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Did you ever ask yourself... Why should I choose PADI for my scuba diving credentials? And, what is the difference between the top five scuba training agencies anyway?
This guide explains how the equivalent qualifications for divers trained by different certifying agencies (e.g. CMAS, BSAC, NAUI) compare with PADI scuba certifications.
Anyone who is serious about their diving will acknowledge that PADI is the world's foremost organisation.
Worldwide, 186 countries and territories respect and honour the scuba diving credentials held by PADI Divers.
Simply put, dive centers and resorts will accept your PADI certification card at all the best diving destinations around the world.
So, you can be comforted in knowing that many divers made the same choice – to be trained by PADI, the world's largest scuba diving training organisation.
Pro Tip: Some divers who've been trained by another certifying agency would like to switch their certification and crossover to PADI. The list of PADI equivalent qualifications below explains how to continue your journey and enter the PADI system of diver education.
The comprehensive checklist represents all the popular scuba training agencies around the world and their PADI® equivalent level of certification, including:
| BSAC | PADI Equivalent Qualifications |
| Ocean Diver or Club Diver | Open Water Diver |
| Sport Diver | Open Water Diver |
| Sport Diver with at least 20 logged dives | Advanced Open Water Diver |
| Dive Leader | Rescue Diver |
| Advanced Diver | Divemaster or IDC Candidate |
| Club Instructor | IDC Candidate |
| Open Water Instructor | IDC Candidate |
| Advanced Instructor | IDC Candidate |
| CMAS | PADI Equivalent Qualifications |
| CMAS 1 Star Diver | Open Water Diver |
| CMAS 2 Star Diver (with Night and Navigation) | Rescue Diver |
| CMAS 3 Star Diver | Divemaster or IDC Candidate |
| CMAS 1 Star Instructor | IDC Candidate |
| CMAS 2 Star Instructor | IDC Candidate |
| HSE | PADI Equivalent Qualifications |
| Level 2 | Open Water Diver |
| Level 3 | Advanced Open Water Diver |
| Level 4 (depends on specialties) | Rescue Diver or Divemaster |
| IDSA (Commercial) | PADI Equivalent Qualifications |
| Level 1 | Open Water Diver |
| Level 2 (with PPB and table specialties) | Advanced Open Water Diver |
| ISO Title (and Reference) | PADI Equivalent Qualifications |
| Introductory training programs to scuba diving (ISO 11121) | Discover Scuba Diving |
| Diver Level 1 - Supervised Diver (ISO 24801-1) | Scuba Diver |
| Environmental awareness for recreational divers (ISO 21417) | Project AWARE Specialty |
| Diver Level 2 - Autonomous Diver (ISO 24801-2) | Open Water Diver |
| Diver Level 3 - Diver Leader (ISO 24801-3) | Divemaster |
| Training programs on enriched air nitrox diving (ISO 11107) | Enriched Air Diver |
| Instructor Level 1 (ISO 24802-1) | Assistant Instructor |
| Instructor Level 2 (ISO 24802-2) | Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) |
| Recreational scuba diving service providers (ISO 24803) | Dive Center or Resort |
| NAUI | PADI Equivalent Qualifications |
| 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 Qualifications |
| Club Diver | Open Water Diver |
| Club Diver (20 dives + Deep and Navigation) | Advanced Open Water Diver |
| Dive Leader (with 20 logged dives) | Advanced Open Water Diver |
| Dive Leader (with Diver Rescue) | Rescue Diver |
| Dive Supervisor (with Diver Rescue) | Divemaster |
| Assistant and Club Instructor (+ Diver Rescue) | IDC Candidate |
| SAA Regional Instructor | IDC Candidate |
| SSI | PADI Equivalent Qualifications |
| SSI Open Water | Open Water Diver |
| SSI Advanced Adventurer | Advanced Open Water |
| SSI Stress and 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 |
Pro Tip: Click through to see a full list of all scuba diving certification levels, including freediving courses and specialties.