What is the Difference between a PADI Dive Center and a PADI 5 Star Dive Center

Many a time one will come across a PADI Dive center advertising itself as a 5 Star Dive Center, and want to know the difference between a regular PADI Dive Center and a 5 Star one. PADI doesn’t actually have a rating system as most people think of rating systems. PADI has 5 star facilities and it has facilities which have no rating. There are no 1, 2, 3 or 4 star facilities. The 5 Star PADI rating is therefore not a rating in the true sense but more of a designation awarded to Dive Centers that meet a certain set criteria.

PADI Dive Center:
Other than Non-affiliated dive centers A PADI Dive Center is a professional business that engages in the retail sale of recreational scuba diving equipment, dive instruction and dive services. PADI Dive Centers have demonstrated a commitment to PADI education by offering PADI certification courses and experience programs.

PADI 5 Star Dive Center:

The PADI website states that the PADI 5 Star Dive Center membership level is awarded to progressive PADI Dive Centers that excel in providing dive consumers with a full range of diver education programs, equipment selection, and experience opportunities and that actively promote aquatic environmental awareness. A PADI 5 Star Dive Center is active in its community presenting a professional image consistent with, or better than, the norm of the marketplace. These dive centers embrace the PADI System of diver education and are committed to providing customers with quality products, services and experiences.

Some of the Key Requirements of a 5 Star Dive Center are:

That they have been a renewed PADI Dive Center for at least 12 months and have no verified PADI Quality Assurance violations within that period and no open quality assurance inquires in progress.
Continue to meet all PADI Dive Center prerequisites and membership requirements
Have been awarded all three Dive Center Recognition Awards including: 1) Education 2) Community Involvement and 3)Environment
Distribute regular communications pieces designed to recruit & retain customers.
Conduct at least one PADI Advanced O/W course, one PADI Rescue Dive course, one PADI DM or AI course and one PADI Specialty Diver course per year
Have issued at least 30% of total diver certifications for courses above the PADI O/W level.
Display items promoting dive travel, and promote dive experiences through various activities.
Conduct non-training related local dive tours and/or dive travel trips.
Exclusively issue and advertise only PADI certifications for recreational scuba diving courses
Not conduct, sponsor or advertise any non PADI recreational scuba instructor training programs.
Etc..

PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center (5 Star IDC)
The 5 Star IDC rating is one of the highest ratings in the PADI system. A PADI 5 Star IDC not only meets all 5 Star Dive Center standards, but also offers PADI Instructor-level training. PADI 5 Star IDCs display a strong commitment to developing dive professionals by providing educational programs from entry-level through instructor training.