Advanced Open Water Course

Flying directly after scuba diving is incredibly dangerous and could result in a life-threatening illness called the Bends/Decompression Sickness. The Divers Alert Network (DAN) guidelines for flying after diving include:

• A single no-decompression dive, a minimum preflight surface or any driving to above 1000 ft (305 m) interval of 12 hours suggested.
• Multiple dives per day or multiple days of diving, a minimum preflight surface or any driving to above 1000ft (305m) interval of 18 hours is suggested.
• Dives requiring decompression stops are recommended to have longer than 18 hours.

Please discuss with your dive guide ahead of time what is suggested!

Any activity that brings you above 1000 ft (305 m) can trigger the Bends/Decompression Sickness. Please check your hike elevation to ensure that at no time you will be going up in elevation. If the hike does go to elevation, you must treat it like a preflight interval as listed above in the flying FAQ.

Water temperature in Puerto Rico ranges from 78 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter months (December-March) to 84 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer months. Most divers get cold in the winter months and a wetsuit is recommended. At other times of the year, wetsuits are good for abrasion protection. Wetsuits are available for rental for an additional fee, check out our rental rates.

The temperate waters of Puerto Rico are home to many species of fish of all sizes. Some we see every day are parrotfish, butterflyfish, blue tangs, sergeant majors, angelfish, squirrelfish. In fact, look at a fish ID guide for the Caribbean and we see those same characters every day. Ahhh… life in paradise.

The minimum age for open water scuba certification is 10 years but children must be at least 15 years old (or 12 for Junior Advanced Open Water Diver) to complete this certification.

You can leave your personal belongings either in your personal vehicle or in the dive center. When checking in, it’s better to leave everything in your vehicle so that you can be hands-free during check-in and equipment fitting. The dive center and guides are not responsible for personal belongings.

There is adequate free parking at most of the snorkeling and dive sites. Some sites (especially during the winter months) tend to have lots of visitors and parking can be crowded.

Yes, we do. And thank you for your service. We give a 10% discount to the service member on any tour or dive course. Please let the desk agent checking you in know that you are on active duty or a retired service member to receive your discount. Be ready to show your military ID.

Prior to participating in any SCUBA diving experience, you will be required to complete a medical history questionnaire. Certain conditions preclude us from taking you on a scuba experience without clearance from a doctor. If you feel you have any medical condition that may prevent you from participating, give us a call and we can send you a medical form for your physician to sign before you will be able to participate in a scuba experience. For all dive and snorkel participants, please let the guide know if you have any concerns or medical conditions they should be aware of.

The nature of the mask design does not allow you to wear your glasses. However, we do have a limited number of fixed lens masks that may suit your needs. These are available for use during your tour without charge or for an added fee for any rental. Inquire about them with a staff member.

Our instructors are PADI and NAUI certified and insured dive professionals. We also accept Universal Referrals from other agencies. Check with your home instructor about using the Universal Referral Program for participation guidelines for the Universal Referral Program for other training agencies.

We reserve the right to refuse participation if it endangers the safety of the participants. Scuba diving while pregnant is strictly prohibited.

For PADI divers, we can do an online lookup with your name and date of birth. For other training agencies, we recommend bringing your card with you. We are not allowed to rent scuba equipment (tanks, BCD, or regs) without proof of open water diver certification.

• The chemicals found in regular sunscreens are harmful to coral. Their tiny particles can be ingested, leading to toxicity and coral bleaching. Reef-friendly sunscreens avoid these toxic ingredients. Reef-SAFE sunscreens avoid harmful chemicals AND use ‘non-nano’ particles that are too large to be absorbed by corals, thus protecting marine ecosystems.
• PROTECT THE MARINE RESERVE: Avoid using sunscreens that contain oxybenzone, octinoxate, and parabens. Reef-Friendly sunscreen is available for purchase at the dive center.
• Sun protective clothing like long-sleeve rash guards are a great alternative to sunscreen and are available for purchase.
• If you’re looking at a mineral-based formula, be sure it says ‘non-nano’.