Who should we use for our SSI Referral Dives?

[cej17]

Howdy divers!

My girlfriend and I are headed down to Cozumel in two weeks! She is about to finish up her SSI classroom and pool sessions and is planning on doing the open water dives down in Cozumel. I was wondering who you all would suggest what instructor she should do the dives with.

Also, I am hoping to be diving at the same time she does her open waters, how does that work, is that possible?

Happy New Year!

 

[ggunn]

Howdy divers!

My girlfriend and I are headed down to Cozumel in two weeks! She is about to finish up her SSI classroom and pool sessions and is planning on doing the open water dives down in Cozumel. I was wondering who you all would suggest what instructor she should do the dives with.

Also, I am hoping to be diving at the same time she does her open waters, how does that work, is that possible?

Happy New Year!

Blue Angel dive shop, Mateo as instructor. It's a shore dive, so you can gear up and toodle around the area while Mateo runs through her skills.

 

[boulderjohn]

I have never used Blue Angel myself, but their web site only lists PADI for scuba training. Do they do anything else? It is possible to complete SSI training with PADI, but it can be complicated. Doing so normally requires the instructor to follow the SSI referral system instead of the PADI system. PADI allows instructors to do this, but they strongly recommend against it. It is possible that Blue Angel is a shop that will do this, but you need to check first.

---------- Post added December 29th, 2014 at 09:00 AM ----------

I would think the person to check with is the SSI instructor doing the referral. He or she she should try to set this up for you.

 

[redacted]

According to SSI locator, ther seems to be a half dozen SSI shops on Cozumel but the only one I recognized was Dive Paradise. The good news is they are a large shop with lots of coverage. But it still may depend on where you are staying.

 

[Ron Lee]

Aldora mentions two dive agencies...one being PADI.

Contact them to see if they offer SSI as well

Bienvenidos - Aldora Divers | Only the best of Cozumel

 

[boulderjohn]

I tried to look into the 6 SSI shops on the SSI locator, but I did not have a lot of success. A couple did not have web sites that I could find. One had a web site that did not mention SSI at all. For some reason I could not get to the Dive Paradise site--things just spun for me every time I tried to go there. (I know that is a legitimate, active operator, though.)

The reason I was checking is that we had an almost identical thread a couple of days ago in which someone was looking for an SSI instructor on another island in the Caribbean. I found one for the person, but someone else jumped in to point out that even though the web site for that operator was still active, the operator was not, and there was in fact no SSI instructor on that island. Based on that experience, I advise the OP to be very careful and make darned sure things will go smoothly upon arrival.

If an SSI instructor is too hard to find, you can go with a different agency, like NAUI. The only potential problem is with PADI. PADI believes that the person and agency that certifies a student should be the person and agency that conducts the certification dives. Their official policy for dealing with referrals is to do the dives and then issue a PADI certification. The other agencies use a different system in which the certifying instructor and agency is the one who sent the referral. PADI feels it is dangerous, both in terms of diver safety and instructor liability, to certify someone you never saw perform in open water. PADI does, however, allow instructors to follow the system used by other agencies if they wish, so it is possible that a PADI shop on Cozumel can complete the SSI certification.

 

[ggunn]

All things considered, I think I'd go with Dive Paradise. Their place is easy to find - right across the street from Hotel Cozumel - and they are a long time respected op. They are set up similar to Blue Angel, with a shore dive entry point at the shop, where you can go in with them and amuse yourself while they go through the skills drills.

 

[diversteve]

Here's the list if any Coz regulars have a favorite to recommend.




2 separate images.

 

[MMM]

I have a friend who swears by Albatross Charters. In addition to Dive Paradise on this list, I have met the Scuba Gamma folks but have never encountered anyone who has dived with them. I believe they are French, so perhaps cater to a European audience. They are located downtown on a busy corner and have been there many years, so they must stay busy! Del Mar is another big operator, but how good, I don't know. Can't say I have heard of the others on here.

Here's the list if any Coz regulars have a favorite to recommend.

View attachment 200116
View attachment 200117

2 separate images.

 

[ggunn]

Here's the list if any Coz regulars have a favorite to recommend.

View attachment 200116
View attachment 200117

2 separate images.

I'd still say Dive Paradise.