My DH and I are celebrating our anniversary by cruising on the PG June 21st for 10 nights. We would like to take the PADI certification course, but we cannot seem to find out anything about it. Have any of you taken it? How much does it cost? Should I not ask? Do they arrange all your dives and should you not pre-book shore excursions? I called Regent in Miami and they just worried because I said my husband is 67 and I am 61!! Love, Elena <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" />

There's a few threads here on LCT that cover this topic.

http://www.luxurycruisetalk.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=002358#000000
http://www.luxurycruisetalk.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=000571#000017
http://www.luxurycruisetalk.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=002814#000002

It's probably better to try to get the classroom work done before you get on the PG - otherwise, you'll end up spending valuable vacation time sitting in a classroom studying a textbook. You'll need to do a PADI referral so that you can do your open water training onboard. And important to check out whether you can qualify medically to get certified.

FWIW, I haven't been on board the PG myself to date - this information is from others who have been on the PG and from my own experience getting certified.

Hope this helps!

Masaki

Hi Elena:

My wife and I are on the PG the week before you two. Masaki is correct: if possible, take your academic test prior to departure. I recently went through the full PADI certification in Seattle because I was originally certified in the mid-1960's, and it took four days total in a one on one class. The cost was $350 for instruction and gear rental.

You purchase the PADI open water course (book, dive table), read the material, and take a 4 or 4.5 hour test. It is pretty easy: there is a test on each chapter and a final, but you need to spend a few hours reading and completing the book questions and exercises. There are a couple of pool dives that take a half a day total, depending on how you do.

There are then four open water dives, which you can either complete in two days (two diver per day for two days), or get a referral to take on the PG. It would be very easy to complete the academics and pool dives in southern California, and have more time to enjoy the cruise.

By way of information, if you bring your own regulator I received a posting from the ship that said they use yoke stage 1 valves, not DIN.

Hope this helps,

Dan

To add my 2 cents:

Yes, I agree with the above. You should do as much as you can prior to your trip. Classroom & poolwork, of course. But if you can swing the check-out dives, all the better! Imagine if they could not do your check-out dives for a couple of day on ship.

Oh, one more VERY important thing....if either of you take any meds & I mean just about anything! Have your home doctor write you a note saying that you are cleared to dive. It will save you LOTS of time. They are very careful on the PG.

Enjoy...I had some of the best dives of my life there!

Doug