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.


Media Contact:    Suzanne Fletcher, marketing@ssiusa.com