Holland America dive excursions

[islandwoman]

Does Holland America have an upper age limit for its certified SCUBA diving excursions?

[ROUS]

Interesting question.  They had no issues with me diving on a shore excursion in Aruba with me aged 64.  It may be up to their dive operator partner.  I'd recommend calling them to ask the question, but you'd be on hold for a couple of hours and then they wouldn't know.

[islandwoman]

We're 77 and 78.  We are both PADI Advanced Open Water and Enriched Air Certified and have over 200 dives logged.  But sometimes the cruise lines only care about age. I know that some of them ban older divers, but I don't know whether HAL is one. 

We are considering a HAL cruise to Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba, and Grand Turk.  Although we would prefer local dive operators to the ship's excursions, sometimes that is logistically not possible. 

 

Edited August 4, 2023 by islandwoman

[omeinv]

2 hours ago, islandwoman said:

We're 77 and 78.  We are both PADI Advanced Open Water and Enriched Air Certified and have over 200 dives logged.  But sometimes the cruise lines only care about age. I know that some of them ban older divers, but I don't know whether HAL is one. 

We are considering a HAL cruise to Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba, and Grand Turk.  Although we would prefer local dive operators to the ship's excursions, sometimes that is logistically not possible. 
 

 

@islandwoman

On HAL 77 and 78 probably qualify for the kid’s program, so it’s hard to imagine you’d age out; but I don’t know for sure.  

 

I can give you far better recommendations for all those ports than any cruise line excursion.  Bonaire and Curaçao tend to be shore diving.  Are you up for that, or do you only want boat diving?

 

Harris

Denver, CO

[islandwoman]

20 minutes ago, omeinv said:

I can give you far better recommendations for all those ports than any cruise line excursion.  Bonaire and Curaçao tend to be shore diving.  Are you up for that, or do you only want boat diving? 

Harris

Denver, CO

We leave on August 26 for our annual three weeks at Buddy Dive in Bonaire.  We only do shore diving.

Several years ago we spent a week on Curacao shore diving, but were not thrilled with it.

The only reason we'd consider cruise ship excursions is logistics. 

[omeinv]

@islandwoman

 

 For Aruba I recommend Happy Divers Aruba.  It’s boat diving and nice small groups. https://happydiversaruba.com/

 

For Bonaire, VIP Diving does a great job. It will be met at the port, and they will take care of absolutely everything for a nice day with two short lives. It’s more pricey than some places come up, but they really do provide a complete service.  https://vipdiving.com/
 

In Curaçao, you cannot do better than CURious2Dive. Guided shore, dives with Hans are always a lot of fun, and he will take you hunting for Lionfish if you’d like.
https://www.curious2dive.com/

 

In Grand Turk I was really happy with Grand Turk Diving Company.  It’s a very small shop, but the boat dives were great.  If you have not drove there before, you are in for a treat the diving was really spectacular.

https://gtdiving.com/
 

Harris

Denver, CO