A new version of the SSI Training and Dive Centre Standards for our region, effective March 2009.

After reviewing the feedback from our members, we are pleased to inform you that this latest document uses a new format, which is easier to read and we hope will make information easier to find.

Some exciting changes and additions are:

· Introduction of SSI’s new ECOLogical Standards and Code of Practice;

· New Nitrox Level 1 (up to and including 32% Oxygen) and Level 2 (up to and including 40% Oxygen) certifications;

· SSI’s forthcoming SSI Dive Leader levels: Dive Guide and Dive Master, and changes to the existing Dive Control Specialist (DiveCon) and Instructor Training Course (ITC) Courses.

Please familiarise yourself with the full list of Key Changes and Additions, which is outlined on page 9.

As always, your feedback is appreciated and will be used in future editions.

If you are have problems with the attachment, you can download the standards at www.ssithailand.com/dealers/resources/forms/SSI_Thailand_Training_Standards_2009.pdf (username: thailand, password: ssi) or by logging onto the Downloads section on ODiN at www.diveSSI.com using your Member number and password.

Happy diving,

SSI In Vietnam

I always enjoy going to Vietnam, . Once again I was lucky enough to spend some time in Nha trang. While there we had a real busy week and achieved the following.

• Crossovers : SSI welcomed two new instructors Steve and Chris from Octopus divers. I was impressed with their attitude and loved the enthusiasm these young guys had for teaching diving.

• Standards Check: SSI believes in quality and took this opportunity to ensure that courses and facilities met the high standards that SSI has set across the globe.

• Dive center update: SSI introduced all the new services and courses we have on offer.

• Diving: I couldn’t miss the opportunity to visit the dive sites around Nha Trang, as usual the diving had me hooked. Visibility was good and my camera went in overdrive with all the critters that diving in Vietnam has to offer. On my next visit I have been promised a trip out to some of Vietnam’s outer islands I can’t wait.

• MPA Training: First aid and Oxygen provision Training for the Marine Park Association was conducted the first course in a commitment made to provide ongoing training for the Vietnamese government s MPA.

• Ecological : campaign was launched in the Vietnamese market.

SSI Training goes on line.




SSI Online training is now available!

As a potential diver you have many choices when it comes to activities and we wanted to make sure you had a chance to try the SSI system of scuba diving training. One of the barriers to becoming a diver is the fear of the unknown and the investment of time and cost. Online training is designed to educate you on what it means to become a scuba diver. The information demonstrates what it takes to stay safe and comfortable during your underwater adventures. At anytime during your online experience you can contact your local SSI Dive Center and complete your scuba diving course! Once you try it you¹ll be hooked!

Check out the SSI online training program by clicking on the graphic above.

Dive centres wishing to run this exiting program contact us on info@ssithailand.com

DEMA in Las Vegas.

Viva las Vegas DEMA show.

Well someone had to go !This time I was lucky enough to endure two twelve hour flights from Thailand’s southern beaches to the desert oasis that is Las Vegas in the USA. The DEMA show (Dive Equipment Manufacturers Association) is a huge show so big in fact that they had motorized transport inside the hall.

SSI Thailand was there to see how our colleges in SSI USA done things and to promote Thailand ,Vietnam and other world class diving destinations’ within our region.SSI had a great presence there and it was awesome to see our co workers rushed of their feet dealing with new and old customers alike.

However after walking for miles and visiting the famous Las Vegas Strip. I was missing home so it was with great relief that I found the Tourism Authority of Thailand had a stand at DEMA. Within minutes I felt right back at home eating Thai sweets and receiving lots of warm Thai smiles.

West Coast Dreaming

SSI Has just had an awesome trip to the west once again visiting Koh Phi Phi ,Krabi ,Phuket and seeing our friends up in Kow Lak. Beaches are busy bars are buzzing on Phi Phi,Mantas are playing hard and thrilling divers at the Simmilans so be quick you may get to dive with these awesome flying Rays. Krabi and phuket offered the same idilic surroundings as always.However my credit card preffered Island life as Donna found a slice of heaven at all the shopping venues in Phuket.

Blue Views Phi Phi Clean Up Marthon......

Blue View Divers, Koh Phi Phi, organized and arranged 3 days of activities for International Clean up Day 2008 (19th September- 21st September) in association with SSI and Greenfins Thailand, collecting just over 645kgs of debris from our beaches and dive sites.

Friday 19th September started off at 9am, and it was back to school for all of us!!!

All 60 children and 12 staff (including the school principal, Khun Wirawat) of The Phi Phi Island Village School were assembled in the playground to look through posters explaining how long different types of debris take to break down, talk about ICC and beach clean-ups.In less than 1 hour the children collected and categorized over 78kgs of rubbish from the beach located in front of the school!!! Everyone proudly received their SSI Certificates of Participation. Congratulations guys!!!

We then headed out to Phi Phi Ley snorkeling to examine the different aspects we had just talked about: types and shapes of hard and soft coral, the importance of algae in the different colored corals, the life supported by the reefs and different types of damage.

A huge Blue View thank you to all the children for making our day sanuk maak!!!
You are all underwater superheroes!!!

Saturday 20th September:

Sunflower bar was our starting point and host for a beach clean-up along Loh Dallum Beach (Phi Phi Don), aimed at encouraging community involvement, responsibility, and raising awareness of the length of time that debris takes to break down and the detrimental effects to the environment and tourist industry in the interim.

23 volunteers arrived for the morning session, and a further 35 plus for the afternoon clean-up (each lasting just over an hour due to the heat!) An astounding 501 kgs of rubbish was collected and categorized, including more rope and netting than we could count, cigarette butts, fish traps and cages, and a boat captain’s seat.

Sunday 21st September:

Sunday morning and 2 longtail boats headed out on choppy seas with 9 divers and 1 snorkeler to Phi Phi Ley, where we focused on 3 dive sites: Viking Cave, Lohsammah Bay and Piley South.

A total of 64.6kgs of rubbish was collected, including clothing, fishing nets, line and cages, rope, beverage cans and bottles etc. We are also optimistic that the ReefWatch data from these 3 sites will prove useful to Greenfins and the PMBC in terms of monitoring the health of these reefs over time.

Blue View Divers would like to thank Aquanauts for their enthusiasm and assistance over all 3 days of activities.

PICTURES TO COME.......

Busy as Sea Bees

On the latest International Coastal Cleanup Day, Sea Bees Diving, Phuket had 32 guests in all, both their own customers and those who joined in from other dive companies around Phuket. Everyone met at The Anchor Inn (the Sea Bees restaurant next to the dive shop), and at 9.10 am we left for Chalong Pier where, once onboard, a final equipment check took place before MV Excalibur II set off for Koh Mai Thon.

This small island on Phuket’s south-east coast, with it’s beautiful sandy beaches and clear water, is a perfect spot for holidaymakers who want to escape the stresses and strains of modern life. The diving is suitable both for beginners and for those who just want to drift their way through a nice relaxing dive. The many small pinnacles offer a diverse range of marine life such as moray eels, nudibranchs, fusiliers and soldier fish - sometimes even razorfish are to be found bobbing gently just above the sand. Sea Bees only make occasional visits to the dive spots around Koh Mai Thon, when they want to avoid the congestion sometimes found on the busier sites or to offer their divers something a little bit different from the rest. During previous dives we realised that a thorough clean up was necessary to remove rubbish which our divers had begun to find there.

During our one hour journey to the site our tour leader Stefan gave a very detailed briefing about the dive site itself, and also about procedures for safely cleaning the reef without causing any damage to the corals, after which gloves and net-bags were distributed to all. Once the clean up began there was a steady stream of divers returning to the surface with full loads - almost every 5 minutes another net-bag appeared filled with beverage cans, nets, plastic bottles, shoes, flip flops etc. At one point even a large truck tyre was taken from the reef. Stefan, who was stationed on our dinghy, was very busy meeting all the dive teams to collect the rubbish until, after one hour of diving, two large barrels had been filled (not including the truck tyre which would not even fit). In all, about 100 kg of rubbish was collected.

On the way back to Phuket every participant received a Certificate of Recognition for their involvement in the International Coastal Cleanup Day, which was supported by SSI (Scuba Schools International), TDA Diving Association (Thailand) and Green Fins Thailand, which is affiliated to the United Nations.

After arriving back at the pier, everyone was treated to a drink at the Anchor Inn. All participants could clearly see the importance of the clean up and were very satisfied with the good work done on the day. All in all the event was a great success so thank you again to all participants - the environment will thank you for it on your next dive.

Welcome aboard.....

SSI Thailand welcomes three new Dive Centres on Koh Tao

SSI Thailand is happy to welcome three new Dive Centres on Koh Tao to the SSI Family.

Golden Diver, part of the Golden Travel group, joined SSI in August.

Sairee Cottage Divers opened in July and crossed over their four instructors, Trevor, Mick, Manuel and Dmo, in August and September.

New Heaven Dive School will crossover five instructors in early October.

Save Koh Tao Group

SSI, New Heaven Dive School and the Save Koh Tao group are working together to train SSI Dive Leaders and Instructors in the ECOLogical Monitoring Program (EMP) Specialty so divers and Dive Leaders all over Koh Tao can survey the transect lines and contribute invaluable information on positive and negative trends regarding marine life around Koh Tao’s islands.

For more information on the Marine Conservation Branch of the Save Koh Tao Group, visit: www.MarineConservationKohTao.com

BIO ROCKS !!!

19. September 2008: Construction of Koh Tao’s Second Biorock begins

Construction of Koh Tao’s Second Biorock named Hin Fai, which means Electric Rock in English, begins this week.

SSI Thailand encourages divers and Dive Leaders from all participating SSI Dive Centres and Resorts on Koh Tao to help and be as active as possible during construction of the Biorock.

All income from SSI’s ECOLogical Monitoring Program Specialty Courses conducted in Koh Tao will be donated directly back into projects of the Marine Conservation Koh Tao branch of Save Koh Tao.

The Biorock structure will be constructed in the gardens of SSI Dive Centre, Phoenix Divers, located at A.C. Resort in Sairee Beach, before being resituated at the dive site north of Sairee Beach in Koh Tao.

Lectures will be given in the evenings to promote environmental awareness and education of the Biorock activities.

Links

• Save Koh Tao Group’s Marine Conservation Branch - www.MarineConservationKohTao.com
• Biorock TM - www.biorock.net

Reuseable Ecological banners

Reusable vinyl banners available for beach and dive site clean-ups

The following 1.5m x 4.0m reusable vinyl banners are available for SSI Dive Centres to promote their own beach and dive site clean-ups.

Already, the following Dive Centres have taken advantage of this to help promote their own environmental activities:

• Big Blue Diving, Koh Tao
• Save Koh Tao Group, Koh Tao
• Sea Bees Diving, Phuket
• Blue View Divers, Koh Phi Phi

Information on these activities will appear here shortly.

Please also use the myEvents section to advertise your own Dive Centre’s environmantal activities.

If you would like to use the banners, please email info@ssithailand.com.

Training Oppurtunites

SSI Thailand is currently looking for candidates to be sponsored through an ECOLogical Mapping Programme course - EMP.

We are looking at training one person from every associated SSI Thailand school to Specialty instructor level.

The Instructor Course takes four days and teaches candidates how to set up ECOLogical Mapping Programmes and how to conduct on-going reef surveys.

So far three candidates have completed the course and all state they have an increased knowledge of reef structure and its on-going problems.

To start with, we are running this program in the Gulf of Thailand and will be looking at expanding to cover the Andaman coast and beyond over the next year.

Once trained, all certification revenue raised by SSI from EMP Specialty Course students will be directly reinvested into local environmental projects, hopefully setting a precedent for sustainable reef and environmental awareness projects.

Candidates must:

• Be an Active SSI Instructor or DiveCon;
• Be Associated with an Active SSI Dive Centre;
• Have a recommendation from Dive Centre manager/owner;
• Show commitment to offering ongoing EMP training.

Interested?

Email: gary@ssithailand.com

Shine on you Crazy Diamonds !!

SSI launches new global Dive Center Standards

For over 35 years SSI has stood for high quality training.

SSI only works with Dive Leaders now and in future who are affiliated with professional Dive Centers. Since the beginning SSI Dive Centers must provide a retail surrounding with regular opening hours and the business needs to be conducted with an approach of quality and professionalism.
The time has passed by and the market has changed driven by the needs of the modern customers. Based on that fact the Dive Center Standards have been completely revised and supplemented.

A new quality label was founded in this transition – The DIAMOND Status
The SSI Diamond Dive Center Status recognizes SSI Dive Centers that make a commitment to excellence and leadership in the categories of

• BUSINESS PRACTICES & ETHICS
• QUALITY ASSURANCE
• EDUCATION COMMITMENT
• CUSTOMER SERVICE
• DIVING PASSION.

Only Dive Centers recognized as the leaders in their marketplace can be considered for the SSI Diamond Dive Center rating.

Any Dive Center or Dive Resort can reach out for the DIAMOND Status regardless, if Instructor Training is offered or not. But the SSI DIAMOND DIVE CENTER rating is a privilege. All accounts are reviewed frequently to ensure they continue to meet or exceed the standards. SSI reserves the right to revoke the SSI Diamond rating, if the account, in SSI’s judgment, does not meet the standards.
The goal of the new Dive Center Standards is to provide more transparency in finding an outstanding Dive Center. In addition to that very ambitious SSI Partners get the chance to receive recognition for their performance.

Want a JOB ?

Event Calender & Job Placement ServiceEvent Calender & Job Placement Service

The new interactive Event Calender is available to all SSI Facilities and Resorts now. Just type in your Course Dates or Events and use the SSI Webpage as your marketing plattform to attract new clients. All data is live online immediately and the diver can customize the display of the calendar to his personal needs.

Start your personal Event Calender here: http://www.divessi.com/online-certification or click in the Menue on the left side on myEvents .

Additionally you can use the Job Placement Tool from now on, if you want to seek for new Team Members by using the SSI Website. Please be aware that the data concerning your person / facility will be published on the SSI Webpage and therefore it can be seen by a third party.

Start your new career here: http://www.divessi.com/myjobs or click in the Menue on the left side on myJobs .

New Course .

Indoor Diver – A new approach with SSI! SSI as one of the leading training agencies worldwide with more than 2000 Dive Centers and training materials in more than 25 languages presents as the first complete Indoor Training System. Diving is a very relaxing and at the same time exciting activity which is suitable for all age levels. But you may have never ever have thought of taking your complete training in an Indoor Dive Center during the cold season. This is now possible with the new SSI Indoor Diver Program and it provides a lot of advantages: People interested in diving can do a full diver training program any time regardless the season under ideal conditions After successful completion of the Indoor Diver Program divers can directly take their first Specialty Course Programs. By doing so they will be able to collect valuable diving experience and gain necessary comfort before they go to the open water the first time People who enjoy the feeling of diving and being weightless but who do not want to go in the open water at all can enjoy themselves and get the opportunity to live their diving dreams An upgrade to SSI Open Water Diver is possible any time and even on the next holiday. The update is very flexible so the divers will not feel that they have to do the same thing twice. All open water exercises can be redone throughout all four open water dives or they can be compressed in one dive so the divers have the chance to enjoy the other three. Just get your personal Open Water Diver Kit at your SSI Dive Center and make the first steps towards your new leasure activity. Your Kit contains a manual and a DVD which provides more background information, practical application and hints for an enjoyable entry into diving. There is a lot to discover as diving is only really fun with the right skills and in quality diving equipment. The Indoor Diver creates opportunities as after successful completion you can start new adventures straight away. You can continue your education and combine Specialty Course programs in areas like Digital Underwater Photography, Perfect Buoyancy, Equipment Techniques and Shark Diver. The possibilities are limitless and you do nothing twice as you can upgrade your status to Open Water Diver any time in one of the SSI Dive Centers around the world. Once the upgrade is done your “Indoor Specialties” count towards all other Continuing Education Ratings like Specialty Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver and Master Diver. Just get additional information about your possibilities at one of the 2000 SSI Dive Centers or directly from the SSI Headquarter. If you are interested in a personal counseling on training or the right equipment for your first watersports holiday – go and visit your SSI Facility nearby!

© 2006, 2007 SSI |		291

How much have you Done?

NEWS - 21. March 2007: SSI C-Card StatisticSSI C-Card Statistic

From now on you can view your personal c-card statistic when you logged in as a dive leader. Click the statistic function ON and just see your entire c-card history with one view. The certificates with adequate data quality from the previous years have been uploaded as well, so that you can get an overall picture of the entire c-cards you have issued.

Click here: http://www.divessi.com/ccard_status or click on myC-Cards in the Menue on the left side

NEWS - 20. June 2008: SSI Improves Dive Leader & Dive Center Download Area

Having the right documents at the right time is critical for success. Nobody wants to search for important information when it is needed immediately. To help better serve your needs, SSI has updated the Download Area structure and overview functions by adding an “Explorer Bar”.

This feature allows you to find what you want with just one click. The Download Area contains several language materials now and will be supplemented currently in order to provide you with the best possible service.

Folders & Content:

• SSI Dive Business International Magazine: All editions of the DBI Magazine in PDF format for Download
• SSI Downloads – Dive Leader: All Instructor Outlines, PEGs, Final Exams and necessary forms for all programs a Dive Leader is allowed to teach
• SSI Downloads – Divers: Screen Savers, Wallpapers and Multimedia Downloads for Divers
• SSI Forms – Dive Leader: Dive Leader Applications and all standards forms which you need to sign up a student for a program like Medical Questionnaires, Assumption of Risk and Liability Releases
• SSI Forms – Divers: RSTC Medical Guidelines for a Physician
• SSI Newsletters: The folder contains all editions of the Newsletters of the SSI Office you are affiliated to
• SSI Training Standards: The folder contains the most actual version of the Dive Center & Training Standards plus Standards Overviews and Equivalence Lists
• SSI Marketing Material: This business support folder is for Dive Centers only. It contains all web banners, logos, pictures, posters, flyers and advertisements in digital format to support SSI Dive Centers with their marketing efforts

They call this Work...!

Ok Now that O ring thingy is meant to be sticking out right..!

Gary Hawkes Director of SSI Thailand and Koen De Whit Owner and Instructor Certifier at Scuba Junction Koh Tao ,Have found another excuse to go and play with their cameras whilst pretending to be at work.

The new revised SSI Digital Photography Course.

DIGITAL UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY SPECIALTY COURSE Content:

• Your Entry to the Underwater Photography
• Your Digital Camera System
• Using your Camera System
• Taking digital pictures under water
• Composition of your underwater pictures
• Editing your digital pictures

The conditions where perfect with Vis exceeding 30 mtrs giving us both ample of time and practice opportunities to get that all important shot Besides with the knowledge from the editing section of the course any minor mistakes where easily rectified.......Now how do I photoshop a whaleshark in this picture ?

New Instructor Certifiers

Perttu, Olegs, Marcel at front Gary from SSI Thailand at the back

SSI has Three new Instructor certifiers.

After a week of final training with Colin Mckenzie of SSI Australia all the hard preparation the candidates had put in paid off.

Between them they can speak a mind boggling variety of languages..Russian, Dutch, Finnish English, German Thai To name a few.

Marcel Bruijs will be working out of Wicked Diving in Kow lak
bruijssie@hotmail.com Wicked Diving

Perttu Kivinen will be based at Koh Tao Divers Koh Tao
Perttu tu_1922@yahoo.com KohTao Divers

Olegs Eiduks from Russia is based on The island of Koh Chang
info@divessi.lv Kalypso Diving

SSI Thailand wishes them all the best for the future.

Thai IE

Khun Off taking a well deserved break

SSI Thailand run another IE on Koh Tao for Phoenix Divers keeping with our policy of small group size we would like to welcome new SSI Thai Instructor Weerawat Sanamthong known as Off on board and Sam Pennycook Also known as I am.

Both Candidates showed great professionalism throughout the two day IE and SSI Thailand is looking forward to seeing them both move through the Instructor ratings in the coming year.

Looking at becoming an SSI Instructor ? Dive SSI

Aquadivers Phuket

Simon Speight Instructor Certifier from Phuket Scuba Club has been busy again ...

This time crossing over more staff at Aquadivers in Phuket SSI Thailand welcomes them aboard and looks forward to working with them all in the future.

Andaman Coast Road Trip...

Khao Lak Beach

Gary and Donna Hawkes from SSI Thailand had a great road trip In February and March.
In all they visited over 60 dive centers including our existing customers and meeting new ones that will be crossing over in the next qtr.

Places visited included:

Khao Lak

They were happy to report that Khao Lak is having a great season with most reporting full bookings over the Christmas and new year period.This resort town has changed beyond recognition the last two years ,yet has still managed to keep its laid back charm and balance with nature particularly along its HUGE beach. SSI looks forward to returning in the low season to train more instructors and dive centers in the SSI system.

Phuket

Whilst in Phuket they met Beat to set up a new card distribution for the west coast meaning our customers can now issue INSTANT certifications a first for the industry in this region.We also enjoyed sometime with Simon Speight of Phuket Scuba Club at his beach front office enjoying the views and getting a tan.

Donna also spent a huge amount of time enjoying the shopping to be had on this cosmopolitan island.Gary tried to eat his weight at bakeries daily.

Koh Phi Phi

As always Phi Phi was a dream to visit and is one of those places you have to have to pinch yourself to make sure you are really there.Our customers there all report a good season and state the diving is better than ever with almost daily reports of leopard sharks. SSI has had great success here and is happy to report that we gain stronger here each season. Tobi the local IC from Phi Phi Scuba was busy teaching as always and was exited about teaching more dive control specialists on the island.As always Gary and Donna both made excuses to stay an extra day all for SSI Business of course.

More Vietnam crossovers.

From left to right, it’s Clive (Vinadive), Dmitry (Amigos Divers), Guy (Coco Dive Center), Peter (Octopus Diving) & Bertrand (Coral Reef Dive Center).

Al Stewart SSI Training Manager has returned from Nha Trang after successfully crossing over Instructors from Vina Dive - Amigos Divers -Coco Dive Center- Octopus Diving- Coral Reef Dive Center.

Vietnam continues to be a great growing market for SSI we expect the region will continue to grow and we see new changes to Nha Trang on every visit.

If you haven't been yet go check it out.The food is great (thanks mostly to the French ex- pats )
The accommodation a bargain, beaches are long and well kept,the locals are on the most part friendly and relaxed. Then theres the diving Vietnam has surprised us each time we head under water the critters are fantastic and the diversity is surprising.Maybe we have been lucky but each time we have ventured out we have had a respectable 15-20 mtrs of vis.

I for one cant wait to return for some more work if you can call it that.Its hard I Know but someone has to do it.

A New and Improved Multi language Digital instructor manual is now here to help you as an SSI dive professional better serve your Customers.
After listening carefully to our customers in the dive industry SSI Thailand has made many changes to name but a few.

• A totally different and easier user interface has been developed.
  
• New Advanced adventurer and Resort Diver outlines.
  
• More content meaning more value,latest version has more specialty outlines.
  
• Ease of use for the traveling instructor the 2008 version now includes Australian standards.
• A completely new section including ITC videos and transcripts.
• New and improved Stress and Rescue teaching aids.
  

We have also made the move away from plastic packaging and use recyclable card products from a renewable source instead.

New changes at the helm...

DOUG MCNEESE AND ROBERT STOSS TAKE THE HELM OF SSI WORLDWIDE AND ANNOUNCE AN EXCITING FUTURE FOR THE DIVING INDUSTRY

Fort Collins, Colorado – Scuba Schools International, the premier education and business support organization, announces a change in ownership. March 26, 2008 marked the official changing of the guard – Doug McNeese and Robert Stoss, two recognized industry experts, have joined forces to provide the company with a wealth of experience in all facets of the diving industry: Training, Retail, Manufacturing and International Business.

Doug McNeese (President and CEO) has been involved in the diving industry since the age of 10 when his family opened up their first dive store. In 1982 he purchased ‘The Dive Shop’ from his father and began the expansion of the company.

In 1993 Doug purchased NASDS and in late 1998 merged with SSI. Nine years following the merger, Doug is and will continue to be a driving force in the promotion of SSI Worldwide and strengthening its growth through retailers and manufacturers. Doug strongly believes that the “doorway to diving” is the retailer. His passion is to go beyond what has been done, bring more people into the sport and to make scuba diving a lifetime activity.

“In Europe, Asia and Australia, SSI Regional Centers are growing and gaining market share. In the USA successful retailers continue to join SSI based on a proven business model of creating divers and selling scuba equipment. Resorts in the Caribbean, Red Sea and Pacific are also joining the SSI Network so they can access the hundreds of thousands of SSI Divers around the world,” stated McNeese.

Robert Stoss (Chairman) has been actively involved in diving since 1977 as an avid diver, instructor and retail store owner. For 10 years, from 1987 to 1997, Robert had a successful career with Scubapro® with the final position of Vice President and Business Unit Manger of the North American Diving Division of Johnson Worldwide Associates in Racine, WI from 1993 – 1997.

A new opportunity led Robert back to Germany in 1997 where he purchased Seemann Sub®, a leading German manufacturer and importer for a full line of scuba diving equipment. Over the last 10 years, under Robert’s guidance, Seemann® has earned the reputation as the innovative leader in the price to value dive gear segment. In 2007, Seemann Sub was acquired by Johnson Outdoors.

“I joined the SSI Network in February of 2003 as the licensee of the newly formed SSI European Service Center. SSI Germany has since taken a leadership position in the European professional dive market and today is head to head with the leading agency in Dive Center membership,” says Stoss. “I am confident that this new partnership with Doug will create unique opportunities for SSI retailers, instructors and resorts worldwide.

The Clark family is leaving Scuba Schools International on a high note. From a worldwide perspective, the SSI brand is more widely recognized now than ever before. The company is in peak financial shape and beat its all time high sales and profit goals in 2007.

“We are very excited about the huge opportunities in the diving industry,” McNeese and Stoss continued. “All we can say is - prepare to be amazed.”

SSI Global Summit

SSI’S 2008 INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT: MOVING SUCCESSFULLY INTO THE FUTURE

During the second week of March, Scuba Schools International held its annual International Summit at the World Headquarters. Those in attendance were part of SSI’s Global Steering Committee. The Committee is made up of five territories - Europe, Australia, Asia, Latin America and North America. This group represents SSI’s 29 Worldwide Regional Centers. The goal of the Steering Committee is to provide a strategic direction for Scuba Schools International on a global level. The 2008 Summit was spent reviewing the overall strategic direction and confirming the consistency of SSI’s global effort. There was a buzz of excitement throughout the meeting based on the continued growth of SSI Dive Centers, Resorts and Instructors throughout all regions. During 2008 the main goal for SSI Worldwide is to continue providing solutions for the challenges that SSI Retailers and Resorts are facing in today’s highly competitive marketplace, as well as creating a framework to increase diver participation throughout the world. "SSI has spent the last 5 years expanding our worldwide strategy focused on combining education with equipment sales and dive travel. The result, successful retailers continue to join SSI based on a successful business model of creating divers and selling scuba equipment. In Europe, Latin America, Asia and Australia, SSI is growing and gaining market share. Resorts in the Caribbean, Red Sea and Pacific are also joining the SSI network so they can access the hundreds of thousands of SSI Divers around the world," stated Doug McNeese SSI Executive Director.

Records set...

SSI SETS NEW PERSONAL RECORD FOR RECYCLING

Scuba Schools International has always made a concerted effort to remind divers about the importance of being environmentally responsible while diving. This attitude is not just preached to others it is put into action every day at Scuba Schools International USA Headquarters.

SSI has taken the time and energy to implement recycling at the headquarters location, attend Eco-friendly community meetings and complete annual reports and assessments of progress. This month SSI received their recycling figures for 2007 and it showed huge advances from ’06 to ’07. SSI not only recycled more, they recycled a larger variety of items. The numbers included:
• Tons recycled - ’06 = .71, ’07 = 5.31
• Trees saved - ’06 = 12, ’07 = 90
• Pollution prevented - ’06 = 42 pounds, ’07= 318 lbs.
• Landfill space saved - ’06. 2.33 cubic yards, ’07 =17.51

Some of the things SSI does to be environmentally conscious includes: shipping orders using compressed brown paper for packing, buying cartons that fit top selling items to eliminate the need for packing, recycling all corrugated cardboard from incoming shipments, finding a demand for all wooden pallets so virtually none end up in the landfill, using environmentally friendly ballasts & bulbs throughout the administration building, donating leftover inventory to various industries and groups, as well as maintaining tight inventory control so very little waste ever makes it to the dumpster, recycling of all aluminum, plastic, newspaper, paper, magazines, and shrink-wrap plastic, providing a battery recycle service for employees, as well as an annual paint collection for disposal, weather stripping all exterior doors and bay doors, use of programmable thermostats throughout the office areas, one fax machine is stocked only with previously printed paper, 99% of notepaper used in the office is the reverse side of previously used paper, to name a few.

"Our philosophy is simply to impact the environment as little as possible while we conduct business. Anything we can do to keep the earth clean just seems to make sense. If it doesn’t end up in the water then we’ll have a clean place to dive. To me it just doesn’t make sense to put things in the landfill that can be reused," stated Linda Clark, SSI Director of Purchasing and Operations.

A busy Qtr.

November 2007

SSI would like to welcome the following schools to SSI Thailand.Khaow Lak: Sea bees ,Wicked diving ,Krabi:Scuba addicts, Aquavision. Phi Phi: Seafrog.

Once again Al stewart and IC Beat Druss have been busy develpoing new products and conducting crossovers.

SSI also conducted a successful IE on the west coast Well done to the new Instructors and welcome to SSI.

Gary Hawkes Director also returned from his SSI seminar in Australia hopefully he has gained as many new ideas as he has Kilos on this visit.

October 2007

The Andaman coast is getting into high gear.

The island of Koh Phi Phi is reporting that many new SSI divers are successfully completing there open water course.Tobias of Phi Phi Scuba is busy conducting more crossovers to help keep up with the demand for SSI professionals on this busy diving island.

Al Stewart our training manager has made the temporary move to Phuket to assist with start of the new 2007/2008 Andaman season.Al Stewart Training manager claims he will be busy with work, At SSI HQ we are convinced that he will be out diving the famous sites of the west coast Still its tough work but someone has to do it.


September 2007

After an excellent season for SSI in Vietnam, Turtle Dive became the latest dive centre in the popular resort town of Nha Trang to crossover to SSI.
Instructors from Angel Dive, Coral Reef Dive Center and Octopus Diving, also completed Instructor crossovers in Nha Trang, to contribute to the ever increasing number of SSI Dive Centres and Instructors in Vietnam.
Earlier this year, Instructor Certifier Neil Farmer and Training Manager Al Stewart conducted instructor crossovers for instructors for Coco Dive
Center and Octopus Diving.
Responding to demand from dive centres in Vietnam, SSI Thailand and SSI Australia are planning to conduct an Instructor Training Courses in Nha Trang early in the new year.

Nitrox at SJ

SSI Platinum dive school Scuba Junction has a nice new Nitrox system in place.


Koen or (K) has spent the time money and effort to be able to offer SSI divers the chance to dive on Nitrox giving there customers a prolonged safe diving experience.
In its first month the panel has been put to good use and SJ has successfully certified many SSI Nitrox divers.
K as an experienced instructor certifier will also be able to certify SSI instructors with the Nitrox instructor rating.

SSI Thailand wish Scuba Junction all the best with this new venture.

Phuket Scuba Club

On September the 16th Phuket Scuba Club owners Kevan and Chantal celebrated an industry milestone - 10 years in business!

SSI Thailand are proud to be working with PSC in the coming season, and look forward to some local diving (Kevans Favorite) right off the beach in front of PSC .If Lucky we will even see Ringo the shy Juvenile angel fish that there logo is based on

Simon Speight an experienced Instructor certifier with SSI has the hard task of being based at one of Phukets only beach based dive centers for the 2007/2008 season."Sunset here is particularly spectacular" states Simon with a grin on his face.

Also on September the 15th PSC members Joel, Rachel, Mick and Sharon joined up with other Phuket Dive Operators with the Underwater Reef Clean up.
Joel and Rachel had recently just graduated as SSI Open Water Instructors last month in Phuket with SSI Instructor certifier Simon T Speight - welcome to the family!

SSI Thailand is very happy to announce that we are now supporting PeunPa Foundation (Thai for friends of the wild) a member of the Wildlife Alliance.

This gives SSI a tremendous opportunity to promote conservation in an arena that affects us all, our oceans.
SSI is confident that our affiliated dive schools and instructors will embrace this partnership and take action where it counts - on a local level.
SSI will be working together with PeunPa to help our dive centers educate and support divers on :

· Responsible and environmentally sound dive practices.
· Responsible and environmentally sound Dive boats.
· Arranging beach and underwater cleanups.
· Whaleshark reporting.
· Coral reef preservation.
· Shark preservation and anti-finning.

To start our collaboration SSI have supported a campaign by PeunPa to warn people of the dangers and consequences of illegal wild life trade.

Keep an eye out for the message displayed at Suvannaphumi airport Bangkok.

So how can YOU get involved ?

1. Report illegal wildlife trade to the following hotline numbers 1136 or 1362

2. Work towards improving your impact on the marine environment

3. Stay informed; Check with SSI Thailand how to become a responsible and environmentally sound dive center.

4. Be responsive to conservation efforts and participate in some way. Check out PeunPa activities at www.wildlife-alliance.org or at www.PeunPa.org which is soon to be on-line.

Koh Tao clean up

On Friday 8th June 2007

SSI Thailand was delighted to see over 60 people from our partner dive schools Big Blue, Simple Life and Scuba Junction,actively take part in clearing both Sairee beach and Sairee dive sites.Master Scuba divers in Mae Haad had a successful clean up the week before covering Mae Haad beach by the Harbour.

On Friday one team spent the day taking advantage of a seasonal low tide to collect any plastics that had embedded in the shore line,taking care not to lift any coral encrusted bottles that may of become ad-hoc homes for the local marine life.

Another team complete with Kayak surface cover combed the local dive site to collect discarded rubbish.Amongst the more unusual finds were a toilet and a fuel tank!!!.

Most rubbish collected consisted of plastics that had drifted in shore from the ocean.

SSI Thailand would like to mention Darren Buckland SSI AOWI instructor who took the initiative to organise the clean up and done a great job at motivating everyone to get stuck in.

Well done to all involved from the team at SSI Thailand.

SSI Regional meeting

SSI regional meeting hosted by Mr Ed Christini from SSI USA in Bangkok.

The meeting was attended by all SSI service centers in the Asia pacific region.

All regions reported a sharp increase in Dive schools crossing over,meaning an even bigger demand fro SSI professionals. In Indonesia,Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia.

This clearly reflects the efforts made by all attending to set a new level of service within the dive industry,Quite simply we understand the different needs of our dive ctrs over this large region and can react quickly due to localised regional management.

This next year will be very exiting for SSI and our affiliated dive schools we thank you all for your support.

Good morning Vietnam

SSI have had great success in Vietnam this first quarter of 2007.

Following requests from Dive schools in Nha Trang The SSI team visited Vietnam .
During the visit SSI secured 6 new schools and has since conducted crossovers.

SSI are very exicted to have made good progress in this developing market.Vietnam is marked for a good future in the region with tourist arrivals and infastructure increasing every year.

Both SSI and our new dive ctenters are looking forward to working together, to both promote diving and ensure Quality instruction in Vietnam.

For more Details on SSI dive centres in Vietnam click here

http://www.ssithailand.com/dealers/#vietnam

SSI TXR Course run in Thailand.

Stewart ready to see whats down the line this time! "one of the advantages of co owning a Tech liveaboard is being the first to experience new wrecks It doesnt get better than this" Stewart Oehl.


Stewart is the first SSI Technical Instructor in Thailand.

MV Trident have been on the cutting edge of exploratory missions in the Gulf of Thailand, to date they have found countless new wrecks including the SS Lagarto a submarine lost in 70 mtrs of water following military action during the second world war.

As a direct result of their efforts Technical diving is really opening up in the Gulf most if not all of the wrecks found are of great historical interest and are virgin wrecks,a veritable feast for the experienced or new tech diver.

Gary Hawkes Director for SSI Thailand stated " To have the team at Trident embrace our new range of Tech programmes is fantastic news,All parties involved feel that the modular nature of this new programme, and the chance to use normoxic trimix up to 18/30 during training offer the potential Tech student a wide range of both experience and new challenges.Tech diving is not for everybody but if it is of interest what a team to learn from"

SSI Technical dive programmes

SSI Technical Extended Range - TechXR

SSI will enter the technical diving market with the official launch of the SSI Technical Extended Range program. It will be abbreviated as "TXR". The TXR product launch includes four courses which are: Technical Foundations, Decompression Procedures, Normoxic Trimix, and Advanced Decompression. Let's Go Xtreme!

Xtreme Excitement
SSI's TechXR programs were created to take the recreational diver to an extreme level for their diving adventures. Whether you want to look for the excitement of deep reef diving or the thrill of exploring wrecks located well past 40m (130 feet), taking the SSI TechXR Program is a way to acquire the training and experience necessary to complete every new adventure with confidence and skill.
Whatever your current diving ability is, extended range diving will challenge you with environments, depths, bottom times, procedures, and equipment not commonly encountered by recreational divers. You will be experiencing advanced levels that require extensive knowledge, enhanced diving skills, and considerable experience.

Want to find out more? email info@ssithailand.com

Shark Project .org

SSI is very happy to announce that we have a new and exiting specialty in partnership with SHARK PROJECT.

SSI have pledged to donate 10% of the income generated by this specialty directly to SHARK PROJECT, This will also mean participants of the course are supporting the survival of the very creatures they are learning about.

Experience the fascination and gracefulness of these amazing diverse creatures in a an unforgettable way!

Divers and non divers have the chance to learn more about sharks there behavior, there fragile existence, there diversity and there important place in the fragile ecosystem that makes up our worlds oceans.

Most importantly divers will be able to use there new found knowledge on future dives ,

SSI — SHARKPROJECT and YOU the diver can make a difference!

www.sharkproject.org

SSI gives Donation to Local school for enviromental projects

In Febuary SSI Thailand where proud to be a sponser for the Koh Tao Underwater world festival.

Unlike previous years where a direct donation was made to the festival commitee SSI was asked to help the local school.

The Koh tao island school consisting of 27 children have pledged to use the money for education on enviromental issues that affect our lifes now and the kids in the future.

Allready the local kids have been involved in beach clean ups,Coral studys,recycling,and helping to persuade others on the misuse of plastic bags they are now encouraging people on the island to reuse the plastic bags and help stop them ending up in our precious Oceans. Furthermore some kids are even getting wet in Scuba gear thanks to the generous support of local dive ctrs.

SSI applauds this action and feels that the young minds are the best hope for ensuring the enviroment can be enjoyed for generations to come.

We are proud to be involved and thank the local school for the oppurtunity.