# PADI vs St Croix Explorer

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.

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

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.

PADI ships an update fortnightly, St Croix Explorer every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PADI | St Croix Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (46K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/padi/id1490797188/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/st-croix-explorer/id1637044870/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **46K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 54.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 200 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PADI Americas, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/416901045) | [St Croix Explorer LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1637044872) |

## What reviewers say

### PADI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/padi/id1490797188)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Convenient to have all dive info in one spot
- 🚀 Great for learning and revisiting hand signals
- 👍 Helpful for organizing PADI certifications
- 👍 Fantastic time for Discover Scuba Diving
- 👍 User friendly app for eStudy course

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buttons don't work, inconsistent functionality
- 🐛 Logbook doesn't work, can't log dives
- 🐛 eCards get deleted, can't access offline
- 💰 Expensive eCards, should be included
- 🐛 Dive log data gets lost or doesn't sync

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### St Croix Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/st-croix-explorer/id1637044870)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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 21, 2026 and St Croix Explorer on October 9, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*