Exciting Cruise Travel Opportunities for Divers

PHOTO: Silversea Expeditions’ Silver Discoverer and Zodiac. (Photo courtesy of Silversea)

Perhaps it’s a fascination with the film “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” or simply the allure of swimming among tropical fish and other marine fauna in their natural habitats that makes scuba diving an intriguing hobby. Either way, it’s one that can now be accommodated quite nicely on a number of cruises.

In fact, when I last sailed on Silversea Expeditions in exotic Micronesia, I had wished I was certified. The diving program offered on the Silver Discoverer was complimentary and continues to be so on a number of specialty sailings.

On my particular cruise, shipwrecks leftover from World War II were even on the agenda. While it was a treat to see a number of abandoned relics on land, as a maritime buff, I would have loved to have seen those below the surface as well.

Silversea features dives in a depth range between 15 and 25 meters led by the expeditions team and dive masters. Participants need to hold an Advanced Open Water Dive License or equivalent from an accredited Certification Agency, be actively diving within 12 months of the cruise and have Medical Dive Travel Insurance for evacuation, medical treatment and repatriation.

The program is free, but early reservations and registration are recommended as the program is limited and can fill up fast. The cruise line provides weight-belts, tanks, masks and fins, but guests are required to bring their own BCD vests and regulators. Opportunities abound in Indonesia, Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia.

Meanwhile, for those who are not yet diving and closer to home, Royal Caribbean International offers PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) educational programs and Five Star Dive Centers onboard ten of its ships. This affords guests the chance to become certified during their cruise while also providing dives in the likes of St. Thomas and the British Virgin Islands, as well as even the Belize Barrier Reef.

Programming begins with a 30-minute Try Dive experience from only $29 per person or a Reactivate Program refresher from $59 per person. More extensive complete certification can be had starting at $599 per person. The course opens in the onboard pool and extends to four mandatory, open-water training dives across two separate ports for the greatest sightseeing variety in the Caribbean or South Pacific.

“For the past 16 years, Royal Caribbean has worked closely with PADI to develop our onboard dive program,” said Roberta Jacoby, managing director, Global Tour Operations at Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. in a press release.

“No other cruise line offers the opportunity for guests to become PADI certified scuba divers as part of the cruise, making it an ultimate dive trip as well. When guests sign up for the PADI Open Water Diver Course, they receive first-rate training and diver certification, performing their own scuba dives amidst the beautiful and serene waters of multiple Caribbean destinations and the South Pacific.”

Royal Caribbean’s program is featured aboard its Oasis, Freedom and Voyager-class ships, as well as Quantum-class’ Anthem of the Seas.

Rounding out other recent cruise and dive combo opportunities is Star Clippers in Thailand and Bali. From May 2017 to October 2017 and in the winter season, the sailing ship specialist will feature the corals and shallow reefs of the Far East and Indonesia with a certified diving instructor on board, allowing guests the chance to dive in the remote destinations.

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Exciting Cruise Travel Opportunities for Divers

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