If you are looking for an all inclusive scuba vacation for your next family beach vacation then no need to look farther than Beaches Resorts. While there are many ways to explore the warm turquoise waters surrounding each Beaches Resort, none are as adventurous or as up-close and exciting as SCUBA diving.At Beaches family inclusive resorts, both experts and beginners can enjoy guided dives showcasing spectacular coral reefs, colorful marine life, and exotic underwater treasures, all a part of Beaches ultra all-inclusive amenities.
A Wide Variety of Dives
Each dive on this all inclusive scuba vacation has a range of depth between 30 and 90 feet, and top-of-the-line equipment is provided. Certified divers may dive twice daily; non-certified divers can take a resort course at a cost of $70 in a special scuba certification pool and dive the next day.
- Coral Reef Dives – Enter a spectacular underwater world where beautiful coral reefs act as magnets for a variety of tropical fish and other species of marine life.
- Wall Dives – Experience dramatic tropical coral formations that start in relatively shallow water and continue down deep to the beautiful ocean floor.
- Wreck Dives – Explore plane and ship wrecks and discover secrets from years past. Many of the wreck dives in the Caribbean have been seen in feature films, like “Jaws†and James Bond\’s “Dr. No.â€
- Night Dives – Every Beaches Resort offers a number of night dives (for certified divers only and at an additional cost).â€
- Two-Tank Dives are available at most Beaches Resorts (for certified divers only).
Requirements for your All Inclusive Scuba Vacation
Certified divers must show proof of certification and meet medical requirements.
PADI or NAUI Certification
Non-certified divers can obtain certification from the Professional Association of Dive Instructions (PADI) and the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NADI). Certification courses include the “dive master†as well as specialty dive courses. Prices range from $350 to $450 per person.
Divers Alert Network (DAN®)
DAN, a non-profit medical and research organization dedicated to the safety and health of recreational scuba divers, works closely with all Beaches dive instructors for training in emergency procedures and oxygen use. They also run periodical medical seminaries throughout the year for all dive staff.
DAN, a non-profit medical and research organization dedicated to the safety and health of recreational scuba divers, works closely with all Beaches dive instructors for training in emergency procedures and oxygen use. They also run periodical medical seminaries throughout the year for all dive staff.
Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort & Spa has teamed up with DAN in the past to host weeklong dive festivals. The “DAN – Beaches Dive Festival†promotes recreational dive safety (part of DAN\’s mission), while combining educational forums on diving with the chance to scuba dive in exotic waters. Renowned experts address diving safety, diving medical information and other dive-related special interest topics including Hazardous Marine Life and Underwater Photography.
Resort Course
Non-certified divers can take part in a three-hour course for $70 in a separate SCUBA certification pool, which includes:
- Medical questionnaire
- 150-meter swim
- Basic SCUBA introduction
- Hands-on instruction, including mask cleaning, regulator recovery, fin pivot, buoyancy check, and full gear swim
Once the resort course has been successfully completed, guests can dive at any Beaches Resort for one year from the date of the course completion.
Rich Marine Life
Depending on the resort, the waters of the Caribbean offer the most varied examples of tropical marine life imaginable including: Angel fish, Barracuda, Crabs, “Dancing†eels, Goat fish, Groupers, Lobsters, Octopus, Parrot fish, Seahorse, Sea turtles, Sharks, Snappers, Spiny puffers, and Stingrays.
Top-of-the-Line Equipment
Sandals and Beaches Resorts provide guests with top of the line scuba equipment for their all inclusive scuba vacation, including:
- Regulators (Cressi SUB)
- BCD\’s (Cressi SUB)
- Masks
- Snorkels
- Fins (Cressi SUB)
- Weight belts
- Tanks
- Wet suits (optional)
Professional Staff
Every watersports staff member is a certified lifeguard and is trained in CPR and first aid. A nurse is available at every property, and a doctor is always on call, in case of emergency.
Hyperbaric Chambers
In case of emergency, hyberbaric chambers are located nearby every Beaches resort:
- Ocho Rios – 30 minutes away
- Negril – two hours away
All Inclusive Scuba Vacation – Turks & Caicos Sites:
- Northwest Point – Defined by a very sheer wall that starts in around 45-50 ft. of water and descends down to around 180 ft. In some areas the wall drops away to over 1,000 ft. The walls teem with marine life, corals, sponges and gorgonian – sharks, turtles and stingrays.
- Grace Bay – Located outside of the barrier reef in front of the resort, the sites in Grace Bay are around 15 minutes from Beaches, making them perfect for a 1-tank dive. The wall is less dramatic here, starting at around 35 ft. and dropping to 110 ft. before leveling out. Look for large groupers and snappers, nurse sharks, friendly barracuda under the dive boat and keep an eye out for JoJo the dolphin.
- Pine Cay – This location is known for its eagle rays which show up regularly – sometimes 6 or 8 in a squadron.
- West Caicos / French Cay The massive wall starts at 50 ft. but descends to 1,000 + ft. Scuba divers look for large sponges, a dramatic wall and black tip and Caribbean reef sharks, which are very common.
All Inclusive Scuba Vacation – Negril Dive Sites
- The Arches – This site at 30 ft. has many overhangs and ledges, and nurse sharks and large stingrays are common.
- King Fish Point – This beautiful deep dive goes outward through spectacular coral formations to a depth of 90 ft. and then the reef drops to sand flats at 130 ft. Turtles are seen quite often, as well as nurse sharks, barrel sponges, and gorgonians.
- Shallow Plane– Often combined with the Arches dive, shallow plane is located at 55 ft. on the edge of a reef.
- Throne Room – An absolute “must see†dive site. Divers enter the room at the top of the reef, where there is a chimney. The Throne Room itself is a large room with the west side open and a sand floor at 70 ft. Lobsters are usually seen on this dive.
All Inclusive Scuba Vacation – Ocho Rios Dive Sites
- Big Tree/Student Reef – This dive consists of coral forming caverns, which are as high as 20 ft. from the bottom.
- Ocho Rios Drop Off – This dive boasts a variety of corals and marine life. Snappers, butterfish, and an occasional seahorse are often seen.
- Ocho Rios Drop Off – This dive boasts a variety of corals and marine life. Snappers, butterfish, and an occasional seahorse are often seen.
- Ship Wreck 1 – Explore the remains of an 110 ft. wreck that went down in 1991.
All Inclusive Scuba Vacation – Dunn\’s River Dive Sites
- Big Tree/Student Reef – This site includes a variety of colorful corals and sponges. The slow moving current enables divers to swim easily along. Look for a nest of barracuda, which often forms at this 80 ft. site.
- Dunn\’s River Wall – Descending to 200 ft., this wall falls off into the deep ocean and is host to larger species of marine life such as turtles, huge snapper jacks, and lobsters.
- The Mountain – Located just outside the famous James Bond beach where “Dr. No†was filmed, the Mountain consists of coral formations and a four-foot barracuda named “Shakey.â€