Latin americans refuse to use the term "American" mostly out of spite/anger/resentment. The two common (and most grossly inaccurate) are "Norteamericanos" and "Estado-unidenses." The first means North Americans, and specifically describes people from North America: Canadians, Americans, and Mexicans. Estado-unidenses means "United State-ians" but is as ignorant as Norteamericanos because Mexico is "Los Estados Unidos de Mexico" and we're "Los Estados Unidos de America" or "United States of Mexico" and "United States of America". If they call themselves "Mexicans" which is the suffix to their "United States of..." then we should be called "Americans" because that's OUR suffix. I disagree VEHEMENTLY with anybody that states we shouldn't be called "Americans" and coin them immediately as ignorant and/or resentful.
A similar argument that I can SEE logically, is people not wanting us to call it "America." America is more associated with a continent than a country.....but Mexico calls themselves "Mexico" using their suffix. If we can't call ourselves "America" then they shouldn't be allowed to call themselves "Mexico." I agree that it's an unfortunate naming scheme, but it's what's been in place for hundreds of years. Wanting to change it now is this whole common hatred of Americans, mostly stemming from condescension, ignorance, or spite.
However, the word for people from the USA in Mexico would officially be "Ex-pat" or "Tourist" depending on the length of their stay and/or the goals of their stay. Non-officially, they could either be called "endangered" or "lucky" depending on where they are.
BTW, I can say all of this with high levels of confidence as someone born and raised in Central America (El Salvador, specifically).
---------- Post added December 10th, 2013 at 09:35 AM ----------
To add to this, many places aren't discriminatory based on nationality. They want guarantees of quality and safety. Typically, the "typical" people from an area (especially 3rd world countries) aren't as likely to be certified instructors. I know in Roatan, my favorite dive op has an instructor born and raised on Roatan by parents who were born and raised on Roatan. He's 100% Honduran, but lucky enough to have landed an instructor spot. As far as Mexican vs Foreign dive op owners, I don't care who owns them as long as the service is good. I don't care about the nationality of the people running it, as long as the service is good. If a German-owned company can staff their Dive Op with nothing but French, Spaniards, Dutch, and Kiwis, but their service is great.....who am I to complain? Also, if they can make better money and provide a better service at the same or better price with the people they're staffing, or the dive op there previously, I think we should be for it! Diving is all about fun...the only time to introduce politics is when people start trying to infringe upon our fun.