I can report a different experience. My wife and I got our classroom/pool training in Northern California, and our open water cert. in La Paz, Mexico. We used Buceo Carey dive shop, and couldn’t have been happier. We had the divemaster all to ourselves for the entire time, and dove with him for a couple of days after certification. He was patient and very helpful. We got our SSI permanent certification card sent to us through the LDS with no problems at all. This was about 12 years ago.