Experience the Thrill of Diving in the Caribbean

 Did you know there are multiple ways & multiple companies you can get certified with? Once certified, you will be able to dive at most locations around the world! The two options are 

1. PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors)
2. SSI (Scuba Schools International)

Whichever one you choose, click our links above to visit their websites. Be sure to print out the medical questionnaire ahead of time and have it signed by your doctor if needed. That way you can dive in and get started.  

Wondering how much time it takes to get certified? Time is valuable and so is your vacation. Sandals utilizes PADI requirements. It takes 3 to 4 mornings to complete your certification and then you’ll be off and running to the loyalty office so you can you book your next trip while on Resort, but you can also save money with their loyalty discount! 

WARNING: The Ocean is addictive! 

Diving is one of the most expensive sports on the planet, but it is also one of the most rewarding. 

There are various ways you can become certified. One factor on where you get certified is the time of year you do your classes. If you plan on getting certified in Alaksa before you head to warmer waters, you won't want to do your open water certification in January.

Local dive shops typically run $500 & up for your book work, pool work and open water tests.

Did you know you can complete all, or part, of your dive certification at a resort? Sandals and Beaches Resorts offer dive certification from $380-$500* where you can complete your dive certification. The cost varies depending on how much, if any, you completed at home or wish to do on resort.

*prices subject to change

E-Learning.  This is the book test. I know, I know! For those who didn’t enjoy school, you will still like this course. It teaches you all the things you need to know, some that will scare you at first, and some that make the lightbulb above your head ding in bright colors at the realization of why you overhear divers talk about certain things they do. (Example - compressed air vs Tri-Mix). E-Learning can be done from the comfort of your own home, in a classroom at a scuba shop, or even at Sandals! If you study from home you have the flexibility of time on your side to study as long as you would like to. On Resort you are limited to the length of your vacation. (Typical completion time is 5-10 hours and is roughly $230 depending on where you complete your e-learning.)

Pool learning. Once you’ve completed and passed the written test AND you have either passed their medical questionnaire or gotten written approval on their form from your doctor you get to move onto the pool fun! This can be completed with your local dive shop or on location at most Sandals/Beaches Resorts. The pool learning is where you get to put all the knowledge you gained during step 1 into action. You put all the gear on, get in the pool and go through all the ”things” with your certified instructor. Their goal is to get you comfortable with your gear and any emergencies that may happen before you leave the pool and later live test you on each skill. Your pool day is a full day, so don’t schedule it the day before you leave on vacation. For starters you cannot dive within 24 hours of flying and secondly you will be exhausted before your exhausting travel day even starts. (Cost is roughly $200 depending on where you complete your learning)

Some of our clients we book choose to do all 3 at home with a local scuba shop. Other clients of ours choose to do all 3 at Sandals/Beaches Resorts. 

The 2 preferred ways our clients like to become certified are:

1. Take the e-learning & pool learning at home and do the dive portion on location 
2. Take the e-learning at home and do the pool and dive portion on location. 

The driving factor is time on resort and weather at home. You cannot fly 24 hours before or after a dive, your first and last day on vacation are gone. If you’re only taking a 5 day vacation, spending the majority of your vacation in classroom scenarios isn’t really fun. The other driving factor on whether you do the pool portion with a local dive shop or on resort is where you live. If you don’t have a scuba shop near you, or live where it snows, then although time consuming, it would make sense to use the pool and instructors right there on resort. 

Dive Gear is expensive. If you plan on diving once or twice a year, or aren't even sure if you'll like it, buying all the gear can be daunting.

Did you know that if you book a Sandals or Beaches stay with us you won't have the added cost of a mask, fins, dive watch*, weights, regulator, tank, and so forth. The cost of your room includes unlimited daytime dives. The massive value Sandals offers by including the underwater paradise of the Caribbean is second to none!

We do suggest that regardless of which route you chose that you connect with your local dive shop. They are a wealth of knowledge and excellent source for gear down the road. 

*dive watches are mandatory at some locations and can be rented on resort.

Sandals doesn’t just offer beginner classes! They also offer Advanced Open Water Diver Certification and Rescue Diver Certification! Time requirements are 5 classroom lessons, 5 pool lessons, and 4-5 open water dives. All of this can be completed in 3-4 mornings which leaves you the rest of the day to enjoy your vacation as you so choose! But wait, there’s more!

• Daily dives are guided and range in depth from 20 to 100 feet. 
• You may dive twice a day with a single tank OR once a day with double tanks.
• All top of the line equipment is provided, including masks, fins, tanks, BCD, regulators, and weight belts at no additional charge. (Equipment brands include Luxfer or Catalina tanks, Scubapro Regulators and Deep Blue Fins)
• Wetsuits are available at most locations to rent at an additional cost
• There are as many as 30 different dive sites at each location!
• Wreck and night dives are available at an additional cost
• Sandals allows you to dive every day except for departure day

Additional classes: (prices subject to change)

• Advanced Open Water Diver $380
• Emergency First Responder $150
• Adventure Diver $300
• Rescue Diver $620 & more

When you compare the cost of diving at other resorts -vs- Sandals, there's no comparison. 

Here's what Sandals and Beaches Resorts include in their stay for divers:

• Daily dives range in depth from 20 to 100 feet. 
• You may dive twice a day with a single tank OR once a day with double tanks.
• All top of the line equipment is provided, including masks, fins, tanks, BCD, regulators, and weight belts at no additional charge. (Equipment brands include Luxfer or Catalina tanks, Scubapro Regulators and Deep Blue Fins)
• Wetsuits are available at most locations to rent at an additional cost
• There are as many as 30 different dive sites at each location!
• Wreck and night dives are available at an additional cost. You can dive 4-5 times per day if you wish!
• Sandals allows you to dive every day except for departure day
• Dive computers may be required and can be rented on resort.
• Expert dive instructors and captains.

Scuba diving at Sandals Resorts truly offers you the very best in equipment, staff and unbelievable dive sites – all included! 

• Regulators (Top-of-the-line ScubaPro® regulator, featuring Mk 2 first stage with R-295 second stages. Regularly serviced and maintained by ScubaPro® trained technicians to ensure safety and efficiency.)

• BCD’s

• Masks (silicone) & snorkels

• Fins (Deep Blue Fins®, a rising star in the industry, providing comfortable fit due to their easy full foot design, and great for diving in the tropics.)

• Tanks (Luxfer® and Catalina® tanks are maintained with high standards and visually inspected annually and hydro-tested every 5 years to certify structural integrity and safety.)

• Weight belts (system includes nylon webbed fabric with molded weight, encased in rubber tight material for comfort.)

• 42' Twin Diesel Newton boats. (view Sandals boat fleet here)

Once you know which type of dive(s) you'd like to do (rated from Novice to Master) it's time to pick your resort. 

Sandals (adults only) Resorts are located in:

Antigua (1 resort)

Bahamas (1 resort)

Barbados (2 resorts)

Curacao (1 resort)

Grenda (1 resort)

St Lucia (3 resorts)

Jamaica (7 resorts)

St Vincent & the Grenadines (1 resort)

Beaches (family friendly) Resorts are located in:

Jamaica (resort)

Turks & Caicos (1 resort)

Bahamas (coming soon)

Barbados (coming soon)

Want to check out each resort? Head over to our Sandals and Beaches pages for more info!  If you think their diving program is inclusive, you'll be blown away at everything else included in your stay.

The best way to teach your children about nature is to expose them to it on a regular basis. What better way to teach ocean sustainability, wildlife preservation and good steward habits than to immerse them in the ocean itself?

Beaches is excited to roll out a new program aimed specifically for junior learners. Currently available at Beaches Negril, Beaches hopes to expand the program soon to Beaches Ocho Rios and Beaches Turks & Caicos

The programs are designed so kids can learn about the underwater world of the Caribbean, with a variety of PADI® programs developed to teach them about scuba diving and preserving the underwater environment.

All programs are available at an additional cost to your stay.

The Beaches “Ocean Explorer” Kids Program is designed to engage children aged 8-12 in a week of action-packed fun-filled activities. Each adventure provides knowledge about the underwater world, how to protect it, and provides environmental projects where families can participate. Each program fosters responsibility and respect for the aquatic realm.

At the end of the program, your child will receive an Ocean Explorer rash guard, a child logbook with stickers, a certificate of participation, Scuba Diver and Project Aware certifications (for Dolphin Explorers) and take part in an ocean cleanup with their families. To wrap up a week with of learning there will be an exciting graduation ceremony right on the beach!

Scuba Gear used: Children will use all of the basic scuba gear, specifically designed to fit their size and stature. 

Beaches is excited to teach every child about the importance of protecting and preserving the underwater environment. Introducing your child to the beauty and wonder the sea has to offer. Project A.W.A.R.E. does just that and so much more for a unique experience of a lifetime!

• Time: 1 hour
• Max Depth: n/a
• Experience: Learn hands-on ways to help safeguard the planet’s oceans, participate in shoreline cleanups, water conservation and recycling, and discover a whole new world filled with coral reefs, whales, sharks and so much more.
• Location: beach
• What's Included: Aquatic Book AWARE Kid Teacher’s Guide and DVD, young environmentalists gain all the information and tools they need to help save the day!

Age: able to read and commprehend

(check to see if this is also available at your local dive shop!)

Is your child ready to blow bubbles? It's time to introduce them to scuba diving! Under the direct care and supervision of PADI instructors, let your child take their first breath underwater, and learn about (and use) scuba diving equipment made for them, not you.

• Time: 1 hour
• Max Depth: 6 feet
• Experience Level: comfortable in water, but don't need to be advanced swimmers
• Location: Pool 
• What's Included: basic scuba gear, memento of their time (memento  includes: a kid-sized beach towel, log book, certificate, temporary tattoo emblem and a Bubblemaker “action figure.”)

Age: 8+

(check to see if this is also available at your local dive shop!)

You're in the Caribbean, why not let your child take advantage of the incredible knowledge and experience of Beaches PADI-trained professional staff?

• Time: 1-3 hours/day
• Max Depth: 6-8 feet
• Experience: Basics of diving on a set of five AquaMissions to learn safe diving practices, dive with flashlights, master underwater photography, float like an astronaut, search & recovery, buoyancy control, night pool dive & more
• Location: Pool
• What's Included: Scuba gear, memento DVD, an Activity Book, and Log Book Pages

Age: 8+

(check to see if this is also available at your local dive shop!)

Beginner Program (Age 8-10)

Kids will learn the following skills:

• 10 aqua missions
• Obstacle courses 
• Skin diving skills (a/k/a freediving) 
• Snuba Adventure

Beginner with Water Experience (Age 8-12)
Kids will learn the following skills:

• Snorkeling
• Snuba
• Blow underwater buttles
• Scuba skills learned in Seal Team Program
  

Water Experience/ Project Aware & Junior Scuba Certified (Age 10-12)
Kids will learn the following skills:

• Skin diving (a/k/a Freediving)
• Conduct a Project Aware specialty
• Become a Junior Scuba Diver
  

Smaller student to instructor course

• Covers the same material as the Padi Open Water Diver Course
• Smaller student to instructor ratios
• Shallower depth limits

Age: 10-15

Guided SNUBA Doo adventure. No training or pool classes are required for this safe, patented system consisting of a long air-line that is harnessed to a raft and supervised by a trained instructor. Descend under the sea to enjoy the fun of breathing underwater without the heavy equipment. You'll get an up-close look at the Caribbean's diverse marine ecosystem teeming with exotic fish and vibrant coral reefs. 

Age: 6-7

Save time by downloading and completing the applicable waivers for your child to participate in each activity. Present these at the resort Aqua Center upon check-in. 

• Turtle Explorer Program
• Stingray Explorer Program
• Dolphin Explorer Program