Two new ISO Standards have just been agreed for diving. ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is a global body with 161 member countries who aim to align their national business practices with those agreed in ISO standards for various fields.

Six ISO standards for diving have been in place for several years already, equating in the PADI system to PADI Scuba Diver, Open Water Diver, Divemaster, Assistant Instructor, Open Water Scuba Instructor and Dive Center/Resort. The two new standards equate to the PADI Discover Scuba Diving programme and Enriched Air Diver course.

These two new standards are designated as follows in the ISO system:

- Requirements for training programmes on enriched air nitrox (EAN) diving (ISO 11107)

- Requirements for introductory training programmes to scuba diving (ISO 11121)

When PADI members conduct an Enriched Air Diver course or run a Discover Scuba Diving program, they can also claim to meet the requirements of these ISO standards. This can be a major advantage when dealing with customers, travel operators and even local governments, as ISO is seen as an independent standard of quality.

For more details of ISO member countries, visit: http://www.iso.org/iso/about/iso_members.htm

About PADI:

PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) is the world’s largest recreational diving membership organisation. The membership includes dive businesses, resort facilities, academic institutions, instructor trainers, dive educators, divers, snorkelers and other watersports enthusiasts. Professional PADI Members (dive centres, resorts, educational facilities, instructors, assistant instructors and divemasters) teach the vast majority of the world’s recreational divers, issuing over 1,000,000 certifications each year. PADI Professionals make underwater exploration and adventure accessible to the public while maintaining the highest industry standards for dive training, safety and customer service.