Has anyone taken a Carnival shore excursion for SCUBA diving?

[Sundiego]

I posted this on the Carnival board and am reposting here hoping for a response. Thanks!!

 

* * * *

 

Here's the deal...

 

We will be on the Conquest and my son-in-law wants to get in a quick dive. For convenience, time constraints, etc., he was thinking of doing the ship-sponsored dive in Cozumel while the rest of us wander off and do our own thing. Ship sponsored dive requires you be certified (no problem, he's been certified for 30 years with many many dives). The ship sponsored dive also requires you have a dive logged within the last 3 years. He hasn't dived since they lived in California 5 years ago.

 

So my question... do they ask for PROOF of the logged dive?

[Loves_Dogs]

I dont do the ship sponsored dives but have booked them myself outside the ship. I have had one or two divemasters look at my dive log. And the forms you fill out ask for the date of your last dive.

 

The reason they have a requirement for the logged dive within the past 3 years is for safety. Not only for your son in law but for whoever they buddy him up with. It's easy to forget things especially if you havent used those skills for 3 years. And when it comes to scuba diving, forgetting something could cause someone serious harm or even death.

 

Some dive shops I booked with required you to have had a logged dive within the past 2 years. On my last cruise it had been right at 2 years since my last dive. Although by the calendar I was within the required time period and able to book, I opted to take a refresher class at the local dive shop anyway. I was glad I did. Have a GREAT cruise!

[Sundiego]

Thanks for the response!

[Laurie S.]

I answered on the Carnival board, but I agree with the posters here. The dive shop needs to know that he hasn't dived in three years because it's a safety issue. Can he do a refresher course before he goes?

 

Go with a private operator on Cozumel, there are many good ones there.

[Sundiego]

Thanks Laurie. I added a little more to my original post on the Carnival board. I'll print out the responses for him and let him figure it all out. I really appreciate you taking the time to comment :)

[Laurie S.]

You indicated that the ship docks at 10 am. It's likely, however, that the local time will be 9 am. You can easily get to a number of dive shops by 10 am. Several good ones that I'm aware of are Aldora, Blue XTSea, Scuba with Allison, Eagle Ray, Dive With Martin, and Papa Hogs, to name just a few.

 

Good luck!

[Capt_BJ]

an option.....

 

I lil' while back dd wanted to try diving and I hadn't dove for a while....

 

So I booked a discovery dive for her AND I and used that as my refresher . . .

 

There is no set plan for a refresh', they look at how long it has been and talk and look at you the first few minutes. Some refresh dives are nothing more than an escorted dive. Doing a discovery allows you to cover the basics for sure . . .

 

If you book a discovery and identify yourself as a certified diver - or one just refreshing - the shops I have been with will treat you accordingly. Meaning they watch and check your skills but not nearly as closely as a full discovery diver . . . It may take a humility pill to book a discovery, but . . .

 

On The Other Hand - I have never had a dive operation ask to look at my log, they simply ask when was my last dive. I've been diving since 1972. I stopped logging dives 10 years ago.

 

Asking when your last dive was is one way to approach 'experience'. I just mention that I have over 500 and that usually suffices . . . but no one has asked me to PROVE it.

[pamawi]

I just got back from conquest trip and dove with ship due to our late arrival. The ship based in new orleansis on central time as is Cozumel. Blue angel had an 11am trip I could have gone on but we had to be beckon board at 4:30pm so I thought it was pushing it for a 2 tank 4.5 hour trip. They didn't ask to see my dive log but do ask when your last dive was. They were very safe with limited profiles of 30 minutes on first dive and 40 minutes on second shallow dive. Alot of people hate that but it is an added safety margin and I imagine they have to limit times to meet the ship schedule.i recommend a refresher class or discover scuba class. Dive with Allison is great with newbies but she probably leaves earlier. Carnival dive leaves at noon.

[Sundiego]

I just got back from conquest trip and dove with ship due to our late arrival. The ship based in new orleansis on central time as is Cozumel. Blue angel had an 11am trip I could have gone on but we had to be beckon board at 4:30pm so I thought it was pushing it for a 2 tank 4.5 hour trip. They didn't ask to see my dive log but do ask when your last dive was. They were very safe with limited profiles of 30 minutes on first dive and 40 minutes on second shallow dive. Alot of people hate that but it is an added safety margin and I imagine they have to limit times to meet the ship schedule.i recommend a refresher class or discover scuba class. Dive with Allison is great with newbies but she probably leaves earlier. Carnival dive leaves at noon.

 

Thanks for this info. We've been to Coz a number of times and, yes, this is a relatively short time in port on a very busy, crowded port day. That is the only reason he was considering the Carnival excursion (which I know is usually pay more, get less, lol). Sounds like you were thinking the same thing.

[marshhawk]

My DH is certified, but had not done a lot of drift diving which is what Cozumel is famous for. He decided to do the beginners scuba, so that a friend of ours who isn't certified go learn, and they could spend time together while the wives were off doing our thing. They used Sand Dollar, and they worked pretty much one on one with our non diving friend. Because it was a beginners class, my DH did not have to show ceritification, UNTIL he asked if he could take his camera, and then he did have to provide his diving information. Off he went with his camera, taking pictures of our friend was was attempting to scuba. Poor friend, he is overweight(helps makes him float) and he has a mustache(which keeps the mask from being water proof), and I guess he will never attempt to dive again. Did they both have fun? Yes. After the dive lesson, they were allowed to use the facilites on their own, so DH put on his snorkle stuff and took some more pictures. SAnd Dollar does not allow for the cruise ship people to book independently of the cruise lines. Business Respect and all that.

[Sundiego]

Thanks Marshhawk!