SCUBA Diving Shore Excursions

blueliner · #1 (**permalink**) July 14th, 2007, 07:12 PM

Has anyone taken the "Beginners SCUBA Diving" shore excursion in Grand Caymen? I will be going on the Carnival Liberty this October and will have completed the PADI open water SCUBA divers course here locally that includes the pool training. To complete the certification, I need 4 open water dives that my school says I can do while in the Caribbean (they will give me the referral paperwork), but what does this shore excursion entail? We're only in Grand Caymen from 7a to 4p, so I'm not sure that will be enough time to get the required 4 dives in. I'd hate to come back from my cruise and not have the requisite dives needed. Am I better off to skip the ship's shore excursion and contact a local dive company in Grand Caymen and just go with them, or will the beginners SCUBA diving shore excursion get me the required 4 open water dives?

nstokes7989 · #2 (**permalink**) July 22nd, 2007, 08:54 AM

I doubt you will have time to complete 4 open water dives while in port
I did the dives in Grand Cayman and it was awesome.
BUT, the excursions are typically 2 tank dives....say a reef dive then a wreck dive.

Try to find a local place to do your check out dives before you leave for your cruise.

drew sailbum · #3 (**permalink**) July 31st, 2007, 08:02 PM

To complete you PADI Open water certification you need to complete 4 training dives. PADI standards impose a maximum of 3 training dives per day.

The shore excursions offered by cruise lines will not suit your needs. You need to coordinate with local dive contractors in the various islands.

LisaK · #4 (**permalink**) August 1st, 2007, 11:17 AM

blueliner you do NOT want to take the "Beginners SCUBA diving excursion, that would be taking a step backwards from your PADI training. I am not 100% sure on this one, but if your ship offers PADI certification courses, that it what you want to look into doing, you get the waiver from your local dive instructor so that you don't have to do the pool work onboard the ship, all you do is go on the excursions to get your certification. Have your TA look into this for you. It would entail a dive at each port to get certified i believe.