Diving with Sandals: A ScotSAC Diver’s Perspective
If you’re a qualified diver looking for a stress-free, all-inclusive dive experience, Sandals Resorts should be on your radar. Over the years, I’ve visited several Sandals properties – Montego Bay, Ochi (twice), Antigua, South Coast, Royal Barbados, and Halcyon Beach in St. Lucia – and completed more than 100 dives with them and I’m booked for another 2 visits in 2026. Here’s why I keep going back.
Diving Included for Certified Divers
One of the biggest perks at Sandals is that diving is included for certified divers. That means two tanks per day, every day of your stay, at no extra cost (obviously we dont dive the day we fly – that goes without saying). All Sandals resorts operate as PADI Dive Centers, but they’re very welcoming to ScotSAC-qualified divers too, which is great for our club members.
Top-Quality Gear and Boats
Sandals uses Scubapro BCDs and regulators, all well-maintained and high quality. Every dive is a boat dive, and their fleet is impressive – comfortable, spacious, and purpose-built for diving as you can see above. It’s clear they take safety and convenience seriously.
One point of note, Sandals are in the process of implementing a policy where you cannot dive without a dive computer. This is NOT included with the free equipment and either requires you to rent a computer from them for a nominal fee or bring your own. I will wite a post on dive computers in the near future to help you select the one that fits your needs.
What to Expect Underwater
Most dives are easy and relaxed, perfect for enjoying the Caribbean’s warm waters. While some dives can feel uneventful, there are plenty of gems. For example, during a week in Barbados, I logged 10 dives over 7 days, and every single dive featured at least one turtle – sometimes more!
And then there are the unforgettable dives. After thousands of dives in my 26 years underwater, my favourite dive ever was at Sandals Antigua, on Rambo’s Reef. In just 53 minutes, I ticked off 16 “big things” from my mental checklist. Some of them multiple times (and I have the video from my GoPro to prove it). – an experience so incredible it deserves its own post.
Training Opportunities
Sandals offers full PADI training, and I’ve completed everything up to Master Scuba Diver with them, plus several specialties. It’s a fantastic way to combine a holiday with skill development – though it comes at a cost of thousands of pounds. By contrast, ScotSAC training is more in-depth and completely free for club members, which is something we should all appreciate.
Why Sandals Works for Club Divers
For ScotSAC divers who want a hassle-free, warm-water experience, Sandals is hard to beat. You get:
- Unlimited diving for certified divers (2 tanks per day included)
- High-quality gear and boats
- Welcoming attitude toward ScotSAC qualifications
- Easy dives with occasional spectacular surprises
If you’re planning a dive holiday and want luxury, convenience, and guaranteed underwater time, Sandals is worth considering. And if you ever find yourself at Rambo’s Reef, keep your checklist handy – you might need it!
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