PADI/TDI

[ScubaDiveandTravel]

Here's the real deal on the difference between PADI and TDI nitrox. Both courses are fine for recreation nitrox diving. I have traveled throughout the world with both cards and have never been turned away for either certification. Some people can say that one is more in depth than the other, but it really comes down to what the instructor puts into it. TDI deffinitely gives the instructor more flexibility to go above and beyond what is covered in the book, wheras it is against PADI standards to go outside of their cariculum. I teach both programs and accept both cards at the store, but I deffinitely give more merrit to those with TDI cards. This is mainly because TDI is geared more towards technical diving and in general I have found that TDI instructors are usually more knowledgable than your basic PADI open water instructor. I'm not slamming PADI instructors, again this is a generalization. The reason most instructors are TDI is because they are technical divers and go beyond just stepping off of the back of a boat in the tropics. Long story short, either card will suit most divers just fine. Remember this is about having fun. Don't stress about which card you are holding, instead spend that time goinig out and having fun in the water.

Happy Diving,
Richard