| One scuba diving vacation option for divers is with the | | | | as North America. |
| Club Med resorts that offer intensive dive programs. | | | | The Club Med dive boats are huge. These boats have |
| These particular Club Med locations have full service | | | | rows along each side and another row in the center. |
| scuba diving centers staffed by PADI and NAUI | | | | They are 'cattle' boats for sure as there can be as |
| certified instructors as well as full equipment rentals. | | | | much as 40 divers for each trip. However, they are |
| Club Med has locations with dive intensive programs in | | | | nice 'cattle' boats with two ladders in the back platform |
| the Caribbean and the South Pacific. One such resort | | | | and a large upper deck for the boat ride. A very nice |
| is the Club Med Turkoise in the Turks and Caicos | | | | feature of these boats is that there are two safety |
| islands located southeast of the Bahamas. While these | | | | stop bars below the boat at the 15 feet mark. These |
| islands are not the lushest in the Caribbean, they do | | | | bars are excellent for beginner scuba divers who still |
| have excellent coral reef systems making it a top | | | | have problems remaining at a level 15 feet for their |
| scuba diving destination in the region. | | | | safety stops. All they have to do is hold on to the |
| For those scuba divers who do not want to be | | | | safety stop bar and wait for the 3 minutes. On each |
| bothered with transit between hotels, restaurants and | | | | bar, there is also a regulator for those who are low on |
| dive boats, Club Meds are a wonderful option since | | | | air. Scuba divers can dive in either guided groups led |
| everything is on site. Like other high end all-inclusive | | | | by a divemaster or in their own buddy groups. Either |
| resorts, Club Meds have excellent dining, decent rooms | | | | way, there is an adequate briefing before each dive. |
| plus great facilities for water and land sports. A bonus | | | | The guided groups are particularly good for divers who |
| feature of Club Meds is the inclusion of instruction for | | | | do not want to worry about navigation. |
| many activities such as sailing and water skiing as well | | | | The diving at Turks and Caicos is wonderful with |
| as the nightly entertainment on stage. | | | | steep walls during the first part of each dive. The |
| As for the scuba diving programs which are offered | | | | return portion of each dive will generally be over a reef |
| at additional cost, they usually offer standard five day | | | | system with lots of small to medium size marine life. |
| packages which include a two tank trip every morning | | | | One resident barracuda nicknamed Charlie is often |
| plus a weekly night dive. There are optional single tank | | | | seen and likes to hang out between the safety stop |
| dives in the afternoon as well. In my estimation, the | | | | bars checking out the divers. In general, the diving is |
| Club Med Turkoise location I went to had 50% divers | | | | similar to that in the Bahamas but you won't find |
| and 50% non-divers. It was kind of funny to see that | | | | crowds of dive boats out in the water here since |
| the guests who go to bed the earliest in the evenings | | | | Turks and Caicos are not as saturated with dive |
| and show up in the dining room first thing in the | | | | operators and tourists yet. For an extra charge, it is |
| mornings are the scuba divers. Many divers I met | | | | possible for the resort to arrange a 3 tank day trip |
| were repeat guests. This proves that the Club Med is | | | | with an outside scuba operator to dive some sites |
| able to attract a loyal following among some scuba | | | | further out that have larger marine life. Some divers |
| divers. The resort is ideal for couples where one | | | | took this option and returned with very positive |
| spouse is a diver and the other is not. There are plenty | | | | reviews of multiple shark sightings. |
| of other activities on site for the non-diving spouse to | | | | If scuba divers are interested in going to a Club Med, it |
| do while the other is out diving. Later in the afternoon, | | | | is important to verify which locations currently offer the |
| couples or friends could get back together to do other | | | | intensive dive programs. Different Club Meds also |
| activities or simply relax. I went to this Club Med as a | | | | have different atmospheres. Some are livelier with a |
| single traveler and had no problems fitting in. The dining | | | | party scene and some are quieter. Consulting a travel |
| room staff usually asks guests whether they would | | | | agent familiar with Club Meds will be useful. Club Med |
| like to sit with a singles table or one with couples. The | | | | does have a good scuba diving program with very |
| advantage of this Club Med setup is that it is very | | | | professional staff and is an option worth checking out |
| easy to meet other guests on a social level. I ended up | | | | if one doesn't mind being on dive trips with relatively |
| socializing and diving with people from Europe as well | | | | large numbers of divers. |