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When scuba aficionados select
the choicest dive locations, the Caribbean consistently
makes the cut. The area is blessed with excellent
underwater visibility, warm water temperatures
and an abundance of marine life and dive sites
that appeal to both beginners and seasoned divers.
Most impressive is the wide range of treasures
to be found: wondrous shipwrecks, dramatic drop-off
wall sites, drift dives galore, underwater cave
adventures, shore and boat diving.
On the conservation side, the Caribbean is devoted
to the preservation of the underwater environment.
It has a host of protected marine parks with thriving
aquatic life. indeed, the area offers the most
varied examples of tropical marine life imaginable,
including anglefish, barracuda, crabs, dancing
eels, goat fish, grouper, lobster, octopus, parrot
fish, seahorses, sea turtles, sharks, snappers,
spiny puffers, and stingrays.
Get with the Program
Every Sandals and Beaches Resort
has dive facilities that appeal to both beginners,
who probably don't know a regulator from a wet
suit, and experienced certified divers. What
does the program include? Just about everything.
There's a variety of dives to suit your every
whim, a trained professional staff who lead
all dives and provide instruction, a high-quality
line of Cressi SUB equipment, a resort course
for non-certified divers [a fee applies], and
PADI (Professional Association of Dive instructor
s) or NAUI (National
Association of Underwater Instructors) certification
courses, available for an additional fee.
"We're extremely proud of the professional dive program that we've
built over the years," remarks Noylis Amair, group
director of water sports for Sandals and Beaches Resorts. "Our aim is to get our guests excited
about the program and turn them on to this terrific
adventure sport."
The Scuba program is as popular as ever. Approximately 3,000 guests
per property take the resort course each year.
The three hour class is usually conducted in a
separate scuba-certification pool. Lessons include
a medical questionnaire, 25-meter swim, basic
scuba instruction, and hands-on training in mask
clearing, regulator recovery, fin pivot, buoyancy
checks, and full-gear swimming. Diving begins
the day after course completion.
Site Seeing
 With
two guided dives – ranging in depth from 20 to
90 feet – scheduled per day (there are night dives as well, for
a nominal fee) at each Sandals and
Beaches Resort, there are plenty
of underwater adventures to anticipate. Certified
divers can dive twice per day; non-certified divers
dive once daily after completing the resort course.
Since there's so much to see, we've prepared a
page listing a few popular
dive sites and sightings.
Safety Standards
While enjoying your dive may be the No. 1 priority, safety is just
as important. Every water-sports staff member
is a certified lifeguard and is trained in CPR
and first air. In case of emergency, hyperbaric
chambers are located near every Sandals and Beaches
Resort.
Sandals and Beaches also work closely with Divers Alert Network or
DAN®, a nonprofit medical and research organization
dedicated to the safety and health or recreational
scuba divers. DAN provides Sandals and Beaches'
dive instructors with training in emergency procedures
and oxygen use. Additionally, they conduct medical
seminars throughout the year for all dive staff.
Special safety events are also on tap. Notable
among them is the annual weeklong dive festival
hosted by DAN and Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort
& Spa. The event combines educational dive forums
with the chance to scuba dive in exotic waters.
Renowned experts address diving safety, medical
information, and other dive-related topics such
as hazardous marine life and underwater photography.
Protecting our Playground
As the largest dive operator in the Caribbean, Sandals and Beaches
are dedicated to protecting the living seas. "We
have a mandate to be environmentally responsible and
recognize that the sea is a precious place," says Amair. "Sandals
and Beaches do whatever it takes to support local
marine parks and ensure that environmental sensitivity
comes first." To
that end, all guests who choose to dive are briefed
on the importance of protecting the seas and are advised not to remove
anything or damage the coral reefs with their fins. Several resorts
also PADI for ongoing beach clean-ups.
So, what are you waiting for? With thrilling night dives, knockout
coral reefs, and the finest dive outfit in the
tropics, it's time to plunge in and discover the
Caribbean's undersea wonderland.
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