Scuba Educators International
Scuba Educators International is a non-for-profit underwater diving training organisation established in the United States during 2008 to continue the underwater diving training program known as the YMCA SCUBA Program which ceased operation in 2008.
Origins
SEI was founded in 2008 by a group of former senior YMCA SCUBA instructors following the announcement of the closure of the YMCA Scuba Program by the YMCA of the USA with the intention of continuing the YMCA Scuba Program under a new banner. The new agency was conceived as being a non-for-profit organisation that would operate world-wide and in complete independence of the YMCA of the USA, “but will continue to share philosophies and dedication to the highest quality education in the industry”.Recognition
During 2010, SEI entered in an agreement with the Underwater Society of America to issue CMAS International Diver Training Certificates.SEI is a member of the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association with its CEO, Tom Leaird, serving on the DEMA Board of Directors.
Qualifications
The SEI Qualification System was structured as of July 2014.Snorkel
- Snorkeling for Families
Scuba
- I Tried Scuba
- Open Water Diver
- Junior Open Water Diver
- Diver Refreshed
- Advanced Open Water Diver Level 2
- Advanced Open Water Diver Level 3
- Master Scuba Diver Level 4
Leadership
- Divemaster
- Assistant Instructor
- Instructor
- Instructor Trainer
Specialities
- DRAM Rescue Diver
- Nitrox Diver
- Equipment Service
- Ice Diver
- Full Face Mask Diver
- Reef Ecology
- Search and Recovery
- Dry Suit Diver
CMAS Equivalencies
The following equivalencies were agreed by the USOA and SEI during 2010.| CMAS | SEI |
| CMAS 1 Star Diver | SEI Open Water Diver |
| CMAS 2 Star Diver | SEI Advanced Open Water Diver |
| CMAS 3 Star Diver | SEI Advanced Plus Diver with |
| CMAS 4 Star Diver | SEI Master Diver with DRAM Rescue Diver and 100 logged dives |
| CMAS 1 Star Instructor | SEI Divemaster |
| CMAS 2 Star Instructor | SEI Instructor |
| CMAS 3 Star Instructor | SEI Instructor Trainer |