PADI, SSI, NAUI, BSAC, FFESSM: certification equivalents
Open Water, Niveau 1, Ocean Diver: every agency has its own names and limits. Here is how they line up, what each one allows, and what changes when you dive somewhere else. Every cell cites its source.
| Agency | First level | Second level | Third level |
|---|---|---|---|
| PADIWorldwide, dive centres | Open Water Diver18 m with a buddy. Junior from 10: 12 m at 10–11, 18 m at 12–14.[1] | Advanced Open Water30 m. Deep Diver specialty: 40 m.[2] | Rescue Diver, then DivemasterDivemaster is the first professional level.[3] |
| SSIWorldwide, dive centres | Open Water Diver18 m.[3] | Advanced AdventurerTraining dives down to 30 m (less for young divers). Advanced Open Water comes after more specialties and dives.[4],[3] | Stress & Rescue, Master DiverRescue course, then the Master Diver rating.[3] |
| NAUIMostly United States | Scuba Diver18 m without a professional. Includes rescue skills from the first course.[3] | Advanced Scuba DiverNext step after Scuba Diver.[3] | Master Scuba DiverListed by NAUI after Advanced Scuba Diver.[3] |
| BSACUnited Kingdom, mostly clubs | Ocean Diver20 m (no decompression).[5] | Sports DiverUp to 40 m, through progression dives in 5 m steps.[5],[6] | Dive LeaderUp to 50 m after experience dives.[5] |
| FFESSMFrance, clubs and centres | Niveau 120 m with a guide (PE20).[7] | Niveau 220 m autonomous (PA20), 40 m with a guide (PE40). Autonomy from 18.[8] | Niveau 3Autonomous to 40 m without a dive director, to 60 m with a dive director present (PA60). From 18.[9] |
Columns group comparable steps, not identical certifications: content, length and conditions differ from one agency to another.
What it changes on the day
- Two ways of teaching
- PADI, SSI and NAUI certify you to dive with a buddy, without a guide, from the first course, but shallow. French levels (FFESSM) separate diving with a guide (PE) from diving on your own (PA): you go deeper sooner, but with a guide for longer.[3],[7],[8]
- In a French club with a foreign card
- Correspondence tables often treat PADI, SSI or NAUI Open Water as autonomous to 18 m (PA18), but they are only indicative: neither the French Code du sport nor the FFESSM sets official equivalences for foreign cards. The dive director decides, often after a check dive.[10]
- With a French level abroad
- A Niveau 1 is a guided level: abroad, dive centres usually place you in a guided group. Say how many dives you have and when you last dived; that matters more than the card.[7]
- Ages are not the same
- PADI certifies Junior divers from age 10, with depth limits by age. In France, Niveau 2 autonomy applies from 18, and Niveau 3 starts at 18.[1],[8],[9]
- Local rules come first
- Whatever your card says, local law and the dive centre's own rules apply first. On our site, each dive site's level follows the most cautious reading of its sources.[1]
On Reef Explorers, every dive site shows the recommended level, with the French equivalent on the French pages. Unfamiliar words are in the beginner's glossary.
Sources
- [1] PADI — certification rules
- [2] PADI — Deep Diver vs Advanced Open Water
- [3] DiveIn — PADI vs SSI vs NAUI
- [4] SSI — Advanced Adventurer standards
- [5] Wikipedia — British Sub-Aqua Club
- [6] BSAC — Sports Diver updated with 40 m depth progression (2023)
- [7] FFESSM — Plongeur Niveau 1 (MFT)
- [8] FFESSM — Plongeur Niveau 2, PA20 / PE40 (MFT)
- [9] FFESSM — Plongeur Niveau 3, PA40 / PE60 / PA60 (MFT)
- [10] CODEP 88 FFESSM — correspondance des niveaux
Checked on 8 October 2026. Agencies update their courses: when in doubt, the agency's own page prevails.