Below is a detailed history of the ownership changes of Scuba Schools International (SSI), the world’s largest professional dive business-based training agency, founded in 1970. This account is based on available information up to March 16, 2025, tracing the key transitions from its founding through various owners, with specifics on buyers, sellers, and notable developments.…

A Comprehensive Look at Atlas Partners, Mandarin Capital, and Family Offices When the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) was acquired in 2017 for a hefty $700 million, the buyers weren’t a single entity but a consortium spearheaded by Atlas Partners and Mandarin Capital Partners, with additional backing from family offices and other investors. To…

Here’s a revised and detailed history of the ownership changes of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). This version provides an in-depth look at Altas Partners and Mandarin Capital Partners—the current owners as of March 16, 2025—along with an explanation of what family offices are and their role in the 2017 acquisition. Drawing on…

Here’s a comprehensive guide to dive equipment maintenance for scuba divers. This reflects diving knowledge and best practices as of March 16, 2025, focusing on how proper care prevents injuries, extends gear life, and ensures safety underwater. It includes real-life scenarios, maintenance steps for key equipment, and practical tips, written clearly and practically to keep…

Here’s a comprehensive guide to dive injury prevention for scuba divers. This reflects medical and diving knowledge as of March 16, 2025, focusing on practical strategies to avoid common and severe injuries like decompression sickness (DCS), barotrauma, and arterial gas embolism (AGE). It includes real-life scenarios, key prevention techniques, and actionable tips, written clearly and…

Here’s a comprehensive guide to hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as it relates to scuba diving. This reflects medical and diving knowledge as of March 16, 2025, focusing on its use for dive-related injuries, how it works, real-life scenarios, benefits, risks, and practical considerations for divers. Written clearly and practically, this covers HBOT’s role in treating…

Here’s a guide exploring the use of nootropic supplements for scuba diving, focusing on their potential cognitive benefits, risks, and practical application. This reflects medical and diving knowledge as of March 16, 2025, covering popular nootropics (including methylene blue), their effects underwater, and how they intersect with dive safety. It includes real-life scenarios, physiological impacts,…

Here’s an in-depth exploration of the potential cognitive benefits of methylene blue (MB) usage for scuba divers. This reflects medical and diving knowledge as of March 16, 2025, focusing on how MB might enhance mental performance underwater, balanced against its risks. It includes real-life diving scenarios, physiological mechanisms, specific cognitive advantages, risk considerations, and practical…

Here’s a guide examining whether methylene blue (MB) usage affects your scuba diving risk, now including potential benefits alongside risks. This reflects medical and diving knowledge as of March 16, 2025. It features real-life scenarios, physiological impacts (positive and negative), associated risks, potential benefits, and mitigation strategies, written clearly and practically. Does Methylene Blue Usage…

Here’s a guide examining the risks of nicotine pouches and e-cigarette (vaping) usage for scuba divers. This reflects medical and diving knowledge as of March 16, 2025, focusing on how these nicotine delivery methods impact physiology and dive safety compared to traditional smoking. It includes real-life scenarios, specific risks, associated maladies, and prevention/mitigation strategies, written…