SSI in Cancun

Question
I might be going to Cancun in May and I would like to take some advanced courses. I am a SSI certified open water diver but can only find PADI dive shops and courses in Cancun. Are there any SSI dive shops in Cancun?

Answer
Hi Jay, sorry for the delay.  From the SSI web site at www.divessi.com, you can click on a link to search for a dive center.  In doing so I found 3 SSI centers near Cancun.

Manta Divers in Cancun is www.mantadivers.com.  Upon searching their site I did not find specific SSI courses however.  They just may not have them listed.  They are an SSI shop however and you may want to call or e-mail them to inquire.

There are also SSI shops in Playa del Carmen (about 45 minutes south) and over on Cozumel (a ferry ride over from Playa).

Note that you can take specialty or advanced courses from ANY dive agency, not just SSI.  SSI Advanced Open Water diver is a little different than PADI.  You need 24 dives and 4 specialty courses.  You could take four PADI specialty courses and have an SSI instructor back home sign you off for AOW.  If you take a PADI AOW you will get that rating but only basic training in at least 4 specialties and it may not count toward an SSI AOW (or beyond).

If you are on a track toward SSI Master Diver, I would consider taking the 4 specialties from a PADI shop if you cannot get them at one of the three SSI shops.

Good luck, and have fun.  That is great diving down there.