By
Rebecca Gibson |
Royal Caribbean International has become the first cruise line to offer Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Five Star Dive Centers onboard 10 of its ships.
Guests will be able to choose various programmes, ranging from a 30-minute Try Dive lesson to PADI’s Reactivate Program for certified divers wanting a refresher.
In addition, guests can opt for PADI’s Open Water Diver course to earn their complete scuba diving certification. This starts with an online course at home using either the PADI Touch app or PADI eLearning, the guests are able to practice their dives onboard the ship before completing four mandatory, open-water training dives. The training dives will be split between two different ports of call, allowing for maximum sightseeing in the Caribbean or South Pacific.
“For the past 16 years Royal Caribbean has worked closely with PADI to develop our onboard dive programme,” said Roberta Jacoby, managing director of Global Tour Operations at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “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.”
PADI courses can be booked before boarding or while onboard at one of the PADI Five Star Dive Centers found on ships in the Oasis, Freedom and Voyager classes, as well as onboard Anthem of the Seas.