anyone done this? Im about to take a cruise and was thinking about it as it is cheaper than the local dive shop and ive always wanted to learn. Also any suggestions on what i should buy/get beforehand? One more question, i read on the royal car website that they sell gear duty and tax free, is the gear they sell quality and worth the wait?
Royal caribbean PADI cert
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twoodall
New member
What this is probably equivalent to is a resort certification. It will be only good for a few weeks and you will probably be restricted to diving with a divemaster or instructor.
Resort certifications are just that. Certifications offered at a resort where someone gains an interest in the hobby/sport and decides to try it. The resort cert. allows for short class time and offers supervised dives under the best of conditions. You might consider going ahead and spending the money at the local shop!
Resort certifications are just that. Certifications offered at a resort where someone gains an interest in the hobby/sport and decides to try it. The resort cert. allows for short class time and offers supervised dives under the best of conditions. You might consider going ahead and spending the money at the local shop!
reefmaster30
In Memoriam
i agree with twood it is not a true certification only temp.
Just took a look at their website. It seems they do indeed offer a full blown Open Water certification course on board. Considering the time on board, and the pool, it makes sense. It will give you something to do on days at sea other than just eating and drinking 
As for gear to pre purchase, I'd go with picking up what is generally referred to as "personal gear". That would be mask, snorkel, booties and fins, and dive knife.
As for gear to pre purchase, I'd go with picking up what is generally referred to as "personal gear". That would be mask, snorkel, booties and fins, and dive knife.
Frank AZ
New member
Poking through their website - I found the following:
http://www.royalcaribbean.com/finda...Nv-488tM1hhA:12h3g0fq2?exCode=611&shipCode=NV
The best I can say is that the "certification" that is offered is a PADI Scuba Diver - which is very similar to a resort diving. While they may issue you a certification card, it will only be valid for diving with a dive master or instructor.
The standard certification I would reccommend would be the Open Water diver.
The open water certification consists of four open water dives.
http://www.royalcaribbean.com/finda...Nv-488tM1hhA:12h3g0fq2?exCode=611&shipCode=NV
The best I can say is that the "certification" that is offered is a PADI Scuba Diver - which is very similar to a resort diving. While they may issue you a certification card, it will only be valid for diving with a dive master or instructor.
The standard certification I would reccommend would be the Open Water diver.
The open water certification consists of four open water dives.
twoodall
New member
Be mindful that you get what you pay for. I hope that the instructor you will be under speaks good English. There are alot of benefits to buying local and getting local instruction. Insight into gear, service on that gear, price breaks on gear for being a student, and also immediately begin building relationships with other DIVERS, who by luck might want to dive again some day. Hey they might even invite you!
twoodall
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12914458#post12914458 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by billsreef
Just took a look at their website. It seems they do indeed offer a full blown Open Water certification course on board. Considering the time on board, and the pool, it makes sense. It will give you something to do on days at sea other than just eating and drinking
As for gear to pre purchase, I'd go with picking up what is generally referred to as "personal gear". That would be mask, snorkel, booties and fins, and dive knife.
I would also look into get the most important item. The regulator! It is your life underwater, I don't think you would be wanting to rent one especially in a foreign land. JMHO!
Frank AZ
New member
What does RC say the total cost of the class is?
My LDS charges $199 for the certification at the local lake, $150 for the confined water + class. The books themselves I think are $45 or so.
Be careful as far as dive knives go - I've heard some horror stories about taking a dive knife aboard a cruise ship.
The most important thing you'll want to make sure you purchase is going to be your mask. If you plan on buying gear "on board" I would still reccommend getting the mask at a local store to insure proper fit (Or even a store such as Sports Chalet.) I would reccommend a non-purge mask.
My LDS charges $199 for the certification at the local lake, $150 for the confined water + class. The books themselves I think are $45 or so.
Be careful as far as dive knives go - I've heard some horror stories about taking a dive knife aboard a cruise ship.
The most important thing you'll want to make sure you purchase is going to be your mask. If you plan on buying gear "on board" I would still reccommend getting the mask at a local store to insure proper fit (Or even a store such as Sports Chalet.) I would reccommend a non-purge mask.
SERVO
New member
I was certified on one of their cruise ships in 2002. Since then I have dove all around the world. It is an open water dive course. It is an intense course that will take up any and all of your time while on the ship. If you are doing it, you need to do it with the person/persons that you are cruising with or you will isolate them.
It is an awesome way to become certified. You get to do your training dives in some of the best spots in the Carribean.
It is an awesome way to become certified. You get to do your training dives in some of the best spots in the Carribean.
SERVO
New member
You'll have an incredible time! Do your self a favor, see if you can go to half.com or somewhere and get the Padi open water diver manual. It has a blue spotted sting ray on the front with GO DIVE across the top.
If you can read the manual and answer the questions well ahead of time, the lectures will be review and the knowledge base will be a piece of cake. The biggest of reasons is that you will have more time to spend with your girlfriend, which amounts to a happy girlfriend and a great vacation!
What is your itinerary?
If you can read the manual and answer the questions well ahead of time, the lectures will be review and the knowledge base will be a piece of cake. The biggest of reasons is that you will have more time to spend with your girlfriend, which amounts to a happy girlfriend and a great vacation!
What is your itinerary?
SERVO
New member
Labadee is their own private island. If you do any dives there, you want to go on the opposite side of the island where they don't let you snorkel. I went out there on my own before they had a chance to kick me out and there is a ton of stuff in the shallow water and I'm sure a much better reef deeper out.
Plus it is essentially virgin without any development.
Ocho Rios and Jamaica as a whole isn't a place that I would choose to dive in, while Cozumel has some great great dives.
If you can get thru the video and the book you'll do very well and you wont feel like your cheating yourself (when your life is on the line everytime you jump into that water, you want to be as confident as possible that you will be ready to handle any misfortune)!
cyphoma
New member
I am a PADI OW Instructor. Dont take a dive knife, some places in the caribbean dont allow you to carry them while diving (for example the marine park off the Mexican Riviera Maya and Cozumel).
Definetly read the whole book, answer all the Quick Quizzes and Knowledge Reviews and practice the RDP before your trip - you will then have more time with your cruise-mates! All you will do is correct the KR's you did wrong and take quizzes - then practice the Confined Water in the pool. After that 4 Open water dives and your certified!
Enjoy! TB
Definetly read the whole book, answer all the Quick Quizzes and Knowledge Reviews and practice the RDP before your trip - you will then have more time with your cruise-mates! All you will do is correct the KR's you did wrong and take quizzes - then practice the Confined Water in the pool. After that 4 Open water dives and your certified!
Enjoy! TB
cyphoma
New member
I dont know...when i was there, the only reason i was able to carry one was because I was an Instructor candidate and that is part of the requirments. Others taking the class that live there in Playa del Carmen said that they dont allow it anymore?!? It was news to me as well!
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