Author: Alexander Vronsky

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Diver Certification Equivalences

Diver Certification Equivalences

Have you ever wondered how diving training courses can be compared between diving training organizations? Are you uncertain if your “advanced diver” certification meets the dive center’s criteria for evidence?

Different terminology to say the same thing from different agencies

Although dive training organizations aim to train excellent divers, they may use different terms to convey the same message. Knowing equivalent ratings will help determine how your certification compares to other organizations. It will also inform you if you have the requirements for a course, especially if you have a certificate from one dive training organization and want to take a subsequent course with another.

Lately, we have received numerous calls and emails from individuals seeking confirmation regarding comparable ratings offered by different organizations. In response, we have created a table that outlines the equivalent ratings provided by three agencies listed under the WRSTC – SDI (Scuba Diving International), SSI (Scuba Schools International), and PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors).

On the chart below, you will see every dive training organization; their certifications are listed below. You can easily compare the ratings between different dive training organizations. If a certificate is not equivalent to the other organizations, the field will display “not applicable.”

Compare diver certifications with the equivalency chart (PADI, SDI, SSI)

PADISDISSI
Skin DiverSnorkelerSnorkel Diver
Discover Scuba DiverScuba DiscoveryTRY SCUBA DIVING
Bubble MakerFuture BuddiesScuba Rangers
ReActivate™ – Scuba RefresherInactive Diver / RefresherScuba Skills Update
Not ApplicableShallow Water DiverNot Applicable
Not ApplicableSupervised DiverNot Applicable
Scuba DiverNot ApplicableScuba Diver
Open Water DiverOpen Water Scuba DiverOpen Water Diver
Not ApplicableAdvanced DiverAdvanced Open Water Diver
Rescue DiverRescue DiverDiver Stress & Rescue
Master DiverMaster DiverMaster Diver
Not ApplicableScubility DiverClassified Diver
Advanced Open Water DiverAdvanced Adventure DiverAdvanced Adventurer
Peak Performance BuoyancyAdvanced Buoyancy ControlPerfect Buoyancy
Altitude DiverAltitude DiverAltitude Diving
Aware – Fish IdentificationMarine Ecosystems Awareness DiverNot Applicable
Aware – Coral Reef Conservation DiverMarine Ecosystems Awareness DiverNot Applicable
Boat DiverBoat DiverBoat Diving
Cavern DiverTDI Cavern DiverExtended Range (XR) Cavern Diving
Multilevel DiverComputer DiverNot Applicable
Enriched Air DiverComputer Nitrox DiverEnriched Air Nitrox Diver
EFR CPR & AEDCPROX 1st AEDREACT RIGHT
Deep DiverDeep DiverDeep Diving
Diver Propulsion Vehicle DiverDiver Propulsion VehicleNot Applicable
Discover RebreatherTDI Rebreather DiscoveryNot Applicable
Drift DiverDrift DiverNot Applicable
Dry Suit DiverDry Suit DiverDry Suit Diving
Equipment SpecialistEquipment SpecialistEquipment Techniques
Not ApplicableFull Face Mask DiverFFM
Ice DiverIce DiverIce Diver
Project AWARE® SpecialistMarine Ecosystems Awareness DiverEcology
Night DiverNight/Limited Visibility DiverNight & Limited Visibility
Not ApplicableResearch DiverNot Applicable
Search and Recovery DiverSearch and Recovery DiverSearch & Recovery
Not ApplicableShore/Beach DiverWaves, Tides, & Current
Sidemount DiverSidemount DiverRecreational Sidemount Diving
Self Reliant DiverSolo DiverIndependent Diver
Rebreather DiverNot ApplicableRebreather Diver
Not ApplicableUW Hunter and CollectorNot Applicable
Underwater NagivatorUW Navigation DiverNavigation
Digital Underwater PhotographyUW PhotographerUnderwater Photography
Underwater VideographerUW VideographerNot Applicable
Not ApplicableVisual Inspection ProceduresNot Applicable
Wreck DiverWreck DiverWreck Diver

All information presented in this table is current at the time of publishing. However, as organizations update their standards and introduce new courses, the information in this table may become outdated and subject to change without notice. Therefore, we recommend you refrain from copying or taking screen captures of this table, as it may not be accurate in the future.

If you haven’t been diving for an extended period, it is highly recommended that you take a refresher course. While there is no set timeframe, it is generally advised to take the approach after about a year. If that is your case, diving with a professional to refresh your knowledge and skills is still wise, even if you have already obtained certification.

Regardless of the dive training organization you choose, we hope you have a fantastic dive experience ordering our cave, cavern, and ocean guided tours or continue advancing your dive education.

If you want to discover the beauty of caverns but still need to obtain a diving certification, you can still take measures. In that case, we offer a complete set of recreational diving courses to become certified divers and join the underwater world in 3 days of intensive training.

For recreational divers who want to learn how to dive deeper and longer and take part in our technical and cave diving courses, we offer a set of all the tech diving courses from Essentials / Intro to Tech up to Full / Stage / Multistage cave courses.

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Tres Estrellas cenote

Cenote Tres Estrellas is part of the K’oox Baal cave system (including the Tux Kapaxa system).

Between 2006 and 2011, cave divers explored more than 30 km of new cave passages in the K’oox Baal system. On December 9, 2011, the two cave systems merged and became known as K’oox Baal. Already an impressive total cave line length of 75,140 meters, it was extended to 102,901 meters and is now proudly considered the fourth longest underwater cave system in the world.

By the way, the first (Ox Bel Ha) and second (Sac Actun-Nohoch-Dos Ojos) underwater cave systems in the world are also located here on the Rivera Maya and we can dive them as well

Establishing this connection is the culmination of years of effort by cave divers worldwide. Researchers have made hundreds of dives in caves in the region and spent thousands of hours in the water. They spent hundreds more hours exploring and going through the dangerous jungle. They transported and maintained diving equipment, drove cars, and oversaw their endless repairs.

Today, the K’oox Baal is the world’s longest cave system whose entire surface, including contours and cave lines has been fully mapped.

Our K’oox Baal cave diving video

Cenote Tres Estrellas (Three Stars or Ox-ek in Maya)

The maximum depth of this cave system area is 42 ft (12.8 m).

This location got its name from three holes in the ceiling of a large dry room with a pool of water inside. Walk down the set of stairs and follow the path to the water and walk carefully into the water. The permanent guideline lies straight ahead perpendicularly.

K'ooh Baal cave system map
K’ooh Baal cave system map

Tres Estrellas Cenote location map

The first explorers of the Sistema Tux Kapaxa side were Gunnar Wagner and Robbie Schmittner.

The first explorers of the Sistem Koox Ba’al were Bil Philips and Robbie Schmittner.

Other explorers were Steve Bogearts, Petr Chmel, Miloslav Dvoracek, Harry Hicks, Radoslav Husak, Daniel Hutnan, Martin Hutnan, Karol Kyska, Radek Jancar, Andres Labarthe, Miroslav Manhunt, Michal Megela, Theirry Minet, Zdenek Motycka, Bil Philips, Sabine Schnittger, Wulf Schubert, Jan Sirotek, Sarka Stepanova, Kamila Svobodova, and Radoslav Teichmann, Max and Laura Tobey.

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Sac Xiquin cenote

K'ooh Baal cave system map

Cenote Sac Xiquin is part of the K’oox Baal cave system (including the Tux Kapaxa system).

Between 2006 and 2011, cave divers explored more than 30 km of new cave passages in the K’oox Baal system. On December 9, 2011, the two cave systems merged and became known as K’oox Baal. Already an impressive total cave line length of 75,140 meters, it was extended to 102,901 meters and is now proudly considered the fourth longest underwater cave system in the world.

By the way, the first (Ox Bel Ha) and second (Sac Actun-Nohoch-Dos Ojos) underwater cave systems in the world are also located here on the Rivera Maya and we can dive them as well

Establishing this connection is the culmination of years of effort by cave divers worldwide. Researchers have made hundreds of dives in caves in the region and spent thousands of hours in the water. They spent hundreds more hours exploring and going through the dangerous jungle. They transported and maintained diving equipment, drove cars, and oversaw their endless repairs.

Today, the K’oox Baal is the world’s longest cave system whose entire surface, including contours and cave lines has been fully mapped.

Our K’oox Baal cave diving video

The maximum depth in this area is 44 ft (13.4 m).

There are two cenotes located within the area of this cenote. This cenote requires an eight-minute hike from where you park at Cenote Coop One. Follow the path behind the dugout trench of Cenote Coop one, and you will pass Cenote Quintan, a 600 ft (183 m) separate cave. Continue following the trail through a very elongated dry cenote unto a very shallow water basin at the edge of a vertical high bluff of the cenote. The permanent guideline begins on a stalactite near the surface of the water.

K'ooh Baal cave system map
K’ooh Baal cave system map

Sac Xiquin Cenote location map

The first explorers of the Sistema Tux Kapaxa side were Gunnar Wagner and Robbie Schmittner.

The first explorers of the Sistem Koox Ba’al were Bil Philips and Robbie Schmittner.

Other explorers were Steve Bogearts, Petr Chmel, Miloslav Dvoracek, Harry Hicks, Radoslav Husak, Daniel Hutnan, Martin Hutnan, Karol Kyska, Radek Jancar, Andres Labarthe, Miroslav Manhunt, Michal Megela, Theirry Minet, Zdenek Motycka, Bil Philips, Sabine Schnittger, Wulf Schubert, Jan Sirotek, Sarka Stepanova, Kamila Svobodova, and Radoslav Teichmann, Max and Laura Tobey.

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Koi cenote

K'ooh Baal cave system map

Cenote Koi is part of the K’oox Baal cave system (including the Tux Kapaxa system).

Between 2006 and 2011, cave divers explored more than 30 km of new cave passages in the K’oox Baal system. On December 9, 2011, the two cave systems merged and became known as K’oox Baal. Already an impressive total cave line length of 75,140 meters, it was extended to 102,901 meters and is now proudly considered the fourth longest underwater cave system in the world.

By the way, the first (Ox Bel Ha) and second (Sac Actun-Nohoch-Dos Ojos) underwater cave systems in the world are also located here on the Rivera Maya and we can dive them as well

Establishing this connection is the culmination of years of effort by cave divers worldwide. Researchers have made hundreds of dives in caves in the region and spent thousands of hours in the water. They spent hundreds more hours exploring and going through the dangerous jungle. They transported and maintained diving equipment, drove cars, and oversaw their endless repairs.

Today, the K’oox Baal is the world’s longest cave system whose entire surface, including contours and cave lines has been fully mapped.

Our K’oox Baal cave diving video

Cenote Koi and cenote Nai Tucha (originally Tux Kapaxa, the Playground Cave)

The maximum depth is 48 ft (14.6 m).

There are several openings to the surface, with one named Cenote Koi. The main permanent guideline begins in the open water. Follow the main line, swimming for twenty minutes. Jump to your left, follow this 150 ft/ (45.7 m) shortcut, and jump back onto a main guideline. This section of the cave system has massive passageways and is highly decorated. Turn left and swim twelve minutes to an INAH-documented bone site.

Another great dive is to stay on the main line until you reach a permanent T intersection. Turn left and swim twenty minutes to the bone site. Swim straight; eight minutes later, you will reach an air dome with two shafts to the surface.

K’oox Baal Cave system map

K'ooh Baal cave system map
K’ooh Baal cave system map

Koi Cenote location map

The first explorers of the Sistema Tux Kapaxa side were Gunnar Wagner and Robbie Schmittner.

The first explorers of the Sistem Koox Ba’al were Bil Philips and Robbie Schmittner.

Other explorers were Steve Bogearts, Petr Chmel, Miloslav Dvoracek, Harry Hicks, Radoslav Husak, Daniel Hutnan, Martin Hutnan, Karol Kyska, Radek Jancar, Andres Labarthe, Miroslav Manhunt, Michal Megela, Theirry Minet, Zdenek Motycka, Bil Philips, Sabine Schnittger, Wulf Schubert, Jan Sirotek, Sarka Stepanova, Kamila Svobodova, and Radoslav Teichmann, Max and Laura Tobey.

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Nai Tucha cenote

Cenote Nai Tucha is part of the K’oox Baal cave system (including the Tux Kapaxa system).

Between 2006 and 2011, cave divers explored more than 30 km of new cave passages in the Tux Kapaxa system. On December 9, 2011, the two cave systems merged and became known as K’oox Baal. Already an impressive total cave line length of 75,140 meters, it was extended to 102,901 meters and is now proudly considered the fourth longest underwater cave system in the world.

By the way, the first (Ox Bel Ha) and second (Sac Actun-Nohoch-Dos Ojos) underwater cave systems in the world are also located here on the Rivera Maya and we can dive them as well

Establishing this connection is the culmination of years of effort by cave divers worldwide. Researchers have made hundreds of dives in caves in the region and spent thousands of hours in the water. They spent hundreds more hours exploring and going through the dangerous jungle. They transported and maintained diving equipment, drove cars, and oversaw their endless repairs.

Today, the K’oox Baal is the world’s longest cave system whose entire surface, including contours and cave lines has been fully mapped.

Our K’oox Baal cave diving video

Cenote Nai Tucha (originally Tux Kapaxa, the Playground Cave) and Cenote Koi

The maximum depth is 48 ft (14.6 m).

There are several openings to the surface, with one named Cenote Nai Tucha. The main permanent guideline begins in the open water. Follow the main line, swimming for twenty minutes. Jump to your left, follow this 150 ft/ (45.7 m) shortcut, and jump back onto a main guideline. This section of the cave system has massive passageways and is highly decorated. Turn left and swim twelve minutes to an INAH-documented bone site.

Another great dive is to stay on the main line until you reach a permanent T intersection. Turn left and swim twenty minutes to the bone site. Swim straight; eight minutes later, you will reach an air dome with two shafts to the surface. From there, continue. You can swim straight to Cenote Koi or, at the far edge of the air dome on the permanent guideline, jump to your right 45 ft (13.7 m) for the more fabulous cave.

K'ooh Baal cave system map
K’ooh Baal cave system map

Nai Tucha Cenote location map

The first explorers of the Sistema Tux Kapaxa side were Gunnar Wagner and Robbie Schmittner.

The first explorers of the Sistem Koox Ba’al were Bil Philips and Robbie Schmittner.

Other explorers were Steve Bogearts, Petr Chmel, Miloslav Dvoracek, Harry Hicks, Radoslav Husak, Daniel Hutnan, Martin Hutnan, Karol Kyska, Radek Jancar, Andres Labarthe, Miroslav Manhunt, Michal Megela, Theirry Minet, Zdenek Motycka, Bil Philips, Sabine Schnittger, Wulf Schubert, Jan Sirotek, Sarka Stepanova, Kamila Svobodova, and Radoslav Teichmann, Max and Laura Tobey.

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