Rec for Dive Operator with SSI Certification Course in Cozumel

[ggunn]

Secrets/aura is ok place to stay. They have a pier you can have anyone you decide to dive with pick you up at, be aware if it isn’t their resident dive shop you will need to pay$10 a day to use. The resident dive shop is Dive House. I don’t dive with them and doubt they are ssi.

Their docking fee is up to US$10/day? Last I heard it was only $2-3.

 

[jonhall]

Here's the link to my spreadsheet - it may give you a few ideas. I have info and the links to many of the dive ops that SB members use.

Cozumel Dive Ops

As mentioned earlier, finding an SSI dive op may be tricky. A private instructor from a dive op may be an option. I'm staying at Villa Aldora in a couple of weeks and having someone come to do Discover Scuba Dives (shore dive) with my granddaughter and hope to do DSD boat dives with her on a different day - I may have to go private route with Aldora Divers on that.

 

[ggunn]

Hello! My wife and I are also going to Cozumel the first week in April. I am SSI certified, but she isn't certified yet. We plan to have her take an SSI open water certification course while we are there. We are staying at Dreams Aventuras Riviera Maya. The resort said they would recommend dive operators that provide the three day SSI certification course, but they are having a bit of trouble. We could really use a recommendation for the best place for my wife to take the course. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

How important is it that her certifying agency be SSI? Is there much difference between the certification training between any two agencies?

 

[Shawn C]

Secrets/aura is ok place to stay. They have a pier you can have anyone you decide to dive with pick you up at, be aware if it isn’t their resident dive shop you will need to pay$10 a day to use. The resident dive shop is Dive House. I don’t dive with them and doubt they are ssi.

Dive House is a PADI shop and are a volume based op. Is there a reason you want your wife certed by SSI? For the most part, PADI and SSI are interchangable. You can even mix certifications, between the two organizations, at different levels.

 

[dbkuhlman]

Dive House is a PADI shop and are a volume based op. Is there a reason you want your wife certed by SSI? For the most part, PADI and SSI are interchangable. You can even mix certifications, between the two organizations, at different levels.

It really doesn't matter if she does PADI or SSI. I did SSI, so I figured she would do the same. But either absolutely works. Is Dive House a trustworthy place? She's a little nervous, so I want to make sure her instructor is really good.

 

[Shawn C]

It really doesn't matter if she does PADI or SSI. I did SSI, so I figured she would do the same. But either absolutely works. Is Dive House a trustworthy place? She's a little nervous, so I want to make sure her instructor is really good.

Dive House puts a lot of people on their boats and is not an op that I would use, especially with a new diver. We've gone with several different ops over the years and have chosen Sharky's to stick with. Walter taught my 12 year old to dive. He was patient, kind, understanding, funny, and such an amazing instructor that on his last dive with her (with mom & dad tagging along) I literally hugged him mid water column with tears in my eyes. I cannot recommend him, and Sharky's enough. You can reach them here: Diving center on the island of Cozumel, come and visit the beautiful reefs of Cozumel

 

[FLturtle]

You might also want to consider Dive Palancar. They are PADI & are located at the concrete pier just North of Secrets & Dreams (you can walk thru the Dreams resort to get there). They are a smaller operation than Dive House. Good luck & enjoy your trip & diving.

 

[Julerb1]

I dove with Dive Palancar years ago when they were a little more reputable. My wife was even certified with their organization when they had a female instructor who was excellent or my wife wouldn't be diving. I wouldn't dive with them again. I doubt they have any instructors and their equipment is questionable at best. I use one of their old divemasters who now works for scubadu and we have very good experiences with him.

 

[FLturtle]

I dove with Dive Palancar years ago when they were a little more reputable. My wife was even certified with their organization when they had a female instructor who was excellent or my wife wouldn't be diving. I wouldn't dive with them again. I doubt they have any instructors and their equipment is questionable at best. I use one of their old divemasters who now works for scubadu and we have very good experiences with him.

Just want to say that I’ve been diving with Dive Palancar for at least the past 8 years (most recently Dec, 2024), have had excellent experiences with them, & have plans to dive with them again soon. I do not have any personal experience with their instructors so can’t speak to that. I have used their rental gear a couple of times when I had a problem with my personal gear & found it to be ok. Sorry if your experience with them was not satisfactory.

 

[tridacna]

Just want to say that I’ve been diving with Dive Palancar for at least the past 8 years (most recently Dec, 2024), have had excellent experiences with them, & have plans to dive with them again soon. I do not have any personal experience with their instructors so can’t speak to that. I have used their rental gear a couple of times when I had a problem with my personal gear & found it to be ok. Sorry if your experience with them was not satisfactory.

I agree 100%. I have had stellar experiences with them. Absolutely no complaints. I will use them again in a heartbeat.