Sandals/Beaches Scuba Certification

I will be having my wedding and honeymoon in Turks and Caicos. I'm going to do the quick certification class. Has any one gone through this program looking for some insight. Thank you for looking.

 

I would get certified up here and use your time down there for real dives.

 

I'm sorry to say that I am NOT a believer in the quick "resort" cert. I went through 4 weeks and 4 dives to get my OW cert, 4 classes and 2 dives for my Nitrox cert, and 3 weeks and 4 dives for my Advanced cert. Rushing anything that involves "lifesaving" equipment should never be rushed, in my honest opinion.
I understand the pull that underwater exploration lends, but you are in an environment that you are really not supposed to be in. Please, by all means, LISTEN to the instructor, RELAX when underwater, BREATHE at all times, STAY with the group and NEVER, NEVER feel embarassed or stupid or upset if something isn't right and you want to call a dive. Your life is more important than anything you will see underwater!

 

I am not certified yet, but I will be getting certified probably in the spring. I have done brownies before and it can be odd feeling. It would be best to get proper training.

 

All in all scuba is super easy. I've done hundreds of dives, most of them technical dives in some aspect, and there are certainly some precautions to be observed. I think the express certification is for a PADI Explorer Dive. Its 2 dives, the first one focusing on skill checks, the second is a recreational dive on a shallow reef.
I'm telling you right now, google a dive shop nearby, get a full PADI certification, because one you dive in the tropics it something you HAVE to do all the time. Its actually why I have a reef tank. If you get certified at home, then you don't waste a day of dives in the Carribean. Also, pay for your wife to get certified too as a wedding present... trust me on this.

 

++++1 to all the above

I spent 8 months in 2000/2001 getting certified up through PADI Rescue Diver in preparation for a 6 week trip to australia, the only requirement for the trip was an active open water cert but I wanted to have at least a basic understanding of what to do if there was any problems while out on the GBR up to 200 miles from the closest medical facility.

Fortunately I have never needed to use that knowledge but all that prep work made me very comfortable with my gear and abilities.

Sadly all too often the news stories we see are about young newlyweds that decided to learn to dive on their honeymoon.
Please prepare ahead of time and help minimize the chance of becoming a news story.

 

You make it sound that they will die. Scuba isn't dangerous if you know what you are doing. Get a regular certification at your local dive shop and you will be fine.

 

wasnt trying to scare them away, just saying do the prep work ahead of time. As mentioned a normal class takes place over several weeks, not crammed into 2 days along with checkout dives.

 

I agree completely. Get familiar with the gear and dive charts and computers and you will enjoy your vacation dives so much more.

Have a wonderful time.

 

I did my open water in 2 weekends. That being said. I highly recoomend not wasting time while you are down there trying to 'get the hang of it'