What SDI TDI ERDI does

SDI TDI ERDI, operating under the legal name International Training, is a privately held scuba diving certification and training company headquartered in Stuart, United States, founded in 1994 with 101–250 employees. The company operates four distinct certification brands under the "One Dive Family" umbrella: SDI (Scuba Diving International) for recreational diving, TDI (Technical Diving International) for technical and rebreather diving, ERDI (Emergency Response Diving International) for public safety and emergency responder diving, and PFI (Performance Freediving International) for freediving. It serves both end-consumer divers seeking certification and B2B customers — dive centers, resorts, training facilities, and individual instructors who deliver in-water training under the company's curriculum and standards.

The underlying technology consists of a web-based eLearning platform supporting 27+ languages with in-course language switching, code-based enrollment and progress tracking, the SDI Mobile App on iOS and Android with dive-logging and certification management, a global dive-center/instructor locator, and a public certification verification tool. The business generates revenue from one-time course and certification fees paid by individual divers, recurring annual instructor and facility authorization fees, eLearning subscriptions, branded merchandise sold through the SDI Store, and affiliate referral income from professional diver insurance. Distribution runs through a global channel-partner network of affiliated facilities combined with direct-to-consumer eLearning, mobile, and retail channels; regional representatives handle mid-market facility onboarding, and the company is ISO certified. CEO Brian Carney leads the organization.

Name

SDI TDI ERDI

Legal name

International Training

Website

https://tdisdi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

SDI TDI ERDI (International Training) is a privately held scuba diving certification company operating four brands — SDI, TDI, ERDI, and PFI — that delivers recreational, technical, public safety, and freediving training to individual divers and a global network of affiliated dive centers and instructors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuart

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Diver Certification Courses: Revenue from course fees for diver certifications across SDI (recreational), TDI (technical), ERDI (public safety), and PFI (freediving) programs. Students pay for coursework, skills training, and certification exams administered through affiliated facilities and instructors.
2. eLearning Subscriptions and Course Sales: Online academic coursework sold through the portal.tdisdi.com platform. Students purchase eLearning access for self-study academic portions of certification courses. Courses available for all four brands with language flexibility.
3. Instructor and Facility Certifications: Annual fees and certification charges for instructors and dive centers/facilities seeking authorization to teach SDI, TDI, ERDI, and PFI courses.
4. SDI Store Merchandise: Online retail store (store.tdisdi.com) selling branded merchandise, certification cards, and diving-related products.
5. Professional Insurance Referrals: Referral arrangements for professional diver insurance offered through the website to certified members and instructors.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SDI TDI ERDI (legal entity: International Training) is a global diving certification and training agency operating four brands—SDI for recreational scuba, TDI for technical diving, ERDI for public safety diving, and PFI for freediving. It delivers training through a worldwide network of affiliated dive centers and certified instructors, supported by an eLearning portal available in 27+ languages, a mobile app for dive logging, and a certification card verification system.

Product overview

SDI TDI ERDI (International Training) operates a multi-brand certification portfolio under the 'One Dive Family' umbrella. The organization consists of four distinct certification brands: SDI (Scuba Diving International) for recreational divers, TDI (Technical Diving International) for technical diving certifications, ERDI (Emergency Response Diving International) for public safety diving, and PFI (Performance Freediving International) for freediving. The portfolio includes eLearning platforms for each brand providing online academic training accessible via web and mobile devices, the SDI Mobile App with integrated dive logging functionality, a certification card verification system, an international job board, and an e-commerce store. All brands share a common infrastructure including the eLearning portal, instructor network locator, and member portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SDI (Scuba Diving International) Certification Programs Recreational scuba diving certification courses from beginner through advanced levels for individuals seeking to learn scuba diving or advance recreational diving skills.
• TDI (Technical Diving International) Certification Programs Advanced technical diving certification courses covering rebreather, mixed gas, nitrox, and other specialized gas-blending and deep/overhead-environment diving for advanced divers.
• ERDI (Emergency Response Diving International) Certification Programs Public safety diving certification courses for professional emergency responders, law enforcement, fire department dive teams, and military EOD personnel covering contaminated water, full face mask operations, and rescue scenarios.
• PFI (Performance Freediving International) Certification Programs Freediving certification courses from beginner through instructor level covering breath-hold diving safety, techniques, and depth adaptation for sport, competition, and spearfishing.
• eLearning Platform Web-based online learning platform enabling students to complete academic portions of SDI, TDI, ERDI, and PFI certification courses through self-study, accessible on mobile and tablet devices with multi-language switching.
• SDI Mobile App Mobile application for certified divers available on iOS and Android providing eLearning access, digital dive logging, and certification card management.
• SDI Store Online retail store selling branded merchandise, certification cards, and diving-related products directly to certified divers and members.
• International Job Board Online job board connecting diving professionals with career opportunities worldwide.
• Certification Card Verification System Public-facing certification verification system allowing employers, dive operators, and individuals to look up and verify the certification status of SDI, TDI, ERDI, and PFI members.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors): PADI is the world's largest recreational scuba certification agency with a similar agency model, affiliate dive-center network, eLearning platform, and global brand recognition. It is SDI's primary direct competitor for recreational diver certification market share.
• SSI (Scuba Schools International): SSI is a major recreational diving certification agency operating an affiliate-facility model with eLearning, digital certification, and a global dive-center network, directly competing with SDI for student enrollments and dive-center affiliations.
• NAUI Worldwide: NAUI is a US-based recreational diving certification agency with comparable curriculum, instructor certification, and eLearning offerings, competing head-to-head with SDI for instructor affiliations and student certifications.
• CMAS (Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques): CMAS is the international federation of underwater activities issuing recreational and technical certifications through national federations and dive clubs, providing an alternative ISO-aligned credentialing path competing with SDI and TDI.
• IANTD (International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers): IANTD is a technical-diving certification agency focused on mixed-gas, rebreather, and advanced diving courses, directly overlapping with TDI's technical-diving curriculum and competing for technical-instructor affiliations.
• RAID (Rebreather Association of International Divers): RAID is a diving agency offering recreational through technical and rebreather certifications with a global dive-center network and digital certification, competing across multiple of SDI/TDI's product verticals.
• GUE (Global Underwater Explorers): GUE is a technical and recreational diving organization providing standardized certifications across entry-level through advanced technical diving, competing for the same technical-diving instructor and student pool as TDI.
• AIDA (Association Internationale pour le Développement de l'Apnée): AIDA is the leading international freediving federation issuing breath-hold diving certifications and instructor credentials, directly competing with PFI in the freediving segment.
• Molchanovs: Molchanovs is a freediving education and equipment brand running instructor and certification programs globally, competing directly with PFI for freediving student enrollments and instructor affiliations.

Regional players

• BSAC (British Sub-Aqua Club): BSAC is a UK-based recreational diving membership and certification organization operating a club-led training model, providing an alternative recreational certification pathway that competes with SDI primarily in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/tdisdierdi
• Facebookfacebook.com/sditdi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-training-sdi-tdi-erdi-
• Instagraminstagram.com/sdidivers
• TikToktiktok.com/@sdidivers
• Xx.com/sditdierdi

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SDI TDI ERDI