course. * - An introductory program to scuba diving, for people who are not sure they want to proceed with a full scuba course and certification. * - Entry-level certification to scuba diving * - A skin diving course.

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 Adventure Diver * Advanced Buoyancy * Altitude Diver * Boat Diver * Computer Diver * Computer Nitrox Diver *

Deep Diver ''Deep Diver'' was the name of a deep-sea scientific research submersible designed by Edwin Albert Link. ''Deep Diver'' was the first small submersible designed for lockout diving, allowing divers to leave and enter the craft while underwater. I ...

Diver Propulsion Vehicle A diver propulsion vehicle (DPV), also known as an underwater propulsion vehicle, sea scooter, underwater scooter, or swimmer delivery vehicle (SDV) by armed forces, is an item of diving equipment used by scuba divers to increase range underwa ...

* Drift Diver * Dry Suit Diver * Equipment Specialist * Inactive Diver Program * Full Face Mask Diver Specialty * Ice Diver * Marine Ecosystems Awareness * Night- Limited Visibility Diver * Research Diver * Search and Recovery * Shore/Beach Diver * Sidemount Diver * Underwater Hunter & Collector *

Underwater Navigation Diver navigation, termed "underwater navigation" by scuba divers, is a set of techniques—including observing natural features, the use of a compass, and surface observations—that divers use to navigate underwater. Free-divers do not spend ...

Underwater Photography Underwater photography is the practice of capturing images beneath the surface of the water, often done while scuba diving, but can also be done while diving on surface supply, snorkeling, swimming, from a submersible or remotely operated und ...

* Underwater Video * Visual Inspection Procedures *

Wreck Diver Wreck diving is recreational diving where the wreckage of ships, aircraft and other artificial structures are explored. The term is used mainly by recreational and technical divers. Professional divers, when diving on a shipwreck, generally ref ...

Advanced courses

These courses are for already certified divers, wishing to further progress on their certification level: * - One of SDI's most popular courses, the solo diver program teaches experienced recreational divers how to safely dive independently of a dive buddy or strengthen your buddy team skills. This course so far is not offered by any other Underwater diving training organization. * - This course is designed for certified Advanced Divers to develop their knowledge and necessary skills to perform self rescues, buddy rescues and to assist and administer necessary first aid. (This is not a course for professional rescue divers. Such courses are offered by ERDI. A sister company of TDI and SDI) * - This certification is awarded to certified Rescue Divers that have logged 50 dives.

Professional Courses

The courses below are considered professional courses as they allow the diver to engage in appropriate paid work: * Divemaster Course * Assistant Instructor Course * Instructor Course * Specialty Instructor * Course Director Qualifications * Instructor Trainer Qualifications * - A program for Instructors who are current with another recognized scuba certification agency to crossover to Scuba Diving International.

EUF Certification

The SDI and the TDI training systems obtained CEN certification from the EUF certification body in 2006 with certificate number ''S EUF CB 2006002'', and is currently certified until 2022.

Corporate affiliates

Scuba Diving International is one of the subsidiaries of International Training whose group includes

Emergency Response Diving International Emergency Response Diving International claims to be the largest organization devoted to training emergency response divers in public safety diving (PSD). It was founded in Orlando, Florida in 2000 by Scuba Diving International in response to a ...

, First Response Training International,

Performance Freediving International Performance Freediving International (PFI) is a freediving training agency founded in 2000 by Kirk Krack. Krack coached World Champion Freedivers and Mandy-Rae Cruickshank. PFI teaches freediving clinics around the world and is involved in bot ...

and

References

External links

Scuba Diving International
Official website {{DEFAULTSORT:Scuba Diving International Underwater diving training organizations