Scuba Diving During A Cruise Vacation

S ay you want to scuba dive        certified scuba divers on boat     but your significant other      trips on behalf of the cruise      is not a diver and would        lines. Booking and payment will    rather do other activities like       be through the cruise ships        shopping. If you both decided to      rather than the local dive         go on a Caribbean cruise              operators. The cruise lines claim  vacation, is it still possible        that if for any reason the scuba   for you to go scuba diving? The       trips run late, the cruise ships   answer is yes. This will be a big     will not leave port until all      relief to all certified scuba         passengers from these cruise ship  divers who are going on cruises       organized excursions are back on   with itineraries that include         board. They won't wait around for  such great scuba dive                 passengers who decide to take      destinations as Cozumel and Grand     their own excursions not booked    Cayman. After all, as certified       through the cruise ship. This is   scuba divers, it would be a shame     how the cruise ships try to        to go to these ports and not          convince divers to take their      dive.                                 excursions even if the cost is                                           usually at a premium compared to   Many cruise ships offer scuba         what local dive operators would    diving as part of their available     normally charge directly.          shore excursions. Some ships even                                        have small dive centers on board      Another way to get some scuba      for those who want to take            diving in during a cruise          introductory sessions in the ship     vacation is to make arrangements   pools. These cruise lines will        and book in advance with local     often have business contracts         scuba dive operators at each port  with local dive operators at each     you are interested in diving at.   port that has scuba diving. These     Although there is always some      local dive operators will take        risk in missing your port          departure if your own outing runs     get you back to the docks          late, just make sure you plan         earlier.                           your own dive trips so that you                                          are back on the ship well in          Some local dive operators even     advance of port departure.            have special pick up and drop off  Usually if your cruise ship           services to and from the cruise    arrives at port early in the          ship terminals to their dive       morning, you could book the           shops. These dive businesses are   morning dive trips with the local     obviously making an effort to      operator and still have the rest      take some dive business away from  of the afternoon to shop or do        the cruise ship organized          other sightseeing. For later          excursions. These particular       arrivals where you would miss the     local dive operators would be      morning dive trips, it is still       ideal if you could find them       possible to take the local            before your cruise vacation.       operators' afternoon dive trips       Otherwise, you may have to take a  but in this case, it is very          local taxi to the dive shop if it  important to make sure that you       is not within walking distance of  confirm what the estimated time       the cruise ship terminal. Of       of return to the docks are. If        course, this is usually not a      you can return to the docks at        problem either and even with the   least two hours before the cruise     added cost of taxis, the overall   ship's scheduled time of              cost of going with a local dive    departure, than you will have         operator may still be lower than   ample time even if the dive boat      the cruise ship organized dive     returns a bit late. It it's only      excursion.                         an hour or less, the timing may                                          be too tight. See if the dive         Some cruise ship passengers have   operator has a shorter single         successfully gotten on local dive  tank afternoon trip which might       trips without any advance          booking. These divers just walked     coming in and the expected time    into a local dive operator once       of both arrival as well as         at port. Although this is             departure. Some ports like         certainly feasible, it is not         Cozumel have more than one cruise  recommended especially in a           ship terminal so it's important    destination that fills dive trips     to let them know if possible       up quickly. With the internet, it     which one your ship will be        is quite easy to make                 docked in. They will then give     arrangements with many local dive     you your best options for some     operators in advance of your          scuba diving for that particular   cruise vacation. Tell them which      day.                               day your cruise ship will be           About the Author: Clint Leung is a NAUI certified Master and Rescue Scuba Diver. He is also owner of Free Spirit Activewear (http://www.FreeSpiritActivewear.com) , an online retailer/designer specializing in premium quality scuba diving activewear. Free Spirit Activewear has numerous information resource articles on scuba diving as well as free eCards. Source: www.isnare.com