Help - sail + dive + certify?

[dpbishop]

Check with your LDS. Some will let you do the class course and pool dives, but you can do your open water dives in the Carribbean. If you have some experience sailing, a great way to get more is to get involved in crewing on yacht races. If you check at local marinas or yacht clubs, there should be a local sailing rag that has crew lists you can get on.

On the one hand, it would seem a shame to travel to the Carribbean and spend most of your time getting up to speed. On the other hand, it's a nicer place to get up to speed then Long Island Sound in the winter.

 

[paradicio]

I'm with the "get certified before you go" camp. I was just in Maui and there was an OW class on the boat on our second day of diving. After the dives were done all of us were talking about all the great stuff we saw and the OW class (unfortunately) missed a lot as they were busy doing skills.

EDIT:
Not to mention, you might fall in love with your local diving areas...I know I did.

 

[Dich]

I second the idea of doing the course or at least a referral before you go. I did my written tests and pool dives in Madrid and then the open water dives in the Caribbean. Wish I had done the cruise, though.

 

[Dave in PA]

I will echo the other's sentiments, get certified before you go. That way you can enjoy more of the sailing part. Otherwise you will be doing a bit of studying on board when you could be sailing...the other way would be do the pool and classroom before you leave and just do the checkouts in the carribean.

 

[jscott099]

I second Juliet, I sent a referral down to them last month and he loved it. OW cert dives were well organized and he passed with flying colors. I have also dove Blackbeard's several times. As an instructor I evaluated that I could readily do the OW cert dives with them. However not every dive stop and location was good for training dives. You would need to contact htem ahead of time to ensure they have an instructor on board to do the OW certs.

 

[PlayaCountryBoy]

If anything do the classes and pool work before you go. You don't want to spend your time with your nose in a book when you are on the boat sailing around...you'll want to be diving!