Experience the Thrill of Diving in the Caribbean

There are multiple ways we can point you in your certification process. From 100% completion on resort to 100% completion at home and everything in between, there’s the perfect solution just for you.

Did you know that not only are there multiple ways to get certified, but there are multiple companies to be certified with? Once certified, you will be able to dive at most locations around the world! The two options are PADI Certified or SSI Certified (and no, that’s not supplemental security income.). PADI stands for Professional Association of Diving Instructors while SSI stands for Scuba Schools International. Both offer certification in diving and sometimes it simply comes down to what you want to do with your certification later down the road and if you would like to teach or lead your own dives in which one you choose. With PADI you are able to teach anywhere, but with SSI you have to be part of a registered SSI diving center. Is all of this going over your head? It went over mine at first too. Don’t worry though! Later down the road when you’re a pro at diving, you have the ability to switch from one to the other. Whichever way you choose we will provide links to their websites so you can DIVE in and get started.  

1. 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.)

2. 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)

3. The fun part of all the 3 test is the one our clients typically wait to do until they are on Resort. This is the portion on a lake or in the ocean! You must complete 4 “checkout dives” with your instructor and you’ll once again work on everything you’ve learned so far. Don’t worry! They won’t immediately drop you down to 90 feet and expect you to master it all. That requires additional certification down the road. They will start you off in a shallower area (up to 40 feet) and as your skills improve and you have more dives under your belt, along with continuing education and your depth. (Cost is $200 and up)

All 3 steps combined are known as your “Open Water Certification”.  

Some clients choose to do all 3 at home with a local scuba shop. Other clients choose to do all 3 at Sandals or Beaches. The 2 most preferred routes our clients usually take is to either take the e-learning & pool learning at home and do the dive portion on location OR do the e-learning and home and do the pool and dive portion on location. The driving factor in which one our clients choose is time. Keep in mind 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, then although time consuming, it would make sense to use the pool and instructors right there on resort. 

We do suggest that whichever route you chose that you connect with your local dive shop for all the things you may need and questions you will have down the road. Mask and fin preferences are unique to you and in order to be fitted well, we suggest trying them all out in person. While Sandals and Beaches Resorts do provide you with ALL the gear necessary to dive, you will find that the more frequently you dive the pickier you become and the more you want your own things that match your preferences. (I have a favorite set of fins and my mask that I take everywhere I go in the Caribbean.) There are so many different kinds of masks and fins you could go insane trying to figure it all out on your own, especially with no experience. Our local dive shop allowed us to rent their gear for 48 hours to not only see what gear we would like, but gave us a credit towards our purchase of our gear. One of the basics on a mask is whether you want a clear skirt or a black skirt.  Do you want a wide panoramic view or a shortened view? Now fins. Do you want short fins, long fins, split fins? It can all be overwhelming and that is where your local shop will become your best friend. They’ll get you all set up and then you can give us a call to keep scheduling your Sandals / Beaches vacations to get yourself immersed in ocean water as frequently as possible.

Diving is not a sport for the faint of heart, nor is it cheap. Diving is one of the most expensive sports on the planet, but it is also one of the most rewarding. If you become certified at home you’re looking at $600 and up. If you choose to be certified at Sandals, the cost starts between $380-$500 depending on if you completed anything at home. If you dive at Sandals you also don’t have the added cost of mask, fins, dive watch, weights, regulator, tank, and so forth. The cost of your room includes unlimited daytime diving and you’ll soon realize the massive value Sandals offers so you can continue to experience the underwater paradise the Caribbean has to offer!

Sandals has the perfect solution for you! They have a one time “Discover Scuba Diving Experience” for 3 hours available to you on resort for $140! The cost includes 1 theory/classroom session, 1 pool skill session, and 1 open water dive at a max depth of 40 feet.

Time is valuable and so is your vacation. Sandals utilizes PADI requirements. 3 to 4 mornings to complete and 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. Whether you spend your time snorkeling, snuba-ing or diving, you’ll never want to leave. Your vacations will become too far apart and you’ll day dream of getting back to the Ocean where it’s just you, some dive buddies and the underwater world around you.

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

As your Certified Sandals Specialist, we can book your scuba diving classes on resort for you ahead of time! You’re running out of excuses to to push this off, so may we recommend you follow your heart, make the appointment and learn to dive in the underwater paradise located at every Sandals and Beaches location!