1st Dive STX

N2 the Blue in Fredriksted. Ask for Jenny as your instructor.

Jenny is great! But you can't always count on them to give er to you. Greg and Mel at Latitude 17 are owner operators. They give very personal service.
340-514-7078

I agree, you can't beat Gerg and/or Mel.

Thanks a lot.

My wife is a little nervous so a more personalized instructor will be great.
We both want to see if this is something that we can do together once we move down.

I love Dive Experience and Michelle Pugh won't steer you wrong! Divers hall of famer 🙂

I love Dive Experience and Michelle Pugh won't steer you wrong! Divers hall of famer 🙂

I believe she was the first woman in the Diver's Hall of Fame too... Her dog is cool too!!

All the operators on St Croix are excellent and Qualified. I've settled into SCUBA because they operate a larger vessel, operate both ends of the island, and they can and will store and rinse your gear for the duration of you stay. Super instruction. Remember always to tip the crew no matter who you use.

I really like Mitch and Andrea at Adventures in Diving. They're super patient with new divers and right by the pier also.

http://www.adventuresindivingstx.com

Cane bay dive shop would be my second suggestion, they have a shop west too.

If you could, you should do all your pre-requisites in the states and then do your actual dives when you come down to get certified. You would probably save money and have more time to dive and not be tied up with the instruction and enjoy it a little bit more. Also your wife will then be able to become a little more accustomed to it.

If you could, you should do all your pre-requisites in the states and then do your actual dives when you come down to get certified. You would probably save money and have more time to dive and not be tied up with the instruction and enjoy it a little bit more. Also your wife will then be able to become a little more accustomed to it.

+1

Believe that you can do the classroom on line

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the STX dive ops for training. Sweat Bottom at Carambola has the advantage of using a pool for initial training before open water checkout. I'm not sure if the others have pool access. Doing the classroom training in the states is recommended and then get a referral for checkout dives. I don't know how the current classes are being taught but the first things we had to do was quite a bit of laps and treading water in the pool.

I would for sure do online classes but didn't you say you're just doing a DSD (discover dive)? Those are recommended for first timers as it's $100 and you get to see if you like it or not. Scuba isn't for everyone. If you know you like it and want to do the full open water cert - you do need to decide on an shop first - PADI you can use everyone except for Advetures in Diving as they are NAUI and SSI. In reality they're all the same but I do like NAUIs program a bit more than PADI. A bit more detailed safety oriented IMO, but they all do the same thing and it doesn't really matter in the long run. It's all learned by actually just logging dives and learning your own limits. Adventures in Diving does use a pool on occasion but I don't think anyone really needs to out west, especially. That little beach south of the pier is perfect for DSD and skills.

Of course got a cold with all the public transport in Italy but I'm dying to get back in the wata!!!! I did get to do a dive in Italy - in Cinque Terra - holy crap, 62'. BBBBRRRRR. I hate shoving into a 5 mil full suit, can't even reach my toes lol! It was cool not knowing all the fish though and saw a few real beauties.

I was initially NAUI certified, did my Advanced, then did a crossover to NAUI/PADI for my Divemaster certification.

Luckily by the best instructor ever for my basic training, Armando Jenicks, when I was probably 19 -20 years old.

The pool work is great for beginners because will it familiarise you with the equipment you'll be using and hopefully your instructor will rip ( well, maybe not rip but make you remove mask while submerged) your mask off and then your mouthpiece so that you won't freak out in any event.
Classwork is also important.

Get your basic done and get certified prior to being here if you want to dive while you're here. There are some instructors that do shallow water introductory lessons. If you have any fears best to start in a pool.

I grew up in, around and on the water here in the islands.
Friends and I started diving at 16/17 years old without flotation vests, depth gauges, any safety equipment or knowledge. We were lucky but
we did get ourselves in sticky situations.
Whatever floats your boat!
Good luck and enjoy.