Comparison

PADI vs CHOW Ocean

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

PADI

This app provides comprehensive scuba diving resources, allowing users to learn, log dives offline, verify certifications, and discover new adventures. Stay connected with the diving community and book your next underwater experience.

Highlights
  • Online and offline learning
  • Offline dive logging
  • Certification verification
  • Inspiration from divers and pros
  • Book diving adventures
Features
Read full description

The New PADI App Learn, log, stay inspired , and book your next adventure …all in one app. Learn Anywhere Both online and offline . The best scuba diving training materials in the world are available to you wherever your adventures take you. Log Your Dives Both online and offline. Capture every memory, as they happen, with or without internet access. Verify (certifications, credentials, and training dives) Quickly and easily verify training dives using your instructors QR Code and verify your status as a PADI diver using your eCards to help dive shops and PADI Pros provide the best service based on your level. Stay Inspired Follow PADI divers, instructors, dive shops, and AmbassaDivers to stay informed, inspired, and engaged with the world of Scuba Diving, Freediving, and Mermaiding. Book your next adventure Explore the best of what PADI professionals around the world in 180 countries have to offer and easily book your next adventure.

About

CHOW Ocean

Explore America's maritime history and the importance of ocean stewardship. This app celebrates coastal communities and their role in innovation and environmental preservation. It highlights the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation's efforts to secure waters for future generations.

Highlights
  • Maritime history exploration
  • Ocean stewardship focus
  • Coastal community highlights
  • Environmental preservation
  • National Marine Sanctuary Foundation
  • Future generation initiatives
Features
Read full description

America’s history is maritime history. Our nation’s story is shaped by the ocean and the Great Lakes – rooted in exploration, innovation, and our evolving commitment to environmental stewardship. Today, coastal communities are the anchors of America, serving as engines of opportunity and preserving our shared waters. As we sail into the future, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation honors the earliest stewards of our waters and charts the course for the next generation of wavemakers. Capitol Hill Ocean Week celebrates 25 years as the Nation celebrates its 250th anniversary. Join us in this moment to launch bold breakthroughs, ignite discovery and secure waters for all.

Screenshots

PADI4 screens
CHOW Ocean3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: PADI at 46K against CHOW Ocean's 2. PADI also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for PADI against 5.0 for CHOW Ocean. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PADI has 46K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PADI ships an update fortnightly, CHOW Ocean every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
PADI versus CHOW Ocean: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPADICHOW Ocean
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (46K ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews54.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings46K — better2
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS14.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size200 MB141 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperPADI Americas, Inc.Precon Events, LLC

Customer experience

PADI

All ratings45,696 ratings
Positive97.2%
Neutral1.8%
Negative1.0%
Written reviews480 reviews
Positive54.4%
Neutral9.4%
Negative36.3%

CHOW Ocean

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

PADI

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Account setup failed
  • eCards don't download or display properly
  • Dive log data disappears or doesn't save
  • Inconsistent display of certifications
  • Dive site search doesn't work
Show 1 more
  • App gets stuck on loading screen

Requested features

6 requests
  • Allow mixing of metric and imperial units
  • Customize order of certifications on home page
  • Integrate with dive computers and upload profiles
  • Add custom checklists, equipment tracking
  • Integrate with Apple Wallet for eCards
Show 1 more
  • Offline mode with sync for dive logging

CHOW Ocean

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

PADI

No in-app purchases

None

CHOW Ocean

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PADI free?
PADI is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is CHOW Ocean free?
CHOW Ocean is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PADI or CHOW Ocean?
CHOW Ocean is rated higher. PADI averages 4.9 out of 5 from 46K ratings, while CHOW Ocean averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do PADI or CHOW Ocean have ads?
Neither PADI nor CHOW Ocean shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PADI or CHOW Ocean?
PADI ships an update fortnightly, and CHOW Ocean every 9 days. Most recently, PADI was updated on October 19, 2026 and CHOW Ocean on October 7, 2026.

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