SDI (Scuba Diving International) Open Water vs PADI — does it matter which agency?
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emily_wOP
May 27, 2026
Looking to get my open water scuba certification. There's an SDI instructor close to me and a PADI shop across town. I've heard both are internationally recognized but I want to make sure whichever cert I get will be accepted at dive shops and resorts worldwide, especially since I travel frequently to Southeast Asia and the Caribbean.
Is there any meaningful difference in how dive operators treat SDI vs PADI cards?
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Chris D.
May 28, 2026
Both are recognized worldwide. PADI has larger market share so you'll occasionally encounter a shop that recognizes PADI by name faster, but I've never had an SDI card refused anywhere I've dived — Bali, Philippines, Cayman, Mexico.
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Tom W.
May 28, 2026
The SDI training system is good and arguably more modern in some ways. The choice really comes down to which instructor you have better chemistry with and whose curriculum makes more sense to you — not the agency name on the card.
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Mike_T
May 28, 2026
For Southeast Asia specifically, PADI is slightly more dominant just due to the number of PADI shops there. But 'slightly more dominant' doesn't mean SDI won't work — it will. Go with whoever's local and well-reviewed.