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Cruise NewsRoyal Caribbean Becomes Only Cruise Line Offering Certified Scuba Lessons

Royal Caribbean Becomes Only Cruise Line Offering Certified Scuba Lessons

Royal Caribbean International has become the only cruise line in the world to offer their guests the opportunity to become certified scuba divers as part of their cruise vacation.

Ten different Royal Caribbean cruise ships now have onboard PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) Five Star Dive Centers on board.  PADI is the world’s most respected and recognized organization in recreational scuba diver training and certification.

Adventure seekers can dive in, exploring hundreds of storied shipwrecks in destinations like St. Thomas and the British Virgin Islands, and some of the most vibrant and renowned coral reefs across the Caribbean, including the Belize Barrier Reef, the second largest barrier reef in the world.

Royal Caribbean’s partnership with PADI opens up a vast underwater world for guests. Whether a newbie or experienced diver, Royal Caribbean offers a range of programs from a 30-minute Try Dive program, for those just wanting to get their feet wet, to PADI’s Reactivate™ Program for certified divers wanting a refresher; prices starting at $29 and $59 per person, respectively. Those seeking the ultimate scuba dive vacation can enroll in PADI’s Open Water Diver course to earn their complete scuba diving certification, starting at $599 per person.

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The premiere scuba course begins at home with the online course using either the PADI Touch™ app for mobile devices or PADI eLearning® online for desktop and laptop computers, leaving more time for the fun of scuba diving while on vacation. Once on the high seas, divers will test the waters in the ship’s pool before heading out to complete the four mandatory, open-water training dives in some of the world’s most spectacular underwater surroundings.

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The training dives will be split among two different ports of call, allowing for maximum sightseeing in the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean or South Pacific. Upon returning home, guests will be certified scuba divers able to plan and execute dives on their own and have the stories to share about the aquatic world they’ve recently discovered.

Guests looking to immerse themselves in the beauty of the ocean and wonder of marine life can book their PADI course before boarding through the Cruise Planner, or while on board at one of the Royal Caribbean-exclusive PADI Five Star Dive Centers found on 10 ships across the fleet, including Oasis-, Freedom- and Voyager-class ships, as well as Quantum-class’ Anthem of the Seas. PADI is the world’s most respected and recognized organization in recreational scuba diver training and certification.

Roberta Jacoby, managing director, Global Tour Operations at Royal Caribbean Cruises, gave the following statement: “For the past 16 years Royal Caribbean has worked closely with PADI to develop our onboard dive program. 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.”

The PADI dive centers can be found on Oasis, Freedom, and Voyager class cruise ships, as well as Anthem of the Seas.

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Ben Souza
Ben Souza
Ben is a world traveler who has visited 40+ countries, taken over 70 cruises. He is one of USA TODAY's experts for their 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. His writings have appeared and been cited in various media outlets such as Yahoo News, MSN, NPR, CNN, Fox, and ABC News. Ben currently resides in Cincinnati, Ohio. Follow Ben on Instagram. Visit Ben Souza on Linkedin. You may email Ben at [email protected].
Cruise NewsRoyal Caribbean Becomes Only Cruise Line Offering Certified Scuba Lessons

1 COMMENT

  1. I achieved my PADI OW and Advanced Open Water certs on the MS Paul Gauguin.

    Current description: “Float effortlessly over rainbow-colored coral reefs and come nose to nose with parrotfish, clownfish, giant clams, and sea turtles. Dive deeper to swim alongside colorful sea anemones, eagle rays, sharks, and octopi. Polynesia’s translucent, shimmering aqua lagoons are begging to be explored. And there’s no better place to do so than from the m/s Paul Gauguin’s retractable watersports marina, where you can embark on an optional SCUBA adventure.

    Even if you have never SCUBA dived before, as a guest aboard The Gauguin, you can witness spectacular marine life up close and swim among beautiful, rainbow-colored coral reefs within a matter of hours. The Gauguin’s SCUBA diving excursions are designed for all levels of experience, and we offer PADI certification on board for novice divers, as well as refresher courses.”

    So- are you really the “Only Cruise Line in the World” offering PADI OW certifications?

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