Courses

COURSE DETAILS

Find out all the information you need to know about all of the courses above.  Still have questions? Reach out, we are happy to walk you through all the details.  Contact us

• SSI Open Water Diver Course

  How It Works

  Step 1: Complete eLearning Materials – Purchase and complete the comprehensive eLearning program online at your own pace.

  Step 2: Pass the Online Final Exam – Demonstrate your understanding of key dive concepts and get ready to dive!

  Step 3: Classroom & Pool Training – Travel to Cozumel and train with American Reef Scuba’s certified instructors.

  Step 4: Open Water Training Dives – Complete four open water dives in Cozumel’s breathtaking marine environment under expert guidance.

  Step 5: Certification in Just 3 Days! – Complete your training and become a certified diver in only three days once you arrive in Cozumel.

  **All eLearning materials must be completed online before your arrival in Cozumel.

  Why Learn to Dive with American Reef Scuba?

  • Expert instruction from experienced SSI and PADI-certified instructors.
  • Small groups for a focused, personalized learning experience.
  • Unmatched dive sites – Cozumel is a top global destination for its coral reefs and marine life.
  • Convenient process – Complete the eLearning at your own pace, then come to Cozumel.
  • Confidence and excitement – We’ll make sure you feel prepared and ready for your first real dives!

  Don’t just dream about diving, make it happen with American Reef Scuba!

  Book Now!

• SSI Referral Diver

  Complete your scuba certification in the crystal-clear waters of Cozumel with the SSI Referral Diver Program. If you’ve already completed your academic training and confined water (pool) sessions with an SSI Instructor at home, this program allows you to finish the final step of your Open Water Diver certification while diving on some of the most beautiful reefs in the Caribbean.

  Over the course of four open water training dives, you’ll demonstrate the skills you’ve already learned while gaining valuable experience in a real ocean environment. Your SSI Instructor will guide you through each dive at a comfortable pace, helping you build confidence, refine your skills, and prepare you to dive safely anywhere in the world.

  There is no better place to complete your certification than Cozumel, where warm tropical water, exceptional visibility, gentle currents, and abundant marine life create the perfect learning environment. By the end of the program, you’ll have earned your SSI Open Water Diver certification and be ready to enjoy a lifetime of underwater adventure.

  Your Course Includes:

  ✔ Personalized instruction with an SSI Professional
  ✔ Four Open Water training dives over two days
  ✔ Skills review and completion of all required certification exercises
  ✔ SSI Open Water Diver certification upon successful completion
  ✔ Premium scuba equipment rental
  ✔ Tanks and weights
  ✔ Boat transportation to and from dive sites
  ✔ Lunch and beverages aboard the boat

  Finish what you started, earn your SSI Open Water Diver certification, and discover why Cozumel is one of the world’s premier destinations for learning to dive.

  Book Now!

• SSI Advanced Open Water Diver Course

  Take your diving to the next level with the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver Course and expand your skills, confidence, and underwater experience. Designed for certified divers looking to become more comfortable and capable in a variety of diving environments, this course introduces you to new techniques while exploring some of Cozumel’s most spectacular dive sites.

  Through a combination of academic learning and real-world diving experience, you will complete five specialty dives focused on improving your buoyancy, navigation, deep diving skills, and overall dive awareness. Your SSI Instructor will provide personalized coaching to help you become a safer, more confident, and more independent diver.

  With Cozumel’s world-famous reefs, dramatic walls, crystal-clear water, and incredible marine life, there is no better place to continue your scuba journey and earn your SSI Advanced Open Water Diver certification.

  Your Course Includes:

  ✔ Personalized instruction with an SSI Professional
  ✔ SSI Advanced Open Water Diver digital learning materials
  ✔ Five exciting specialty dives
  ✔ Buoyancy, navigation, and advanced diving skill development
  ✔ Deep diving experience up to 100 feet (30 meters)
  ✔ Exploration of Cozumel’s world-class reefs
  ✔ Premium scuba equipment rental
  ✔ Tanks and weights
  ✔ Boat transportation to and from dive sites
  ✔ Lunch and beverages aboard the boat

  Continue building your skills, expand your diving limits, and experience the underwater world of Cozumel like a true advanced diver. Your next adventure begins here.

  Book Now!

• SSI Perfect Buoyancy Specialty Certification

  Master the skill that transforms good divers into great divers with the SSI Perfect Buoyancy Specialty Certification. Proper buoyancy control is the foundation of safe, comfortable, and enjoyable diving, allowing you to move effortlessly through the water while conserving air, improving your trim, and protecting the underwater environment.

  During this course, your SSI Instructor will help you fine-tune your weighting, body position, breathing control, and underwater movement to achieve more efficient and precise buoyancy. You will learn advanced techniques for hovering, streamlined positioning, efficient finning, and reducing unnecessary movement, giving you greater confidence and control on every dive.

  The required open water training dives are not included with this certification and are scheduled separately. If you already have diving planned with American Reef Scuba, your Perfect Buoyancy skills can often be practiced and evaluated during your scheduled dives, provided they meet SSI training standards.

  With Cozumel’s crystal-clear water, beautiful coral reefs, and abundant marine life, this is the perfect destination to improve your skills while learning how to dive with less impact and more enjoyment.

  Your Course Includes:

  ✔ Personalized instruction with an experienced SSI Professional
  ✔ SSI Perfect Buoyancy digital learning materials
  ✔ Proper weighting and equipment configuration techniques
  ✔ Trim and body position adjustments for improved efficiency
  ✔ Hovering and buoyancy control skills
  ✔ Advanced finning techniques and underwater awareness
  ✔ Techniques to improve air consumption and dive comfort
  ✔ Knowledge and skill development to support your required certification dives
  ✔ SSI certification processing

  Become a smoother, more confident, and more environmentally responsible diver. Experience the freedom of effortless underwater movement and discover how perfect buoyancy can transform every dive with the SSI Perfect Buoyancy Specialty Certification.

  Book Now!

• SSI Navigation Specialty Certification

  Take the guesswork out of underwater exploration with the SSI Navigation Specialty Course. This course is designed to help you become a more confident and independent diver by mastering the skills needed to navigate accurately, plan your dives, and safely find your way underwater.

  During your training, your SSI Instructor will teach you how to use a compass, recognize natural navigation references, estimate distances, and combine multiple navigation techniques to improve your underwater awareness. With better navigation skills, you’ll enjoy more relaxed dives, explore dive sites more efficiently, and gain the confidence to venture beyond the familiar.

  The required open water training dives are not included with this certification and are scheduled separately. If you already have diving planned with American Reef Scuba, your Perfect Buoyancy skills can often be practiced and evaluated during your scheduled dives, provided they meet SSI training standards.

  Cozumel’s world-famous reefs, drift dives, and incredible underwater landscapes provide the perfect environment to practice your skills while exploring some of the Caribbean’s most breathtaking dive sites.

  Your Course Includes:

  ✔ Personalized instruction with an experienced SSI Professional
  ✔ SSI Navigation digital learning materials
  ✔ Compass navigation techniques and underwater exercises
  ✔ Natural navigation and environmental awareness skills
  ✔ Distance estimation and dive planning techniques
  ✔ Improved dive organization and underwater confidence

  Build your confidence, sharpen your skills, and become the diver who always knows where they are. Explore more of Cozumel with SSI Navigation certification.

  Book Now!

• SSI Enriched Air Nitrox Specialty Certification

  Stay underwater longer and get more out of every dive with the SSI Enriched Air Nitrox Course. One of the most popular and practical specialties in scuba diving, this course teaches you how to safely plan and enjoy dives using enriched air nitrox, allowing you to maximize your bottom time and reduce your surface intervals.

  During your training, your SSI Instructor will teach you how nitrox works, how to analyze your breathing gas, and how to safely plan dives using enriched air mixtures up to 40% oxygen. Whether you are exploring Cozumel’s famous reefs, enjoying multiple dives during your vacation, or preparing for more advanced diving, nitrox is an essential skill for today’s recreational diver.

  With Cozumel’s incredible wall dives, drift diving, and multiple-dive opportunities, there is no better place to add this valuable certification to your dive experience.

  No open water training dives are required for this specialty certification.

  Your Course Includes:

  ✔ Personalized instruction with an SSI Professional
  ✔ SSI Enriched Air Nitrox digital learning materials
  ✔ Nitrox dive planning and safety procedures
  ✔ Oxygen exposure and maximum operating depth training
  ✔ Hands-on practice analyzing your own tank fills
  ✔ Nitrox certification for breathing gas mixtures up to 40% oxygen
  ✔ Professional guidance throughout the course
  ✔ Certification processing through SSI

  Dive smarter, extend your underwater adventures, and unlock more possibilities on every dive. Add SSI Enriched Air Nitrox certification to your dive skills today.

  Book Now!

• SSI Night & Limited Visibility Specialty Certification

  Discover a completely different side of the underwater world with the SSI Night & Limited Visibility Specialty Course. When the sun goes down, Cozumel’s reefs come alive with new colors, unique marine life, and unforgettable encounters that you simply won’t experience during the day.

  This course is designed to build your confidence and skills for diving in low-light conditions while teaching you the techniques needed to safely navigate, communicate, and manage your dive experience after dark. Your SSI Instructor will guide you through specialized skills including dive planning, light use, communication procedures, and techniques for maintaining awareness in limited visibility environments.

  The required open water training dives are not included with this certification and are scheduled separately. If you already have diving planned with American Reef Scuba, your Perfect Buoyancy skills can often be practiced and evaluated during your scheduled dives, provided they meet SSI training standards.

  With Cozumel’s crystal-clear water and incredible marine biodiversity, a night dive is an adventure every diver should experience.

  Your Course Includes:

  ✔ Personalized instruction with an experienced SSI Professional
  ✔ SSI Night & Limited Visibility digital learning materials
  ✔ Night dive planning and safety procedures
  ✔ Proper use of dive lights and underwater communication techniques
  ✔ Navigation and awareness skills in low-visibility conditions
  ✔ Marine life observation and responsible night diving practices

  Experience Cozumel’s reefs in a whole new way as they transform after dark. Discover the magic of night diving and take your skills to the next level with SSI Night & Limited Visibility certification.

  Book Now!

• SSI Deep Diving Specialty Certification

  Go beyond the limits of recreational diving and discover a whole new world beneath the surface with the SSI Deep Diving Specialty Course. Designed for certified divers who want to safely explore deeper dive sites, this course builds the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to plan and complete deep dives to depths of up to 130 feet (40 meters).

  During your training, your SSI Instructor will teach you advanced dive planning, gas management, buoyancy control, safety procedures, and the effects of increased depth. You will complete three open water dives while experiencing the unique challenges and rewards of deeper exploration, including changes in color, pressure, and air consumption.

  The required open water training dives are not included with this certification and are scheduled separately. If you already have diving planned with American Reef Scuba, your Perfect Buoyancy skills can often be practiced and evaluated during your scheduled dives, provided they meet SSI training standards.

  With Cozumel’s legendary walls, dramatic drop-offs, and world-class deep dive sites, there is no better place to expand your diving capabilities and experience the thrill of going deeper.

  Your Course Includes:

  ✔ Personalized instruction with an experienced SSI Professional
  ✔ SSI Deep Diving digital learning materials
  ✔ Advanced deep dive planning and safety procedures
  ✔ Gas management and air consumption awareness
  ✔ Buoyancy control and techniques for deeper dives

  Expand your diving limits, build your confidence, and experience the incredible underwater world beyond the shallows. Your next deep adventure begins with SSI Deep Diving certification.

  Book Now!

• SSI Wreck Diving Specialty Certification

  Explore the history, mystery, and marine life surrounding sunken vessels with the SSI Wreck Diving Specialty Course. Wrecks offer some of the most fascinating dive experiences in the world, providing a unique combination of adventure, exploration, and underwater discovery.

  During this course, your SSI Instructor will teach you the skills needed to safely plan and conduct wreck dives while developing a greater understanding of wreck environments. You will learn wreck diving techniques, navigation methods, hazard awareness, and responsible diving practices to help you safely explore these incredible underwater sites.

  The required open water training dives are not included with this certification and are scheduled separately. If you already have diving planned with American Reef Scuba, your Perfect Buoyancy skills can often be practiced and evaluated during your scheduled dives, provided they meet SSI training standards.

  With Cozumel’s rich diving history, beautiful reefs, and nearby wreck sites, this is the perfect destination to expand your skills and experience the excitement of wreck exploration.

  Your Course Includes:

  ✔ Personalized instruction with an experienced SSI Professional
  ✔ SSI Wreck Diving digital learning materials
  ✔ Wreck diving planning and safety procedures
  ✔ Navigation techniques around wreck structures
  ✔ Understanding wreck hazards and responsible exploration
  ✔ Buoyancy and positioning skills for wreck environments
  ✔ Marine life identification around wreck sites

  Discover the stories hidden beneath the surface and experience the thrill of underwater exploration. Expand your diving adventure with SSI Wreck Diving certification.

  Book Now!

• SSI Science of Diving Specialty Certification

  Go beyond the basics and discover the science that makes scuba diving possible with the SSI Science of Diving Course. Designed for divers who want to deepen their understanding of the underwater world, this course explores the principles behind diving and helps you become a more knowledgeable, confident, and responsible diver.

  During your training, your SSI Instructor will guide you through the essential concepts of dive physics, physiology, equipment, and the aquatic environment. You’ll learn why your body reacts differently underwater, how your equipment works, and how to make smarter decisions before, during, and after every dive.

  Whether you are preparing for advanced certifications, looking to become a better dive buddy, or simply curious about the science behind your favorite adventure, this course provides valuable knowledge that will enhance every dive you make.

  No open water training dives are required for this specialty certification.

  Your Course Includes:

  ✔ Personalized instruction with an experienced SSI Professional
  ✔ SSI Science of Diving digital learning materials
  ✔ Understanding the physics of pressure, buoyancy, and gas behavior
  ✔ Human physiology and how diving affects the body
  ✔ Scuba equipment function, care, and maintenance
  ✔ Marine environment and underwater awareness concepts
  ✔ Dive planning, safety, and decision-making principles
  ✔ Knowledge development to support future SSI specialties and professional training
  ✔ SSI certification processing

  Expand your knowledge, improve your dive skills, and discover the fascinating science behind every underwater adventure. Become a smarter, safer, and more confident diver with SSI Science of Diving.

  Book Now!

• SSI Diver Stress & Rescue Specialty Certification

  Go beyond basic dive skills and learn how to prevent, recognize, and respond to diving emergencies with the SSI Diver Stress & Rescue Specialty Certification. Designed for divers who want to become safer, more confident, and better prepared underwater, this course teaches you how to identify stress before it becomes an emergency and how to effectively assist yourself and others in challenging situations.

  During your training, your SSI Instructor will guide you through the causes and signs of diver stress, accident prevention, emergency management, and practical rescue techniques. You’ll develop the awareness and confidence to handle real-world scenarios while improving your decision-making, communication, and leadership skills. Whether you’re diving with friends, family, or new dive buddies, these skills will make you a more valuable and dependable member of any dive team.

  The required open water training dives are not included with this certification and are scheduled separately. If you already have diving planned with American Reef Scuba, your required rescue training exercises can often be completed during your scheduled dives, provided they meet SSI training standards.

  Your Course Includes:

  ✔ Personalized instruction with an experienced SSI Professional
  ✔ SSI Diver Stress & Rescue digital learning materials
  ✔ Recognition and prevention of diver stress and panic
  ✔ Self-rescue and buddy rescue techniques
  ✔ Emergency management and accident response procedures
  ✔ Rescue planning, communication, and leadership skills
  ✔ Practical rescue skill development during required training dives (dives booked separately)
  ✔ SSI certification processing

  Develop the knowledge, confidence, and rescue skills that every diver should have. Become a safer dive buddy, improve your emergency preparedness, and gain the confidence to handle unexpected situations with the SSI Diver Stress & Rescue Specialty Certification.

  Book Now!

• SSI Computer Diving Specialty Certification

  Take your dive planning and safety to the next level with the SSI Computer Diving Specialty Certification. Designed for divers who want to get the most from their dive computer, this course helps you better understand the information your computer provides and how to use that data to make smarter, safer decisions before, during, and after every dive.

  During your training, your SSI Instructor will guide you through the features, functions, and capabilities of modern dive computers. You’ll learn how computers track your dive profile, manage decompression information, monitor important limits, and assist with dive planning. You’ll also explore how to properly configure, maintain, and interpret your dive computer so you can dive with greater confidence and awareness.

  Whether you are a new diver looking to build good habits, an experienced diver wanting to improve your dive planning skills, or preparing for more advanced diving, understanding your computer is an essential part of becoming a safer and more independent diver.

  No open water training dives are required for this specialty certification.

  Your Course Includes:

  ✔ Personalized instruction with an experienced SSI Professional
  ✔ SSI Computer Diving digital learning materials
  ✔ Understanding dive computer displays, settings, and functions
  ✔ Proper computer setup and customization for your diving needs
  ✔ Dive planning using computer-generated information
  ✔ Understanding no-decompression limits, ascent rates, and safety stops
  ✔ Managing air, depth, time, and gas information effectively
  ✔ Developing safer and more efficient dive habits
  ✔ SSI certification processing

  Get more from your dive computer and make every dive safer, smarter, and more enjoyable. Build confidence in your equipment, improve your dive planning skills, and continue your journey toward becoming a more knowledgeable and independent diver with the SSI Computer Diving Specialty Certification.

  Book Now!

• SSI Photo & Video Specialty Certification

  Capture the beauty of the underwater world and share your adventures with the SSI Photo & Video Specialty Course. Whether you are using a compact camera, action camera, or advanced underwater system, this course will help you develop the skills needed to create stunning images and videos beneath the surface.

  During your training, your SSI Instructor will teach you the fundamentals of underwater photography and videography, including camera settings, composition, lighting techniques, equipment care, and techniques for capturing marine life naturally. You’ll learn how to overcome the unique challenges of shooting underwater and create images that truly showcase your diving experiences.

  The required open water training dives are not included with this certification and are scheduled separately. If you already have diving planned with American Reef Scuba, your Perfect Buoyancy skills can often be practiced and evaluated during your scheduled dives, provided they meet SSI training standards.

  With Cozumel’s crystal-clear water, vibrant coral reefs, and incredible marine life, it’s the perfect place to improve your skills and capture memories that will last a lifetime.

  Your Course Includes:

  ✔ Personalized instruction with an experienced SSI Professional
  ✔ SSI Photo & Video digital learning materials
  ✔ Underwater camera and video techniques
  ✔ Composition, lighting, and exposure fundamentals
  ✔ Tips for capturing marine life behavior and reef environments
  ✔ Equipment setup, care, and maintenance techniques
  ✔ Professional feedback to help improve your underwater imaging skills

  Turn your underwater memories into incredible stories you can share. See the ocean through a new lens with SSI Photo & Video certification.

  Book Now!

• SSI Marine Ecology Specialty Certification

  Discover the incredible connections that make our oceans thrive with the SSI Marine Ecology Specialty Course. Designed for divers who want to better understand the underwater world they explore, this course provides fascinating insight into marine ecosystems, ocean conservation, and the relationships between the creatures that call the reef home.

  During your training, your SSI Instructor will introduce you to the science behind marine habitats, including coral reefs, food chains, biodiversity, and the importance of protecting fragile ocean environments. You’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the marine life you encounter and learn how responsible diving helps preserve these amazing ecosystems for future generations.

  With Cozumel’s world-famous coral reefs, protected marine park, and incredible diversity of marine life, there is no better place to expand your knowledge and become a more informed ocean explorer.

  No open water training dives are required for this specialty certification.

  Your Course Includes:

  ✔ Personalized instruction with an experienced SSI Professional
  ✔ SSI Marine Ecology digital learning materials
  ✔ Understanding coral reef ecosystems and marine habitats
  ✔ Marine life relationships, behavior, and biodiversity
  ✔ Ocean conservation and responsible diving practices
  ✔ The impact of human activity on marine environments
  ✔ Techniques for becoming a more environmentally aware diver
  ✔ Knowledge development to enhance every underwater experience
  ✔ SSI certification processing

  Become more than a visitor beneath the surface—become a knowledgeable steward of the ocean. Explore, understand, and protect the underwater world with SSI Marine Ecology certification.

  Book Now!

• SSI Shark Ecology Specialty Certification

  Discover the truth behind one of the ocean’s most misunderstood and fascinating animals with the SSI Shark Ecology Specialty Course. Designed for divers who want to better understand sharks, this course explores their biology, behavior, conservation, and essential role in maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems.

  During your training, your SSI Instructor will introduce you to the world of sharks, including species identification, feeding habits, migration patterns, communication, and the important role sharks play in the balance of marine environments. You’ll gain a greater appreciation for these incredible predators and learn why responsible shark encounters are some of the most rewarding experiences in diving.

  With Cozumel’s rich marine environment and access to unforgettable shark encounters throughout the region, this is the perfect opportunity to expand your knowledge and become a more informed and confident ocean explorer.

  No open water training dives are required for this specialty certification.

  Your Course Includes:

  ✔ Personalized instruction with an experienced SSI Professional
  ✔ SSI Shark Ecology digital learning materials
  ✔ Shark biology, behavior, and species identification
  ✔ Understanding shark roles within marine ecosystems
  ✔ Shark conservation and the challenges facing shark populations
  ✔ Responsible diving practices around sharks
  ✔ Insights into shark encounters and underwater behavior
  ✔ Knowledge development to enhance your future dive experiences
  ✔ SSI certification processing

  Replace fear with fascination and discover why sharks are among the most important and incredible creatures in our oceans. Dive deeper into the world of sharks with SSI Shark Ecology certification.

  Book Now!