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Much of their training system has been closely patterned after PADI, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors [1], and both organizations offer largely the same information and training. One notable difference in their programs and certification processes is that SSI requires their member instructors to be associated with a dive center, while PADI-certified instructors may teach anywhere, independently = the SSI advantage is the access to additional resources, new gear and properly inspected rental equipment; the PADI advantage is that one may not have a bona fide dive center anywhere nearby.
SSI, like PADI and NAUI, offers complete training programs from the level of absolute beginner all the way through several specialist certifications, including dive-master, rescue and recovery, instructor, etc. Rather than acting competitively, certifications from one or another agency are respected by the others, as the "dive community" tends to see itself as a whole, with the view that everyone involved contributes to the furthering of the sport (or for some, the profession). By this token, one's choice of training agency is more a matter or personal preference than anything else.
SSI is headquartered in Denver, CO.