QA SCUBA CARIBE

We dive every day from Monday to Sunday, except for Sundays in Cancun & Cabo San Lucas.

We are open every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Yes, we are. ScubaCaribe is a PADI-licensed dive shop with over 30 years of experience in the industry. ScubaCaribe has become one of the PADI Five Star Dive Centers and watersports operations since 1991.

We usually do two-morning dives at 8:30 a.m. and return by noon.

We do one afternoon dive at 2:30 p.m.

Although the snuba experience is unavailable, we offer many other activities such as scuba diving with all the gear, including BCD, snorkeling, water sports, and Discover Scuba Diving. We encourage you to book with us online and join the ScubaCaribe´s adventures!

We manage many water sports activities, including windsurfing at most destinations, sailing, and Hobie Cat. However, due to weather and safe conditions, we don’t offer surf or kitesurf.

Due to our safety protocols, we don’t offer parasailing. However, you can enjoy our diversity of water sports activities and tours.

Yes, it is. The boat leaves directly from the beach of the RIU hotel.

We provide transportation only in Punta Cana and Cape Verde.

It depends on your location. Please, contact us to get informed about the transportation.

We only manage water sports activities and tours. Therefore, we don’t provide any accommodation, and we cannot share any information on nearby hotels.

You can book in advance services such snorkeling tours, diving, and water sports activities at an extra cost through our website. However, the All-Inclusive activities, which are free of charge, should be requested directly at the Water Sports Center of ScubaCaribe located on the beach of your hotel upon arrival.

No, it isn’t. A free tryout teaches how to put on scuba gear properly and lasts about 15 minutes. It doesn´t give you any credit towards dive courses. A tryout is not enough for you? Would you like to try scuba diving? Then Discover Scuba Diving with ScubaCaribe is the activity for you!

Diving packages are only for sharing among two people in Costa Rica, and you can book the service online.

You can use our services if you stay at hotels in Jamaica, such as RIU Hotels, Sunset at the Palms Resort, and Moon Palace Resort. The guests from other hotels can use our services if they purchase a one-day pass per person that includes the use of the facilities, ScubaCaribe facilities, the All-Inclusive restaurants and bars, the pool, the beach, etc. Except on public holidays.

We highly recommend you pre-book your activity to ensure your space on our boat. If you are concerned about your travel plans, please be assured that our refund & cancellation policy is flexible, and if you cancel up to 48 hours before the start of the activity, you will have a full refund.

Our ratio is one instructor per each four students and one instructor per each five or six certified divers.

Usually, we can take up to ten divers per speed boat and the crew members. A bigger boat suitable for 20 to 40 passengers is available at some destinations.

There will be other customers traveling alone, and the dive crew will assist you in finding a dive buddy once onboard. Throughout the trip, you are welcome to change your dive buddy.

A certified buddy can come along with you. Even if your friend is a non-certified diver who wants to try a *Discover Scuba Diving” experience (please check if this activity exists at your destination), they are welcome to join us. However, a non-diver or a passenger cannot come along due to the reduced speed boat size.

We recommend you bring your bathing suit, marine-safe sunscreen, beach towel, and medical statement if required.

We recommend you a light breakfast/lunch before diving to avoid dizziness during the boat ride.

Although we do not recommend bringing alcohol on board for health & personal safety reasons, you can get your alcohol on private tours only. We provide bottled water on board. Please note that it is not allowed to drink alcohol just before water activities, and this also depends on the destination’s restrictions. You can contact us for further information.

We usually use a speed boat for diving. At some destinations, a bigger boat is available.

If it is a small speed boat for up to ten divers and the crew, it does not have toilet facilities. If it is a bigger boat suitable for 20 – 40 passengers, it has a toilet on board.

Yes, you can as long as you can provide the evidence, an electronic logbook, or a confirmation letter from your dive certifying company. You can do this by contacting your original certifying company. Some training agencies do offer online certification verification.

Yes, we do. ScubaCaribe provides all the required equipment for any dive package at an extra charge, except for some destinations where this is included.

The full rental equipment includes BCD (Buoyancy control device), fins, mask, snorkel, regulators, wetsuit, tanks & weights.

Tanks & weights are always included in our diving packages at no extra charge.

Yes, you can.

Yes, we have. These are located about 15-20 minutes boat ride from the hotel.

We can go to dive sites with different depth levels from shallow 8-12 meters to deep 30 meters, depending on the level of diver certification.

Please note that we do not manage night dives.

While side-mount diving is unavailable, you can dive with a regular tank.

We only manage scuba diving lessons. No free diving is allowed.

Please note that we use a regular mask & snorkel for diving; a full-face mask is unavailable.

We do not manage prescription masks, so we recommend purchasing one before the trip.

You won’t need to wear your glasses since the visibility under the water is different, and you will distinguish the colors and animals.

We do have shore diving in the Maldives. Nevertheless, we only manage boat diving in most of our destinations.

Yes, we do. We manage boat dives with back roll, step-in, or ladder entry. Setting up equipment in the water is sometimes available for the client’s comfort.

You will have enough air, as while diving, our instructor checks the duration of the inmersion and each diver’s oxygen levels to come back safely.

One dive lasts approximately 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the depths (the deeper you go, the less time you last) and the breathing capacity of the divers in the group. Please be advised that if any diver in the team reaches the reserve of 50 bars for shallow dive and 70 bars for deep dive, the whole team will have to return to the boat.

For double tank (2 dives), we don’t return to shore during a surface interval. For the second dive, you will switch your tank at the boat, and then we may go to another dive site, depending on weather conditions.

We cannot assure you that you will watch any specific marine life during our dives. There are different living beings in the ocean. Please avoid physical contact with them to preserve their integrity; therefore, if you do not touch anything, there should be no problem.

We only have 12 Lts. tanks available at our dive shops.

We have aluminum tanks with a 12-liter capacity. Single valve, and we use both systems, DIN and INT.

Overall, we use the ScubaPro brand in ScubaCaribe. However, in Cape Verde, we use Mares scuba equipment.

Non-certified divers cannot operate their own photography or video equipment due to our safety protocols. At some destinations, photography & video services are available at an extra charge.

You can book equipment for a full day of diving (only in the Maldives is available for each dive).

To be able to rent the equipment, you need to purchase diving packages with us. We do not rent equipment for solo diving.

Nitrox surcharge is only available in Jamaica, Maldives & Cape Verde (SAL) at no extra cost. There is no nitrox for the rest of the destinations, and we are diving with standard air 21%.

It depends on the arrival and departure time of your cruise. We check in for two dives at 8:30 a.m., so you should come to our nearest dive store before that time. We come back after two morning dives around noon. Moreover, we do a single dive at 2:30 p.m. and return by 4:30 p.m. Please note this information for your schedules, and don’t forget to arrange your transportation from the cruise terminal to the dive store location.

At ScubaCaribe, we welcome beginners and certified divers from international schools affiliated with the Recreational Scuba Training Council.

Some medical conditions may prevent you from diving. You will need to get a dive medical certificate if you affirm some of the questions on the Medical Questionnaire (you can find it attached here).

A positive response to any question indicates a pre-existing condition that may affect your diving safety. Then, you must consult a doctor or general physician to get a dive medical certificate, preferably in English, which states that you are fit enought to do recreational diver training. This medical certificate must be valid within 90 days before the diving activity. If unsure about your medical condition, please check with your doctor before making your reservation.

If you fail your dive medical certificate, you can cancel your pre-booked activity within 48 hours with no cancellation fee. In this case, you can still purchase a snorkel trip.

Some medical conditions may prevent you from diving. If you answer ‘YES’ to any of the questions below, please consult a doctor and ask for a dive medical certificate:

• Since completing your last dive medical assessment, have you suffered any illness or injury that may affect your ability to dive safely?
• Are you currently suffering from any illness or injury?
• Are you currently taking any prescription medication other than the contraceptive pill?
• Is there any other condition, fact, or circumstance that may affect your fitness or ability to dive safely?

Yes, you can. Diabetic divers must have an up-to-date dive medical certificate from a doctor stating they are fit enough to dive with their medical condition.

Yes, you do, since some medical conditions may prevent you from diving. In case of confirmation of any of the questions on the Medical Questionnaire (you can find it attached here), you will need to get a dive medical certificate.

If you are 45 years old but have answered with NO to the rest of the questions on the Medical Questionnaire you won’t need to get a dive medical certificate. You need only to fill it, sign it and send it to us.

If you used to get sick on a plane or ship, we recommend you take your medication before the diving session or tour.

To avoid decompression sickness, the organization Divers Alert Network (DAN) recommends waiting at least 12 hours after a single dive before flying and 18-24 hours after multiple dives per day or multiple days of diving. You can fly and then dive, but you can never dive and then fly on the same day.

We have our liability insurance to protect our clients. Upon arrival, we will ask you to complete some forms, and among them is the new Medical Questionnaire (you can find it attached here). If you need to consult a physician, you may do so before traveling. We do not offer dive insurance for purchase. It is not mandatory, but you are welcome to get daily coverage from our partner DAN. Please review this information, which (even if it is not compulsory) is very helpful: Return to diving safely.

You can try scuba diving (a PADI Discover Scuba Diving Experience) before you get your scuba diver or open water license.

A beginner lesson is a PADI Discover Scuba Diving experience. It includes a short PADI theory online class (it usually takes half an hour), pool assessments, and one ocean dive. The schedule is from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Please note that is not a certification course, and you won’t receive a diving license after completing this activity.

A PADI Scuba Diver and PADI Open Water Diver courses are the first steps in scuba diving certification.

We recommend you take some swimming classes before taking the course. You need some basic water skills to become a scuba diver and, even more, the ability to float or tread water for 10 minutes – you can lie on your back, on your front, tread water, “dog paddle,” or anything else to stay afloat without using flotation aids. Swim 200 meters/yards (or 300 meters/yards in mask, fins, and snorkel) non-stop. There is no time limit; you may use any swimming strokes you need.

The Open Water Diver course’s E-learning time commitment lasts 5 to 10 hours. As for the practice of the course, weather permitting, it can be completed in 3 to 4 days. The current duration depends on the local scheduling of each dive store.

The PADI Open Water Diver course’s E-learning time commitment lasts 5 to 10 hours. Everyone can do the E-learning at their own pace; some can finish it in one day, and others need a couple of days or a week.

Everything is included in the price of your dive course, and there are no extra charges except dock fees or local marine taxes, depending on each country.

According to PADI international standards, children from 10 years old can dive and take a diving course.

According to PADI international standards, children from 8-10 years old are eligible only for the PADI Bubble Maker program. In the Bubblemaker program, participants get a basic introduction to how to use scuba equipment, empty a regulator and mask, and an overview of what to do and what not to do when breathing.

Yes, you can. If you have not dived for more than a year, you can choose among two programs: ReActivate 1 (for more than one year with no diving) or ReActivate 2 (for more than two years with no diving). Both consist of reviewing your skills in the pool and last about half an hour.

The PADI Scuba Diver course is a type of the PADI Open Water Diver course. If you’re short on time but want to become a diver, the PADI Scuba Diver rating might be suitable for you ̶ particularly if you expect to go scuba diving with a dive guide. This course is an intermediate step for reaching an Open Water Diver certification. PADI Scuba Divers are qualified to dive under the direct supervision of a PADI Professional to a maximum depth of 12 meters/40 feet. The E-learning time commitment is 5 hours. As for the practice of the course, weather permitting, it can be completed in 1 to 2 days. The current duration depends on the local schedule of each dive store.

PADI Open Water Diver is the first scuba certification level. A highly-trained PADI Instructor will teach you to scuba dive in a relaxed, supportive learning environment. By the end of the course, you’ll have the skills and knowledge to dive at home or abroad and be an ambassador for the underwater world. PADI Open Water Divers are qualified to dive under the direct supervision of a PADI Professional to a maximum depth of 18 meters/60 feet. E-learning time commitment goes for 5 to 10 hours long. As for the practice of the course, weather permitting, it can be completed in 3 to 4 days. The current duration depends on the local schedule of each dive store.

Advanced Open Water Diver course includes interactive lessons on 13 popular specialty dives: altitude, boat, digital underwater imaging, drift, dry suit, fish ID, night, buoyancy, search and recovery, underwater naturalist, and wreck diving. You’ll study two mandatory topics – deep and navigation diving plus three specialties of your choice. PADI Advanced Open Water Divers are qualified to dive to a maximum depth of 30 meters/100 feet. The E-learning time commitment goes for 6 to 8 hours. As for the practice of the course, weather permitting, it can be completed in 2 days. The current duration depends on the local schedule of each dive store.

Before purchasing the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver/ PADI Touch course, you must have the Open Water Diver certification. The advanced course is a extension of dive education.

Yes, you can. Please note that the confined water dives and theory are valid for one year to complete your upgrade to the next level. Later than one year, you need to pass the two theory chapters, the two confined water dives and the open water dives.

If you are still at the resort, you can upgrade your Discover Scuba Diving experience to a PADI Scuba Diver or PADI Open Water Diver course. Please remember to do this within the same week of your last dive—moreover, the prices of the upgrade package used to be cheaper than regular dive courses.

Yes, you can if you have completed the theory with PADI before arriving and can bring the certificates to demonstrate it. In that case, you can purchase a PADI Open Water Diver for E-learners course with us. It includes five pool sessions, four guided ocean dives from the boat, scuba diving equipment, certification, and a professional dive instructor.

Yes, you can. Suppose you completed the theory with PADI & five pool sessions before arriving and can bring the certificates to demonstrate it. In that case, you can purchase the PADI Open Water Referral program with us. It includes four guided ocean dives from the boat, scuba diving equipment, certification, and a professional dive instructor.

Yes, you can. If you have completed the theory and five pool sessions before you arrive and can bring the certificates to demonstrate it, you can purchase the PADI Open Water Referral with us. We are a PADI-certified dive store, so you will be PADI-certified unless you only do dives and get certified with SSI later.

You can book the Enriched Air (Nitrox) PADI specialty separately, which can be completed online. Nitrox certification will allow you longer no decompression time on deeper dives and make you less tired after multiple dives since you are breathing more oxygen. For this course, you must complete the online theory part and then the practical exam, where we include a dive on nitrox. After certification, you can dive on nitrox instead of regular air at no extra charge.

Yes, you can become a Rescue Diver with us. The rescue dive course is the next step just after the Advanced Course. The Rescue Diver course consists of 10 skills and two assessments as scenarios that must be filled successfully. This use to last for 2 to 3 days. Before starting the rescue course, you must have the CPR certified (within the last 24 months) or take the Emergency First Response course on our website. We recommend booking the Rescue course online so you can complete all the theory parts before arriving.

The rescue course does not have a minimum number of dives. It consists of mastering the mandatory skills: a panicked diver, an unconscious diver, searching patterns, etc. It is an enjoyable and intensive course where you will learn a lot!

We offer a variety of courses focused on recreational diving and Advanced Water Diver courses, which bring you to a maximum of 100 feet. However, we don’t offer a Deep Diver specialty.

We only offer recreational diving and an Advanced Open Water diver course, which brings you to a maximum of 100 feet. However, we don’t provide technical diving, self-reliant diver specialties, or an Instructor Development Course.