ISO CERTIFICATIONS
ISO , which is not an acronym but derives from the Greek “isos”, which means “equal”, is the International Organization for Standardization and is the most important organization in the world for the standardization and the definition of technical standards.
The history of ISO began in 1946 and since then its task is to provide “standards”. The standard is a document that provides requirements, specifications, guidelines or features that can be used consistently to ensure that materials, products, processes and services are fit for their purpose. ISO is used to ensure that products and services are safe, reliable and of good quality. Its operating range is vast and also includes the world of diving.
Companies not only have to create an organized system whose requirements comply with the requirements of the reference ISO standard, but must periodically pass an audit to obtain a Certification (issued by an internationally recognized Certification Body) certifying compliance with these standards, which is valid for five years.
The ISO reference standards for an Underwater Education Agency are:
- ISO 11121- Introductory training programs to scuba diving;
- ISO 24801-1 – Diver Level 1 – Supervised Diver;
- ISO 24801-2 – Diver Level 2 – Autonomous Diver;
- ISO 24801-3 – Diver Level 3 – Dive Leader;
- ISO 11107 – Training programs on Enriched air nitrox diving;
- ISO 24802-1 – Instructor Level 1;
- ISO 24802-2 – Instructor Level 2;
- ISO 13293 – Gas Blender;
SNSI is certified for all the ISO standards mentioned above through UNITER, a certifying body that is a member of ACCREDIA, a feature necessary for ISO certification to be valid internationally.
RSTC MEMBER
RSTC is a worldwide organization dedicated to the safety of recreational diving. The major international educational agencies are part of it and it was created with the aim of developing minimum training standards throughout the world, thus making it possible to recognize the equivalence of the different training levels.
It is divided into councils, according to the geographic membership of its members: United States, Canada, Europe and Japan.
SNSI is a member of all RSTC since 2000.
A Training Agency that wants to define itself international must be certified for ISO standards and be an RSTC member.
