Diving with Celebrity - PADI only?

[lunula]

Quick question for those of you who have gone on dives with Celebrity.

 

We are currently undergoing SSI open diver certification and are considering switching our current booked cruise from an Adriatic cruise in May to a Caribbean cruise in April so we can go diving!

 

I was taking a quick look at some of the ship excursions offered to "certified divers only" (not that we would do ship excursions, but wanted to take a look) and I noticed that they all specifically mention PADI certification.

 

For example, on a Bonaire dive (a place we really want to dive) - the disclosures at the bottom read, "You must carry your PADI Open Water Diver certification card with you or your diving log."

 

So if we are SSI-certified, does Celebrity not accept this?

 

We are more inclined to do private excursions/dives; but I wanted to know if it was even an option for us on Celebrity to do ship-offered dives? If not, we'll seriously consider other cruise lines.

 

Thanks!

[jimw]

Whoever wrote the trip description probably doesn't know that there ARE other certifying agencies! The dive op that the ship uses will know what's what--so take your SSI or whatever c-card and dive.

[Capt_BJ]

Whoever wrote the trip description probably doesn't know that there ARE other certifying agencies! The dive op that the ship uses will know what's what--so take your SSI or whatever c-card and dive.

 

concur .... as long as you have 'open water' or better from a recognized agency (which SSI is) I don't expect you to have a problem.

[Gunner22aa]

Doesn't run the dive trips or any other excursion for that matter. They are just the salesman. Check with the tour operator you want to dive with. PADI is the one most accepted but often others are as well.

[SHCMD]

Not to worry. I have been on multiple dives off of Celebrity ships with my SSI Open Water certification and never had a problem. Where besides Bonaire are you planning to dive?

[lunula]

Thanks so much!!

 

Hi SHCMD - we are actually considering a couple different cruises, but the Celebrity itinerary goes to:

 

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

Philipsburg, St. Maarten

St. Johns, Antigua

Castries, St. Lucia

Bridgetown, Barbados

St. George's, Grenada

Kralendijk, Bonaire

Oranjestad, Aruba

 

We are looking at another trip on Princess; though I do not know as much about them because I have only cruised on Celebrity so far!!