Comparison

PADI vs St Croix Explorer

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

St Croix Explorer

Discover businesses, activities, and events on St. Croix with this comprehensive guide. Find local recommendations, navigate with an interactive map, and explore shopping, dining, and more. Perfect for planning a memorable vacation.

Highlights
  • Business directory
  • Interactive map
  • Category search
  • Event listings
  • Treasure hunt game
  • Social media links
Features
Read full description

St. Croix Explorer-"Going in the right direction in the left lane" The St. Croix Explorer app was created to supplement the St. Croix Explorer map magazine, which has been published locally for over 20 years. The Explorer is the only locally produced map and information guide available at the airport, all hotels and car rental companies, and various businesses around St. Croix. Like the map, the app contains accurate information about businesses and where they are located. Just scan the QR code displayed at the airport and posters throughout St. Croix, or from the St. Croix Explorer map magazine. Locations of businesses on the St. Croix Explorer app are updated frequently, so this app is great for when Google or Apple (other maps send you to Puerto Rico). Once you’ve signed into this free app on the homepage, view the table of contents at the bottom, scroll from left to right, and pick a business category. You can search shopping, activities, where to stay, real estate, restaurants, events, water sports, and getting around. Use the St. Croix map on the homepage to click on your area and see what businesses are nearby. Use the search bar on the homepage to search for a specific tour, place, or business. As you search various businesses, activities, and tours, you’ll find links to the corresponding Facebook and Instagram pages and photos where they’re located. At the top left is the menu bar where you’ll find a treasure hunt (also located in the St. Croix Explorer map magazine). Try your hand at answering all the questions correctly. You’ll also find helpful tips, events, your profile, how to contact us, and how to rate the app. This easy to use app will help you find all the fun things that will make your St. Croix vacation memorable. You’ll be going in the right direction in the left lane!

Screenshots

PADI4 screens
St Croix Explorer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: PADI at fortnightly against St Croix Explorer's every 4 months. PADI also leads on ratings volume (46K vs 1). St Croix Explorer's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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 St Croix Explorer. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PADI has 46K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PADI ships an update fortnightly, St Croix Explorer every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
PADI versus St Croix Explorer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPADISt Croix Explorer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (46K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews54.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings46K — better1
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS14.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size200 MB19 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperPADI Americas, Inc.St Croix Explorer LLC

Customer experience

PADI

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

St Croix Explorer

All ratings1 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

St Croix Explorer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

PADI

No in-app purchases

None

St Croix Explorer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PADI free?
PADI is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is St Croix Explorer free?
St Croix Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PADI or St Croix Explorer?
St Croix Explorer is rated higher. PADI averages 4.9 out of 5 from 46K ratings, while St Croix Explorer averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do PADI or St Croix Explorer have ads?
Neither PADI nor St Croix Explorer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PADI or St Croix Explorer?
PADI ships an update fortnightly, and St Croix Explorer every 4 months. Most recently, PADI was updated on October 20, 2026 and St Croix Explorer on October 9, 2026.

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