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I Became a Certified Scuba Diver on Vacation — Here's How

Getting a PADI certification on my vacation changed the course of my future trips forever — in the best possible way.

At approximately 7:30 a.m. on the third day of our vacation in San Pedro, Belize, I shook my best friend awake. "Get up, I've changed my mind," I said. "We're getting our PADI certification. They're expecting us at the dive shop in the next hour."

Up until that moment, I had been ping-ponging with the suggestion from my best friend, Brando, about getting our scuba-diving certification during a vacation at Alaia Belize, Autograph Collection , the newly opened resort in the dreamy Caribbean paradise that is Ambergris Caye.

On one hand, I was excited and intrigued to start exploring a new part of the world — the roughly 71% of Earth that's covered in ocean. On the other hand, I was crippled by the fear of the unknown.

In the past, Brando and I had discussed getting our scuba-diving certification together the way friends who travel together often do.

But upon arriving at Alaia, a fateful stop by the dive shop started up the conversation again. We were, after all, in one of the most coveted scuba-diving spots in the world . That night, I went on an agony-filled ride as to whether or not I was truly ready to take the plunge, playing out every scenario in my head. My mind raced: I'll do it another time . It'll ruin our vacation. I haven't mentally prepared for this. I'm just here to enjoy and relax.

On the morning I shook my friend awake, I watched the sun come up over the Caribbean Sea from our balcony while listening to Bethenny Frankel's podcast. The theme was focused on facing your fears and realizing your potential. The special guest was Howie Mandel, who in one sentence, would spring me into action.

"If you say no, you get nothing," he warned. Thanks for that, Howie.

Within a few minutes, I was on line with Alaia's on-site dive shop and had officially signed us up for an open-water scuba-diving course.

Coupled with my now-anecdotal knowledge and conversations with longtime divers and experts in the field, here's what I learned along the way and everything I wish I had known before getting certified as a recreational diver.

Understand the type of scuba-diving certification you're getting and what it means for the future.

Getting certified as a scuba diver is like getting a license for a car — you're essentially learning and practicing the steps to keep yourself and others safe.

The most widely accepted way to get that "license" is with a PADI certification. PADI , which stands for Professional Association of Diving Instructors, is a trusted name and logo you'll come to find all over the world once you start diving. There's also the highly accredited SSI , or Scuba Schools International, as well as many other recognized scuba-diving certification programs.

Having a PADI dive certification allows you to rent dive gear and explore the underwater world with the adequate training necessary to be safe, Emeliano Rivero, owner and operator of the Belize Pro Dive Center , told me. The Belize Pro Dive Center, which partners with Alaia, is located at the resort and where my friend and I would eventually complete our certification.

Getting a PADI certification has its advantages, as it's the largest dive training organization in the world. In other words, you'll likely find a PADI dive center wherever you go, according to Bas Noij, a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) and owner of VIP Diving in Bonaire. "A well-streamlined method of teaching ensures consistency when it comes to safety and training standards," he said.

You'll need a minimum of three days to get your scuba-diving certification if you're doing it on vacation.

Planning to get certified on a long weekend trip? You might want to rethink that. During our vacation, we had seven full days planned at Alaia, and having this amount of time offered us the flexibility to both get the course work, skills, and open-water dives in without feeling a time crunch to also enjoy the property's rooftop, pools, and beautiful beach bar.

That's because it's generally accepted that the PADI Open Water Diver certification can take three days, but possibly more if you fail certain parts and need to retake an exam or demonstrate a required skill to your instructor.

"It's an intense course, but should be relaxing and not add stress," said Noij. And I'd agree with that.

The first part of the PADI certification requires you to complete reading and course work related to the theory of scuba diving, which helps you understand how it's possible, what your gear does, how to communicate underwater, and how to avoid some of the potential risks.

After passing an exam on your new knowledge, you'll start to learn and practice skills for your open-water dive in a pool. This is called a confined dive, and it's meant to get you comfortable with using the scuba gear and your communication skills.

Your last step is the open-water dive in which an instructor tests you on your skills in the ocean. During this time, your instructor is there to make sure your skills are up to par to keep yourself safe. Much of it is focused on practicing what happens in emergency situations, like losing your air supply or mask and needing to return to the surface quickly.

The first couple minutes of my open-water dive were particularly terrifying, especially when it set in that swimming to the surface of the pool to communicate — as I had done a few times on my confined dives — wouldn't be a possibility any longer. I was quickly able to recover and calm down once I remembered the first and most important rule of scuba diving, which had been drilled into my brain at that point by the course work and my instructor.

"Breathe," I told myself. "Breathe continuously and never hold your breath."

You could need medical clearance to start your scuba-diving certification.

Both Brando and I are in our mid-30s and fairly physically active. I'm a pretty good swimmer, so the need to tread or float in water as a requirement to pass the scuba-diving certification did not worry me. While scuba diving itself never physically exhausted me, it did take a lot of energy, so I can see how being in good shape is paramount, regardless of age.

Before you start dive training, it's important to make sure you are physically fit. A good place to start assessing that is by looking at PADI's medical questionnaire , Noij advised. "If the form indicates that you need a medical clearance, make sure to get that before signing up for a course," he said.

Diving isn't scary, but it may scare you at first.

There are many advantages to becoming a diver. It was truly a life-changing experience, giving me a new sense of confidence as an adult. After all, you're learning a new skill, and after feeling cooped up at home amid the pandemic, it reminded me just how much I'm capable of.

Of course, there's an inherent fear that'll creep up on you if and when you decide to get your scuba-diving certification: What will I do in an emergency? How will I be able to take my mask off underwater, clear it, and still see out of it? Could I really get attacked by a shark ? Will I muck it all up and drown? Know that these feelings are natural.

Breathing and communicating underwater might not feel natural, but you have to learn to trust the process, technology, and training, and accept that all that is first and foremost designed to keep you safe.

If you're still apprehensive, start with a Discover Scuba Diving course , though it's important to note that these do not count toward your certification. "This is an introduction course with a little instruction on dive gear, buoyancy, and pressure. [It also includes] a swim on the surface and eventually breathing underwater. Finally, an underwater swim takes place in confined water before doing a shallow dive. This experience helps to overcome fear, as it covers how easy and safe scuba gear and scuba diving is," Rivero told me.

Read the reviews and find a dive shop you can trust.

Regardless of where you are in the world, PADI's website is a good place to find a trusted dive center. "Amongst PADI dive centers, there are different ratings, with five stars being the highest rating," Noij told me. I didn't know it at the time, but the Belize Pro Dive Center was one of those five-star facilities, and it was just pure luck that it was some 200 feet from our hotel room.

Finding a quality dive center is important because it will mean you're working with a team that has lots of experience in diving, and knows the local sites and conditions. But most importantly, the center will have a great safety record. Your safety in the water depends on being provided good dive equipment that has been properly maintained and checked over time — something you're taught to double check yourself as a diver, even when diving with the most respectable of centers.

Following my instincts and advice Noij would later share, I scoured the reviews to see what guests had to say about the dive center before committing, and I recommend that you do the same. "Last but not least, when you arrive, have a look around. Ask questions. Ask to see the equipment. And you'll get a good idea of the quality of the business," Noij added.

This rang true for Belize Pro Dive Center — beyond well-kept facilities, we were greeted with friendly, smiling faces, lots of thorough answers to any and all of our questions, and a general patience for newbies. Our instructor, Izzo, would become like a friend to us, and this relationship is important because you're trusting them with your life.

Prepare for some homework.

During this trip, Brando and I had agreed that our long-overdue vacation would be centered around getting some sun, relaxing and recharging, eating, and polishing off a good book. Little did we know the actual amount of reading we would be doing on this trip.

That's because there's a lot of coursework to complete before you can finish your open-water dives and get officially certified. And no, there's no shortcut or way around it. Reading took about eight hours over the course of three days, which can definitely cut into the amount of frozen drinks you plan on enjoying, even, if like us, you decide to do it poolside.

PADI's five-section coursework, which we completed online, is split into multiple chapters, along with review quizzes to test your knowledge retention. Finally, there's an open-water diver exam, and you must score at least 75%.

If I could do it again, I would complete the coursework and exam itself before leaving for the airport for vacation. I would also spread out the reading over a week rather than three days, so I can retain it at a pace I felt more comfortable with.

Plan your open-water dives at a site you actually want to visit.

Belize is home to the world's second-largest barrier reef and the Great Blue Hole , so upon deciding to do our PADI certification, we knew we'd also be experiencing some of the best scuba diving around the globe.

"In Belize, training dives can be fun...The ocean is warm, at an average temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit; visibility is excellent, at 60 feet; and dives are done in the ocean where the second-largest living barrier reef is located. Your training immediately puts you in amazing conditions with lots of marine life," Rivero said.

Because the reef is home to thousands of species of coral, fish, and sea creatures, I'd recommend learning in and around San Pedro, at Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Mermaid Layer, and Esmeralda Canyon. These were particularly great dive sites for first-timers, but there are many other popular destinations where you can get certified, too, including Maui, Cancun, Florida, Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica.

Not a big fan of boats? Some destinations, like Bonaire, make it so that you won't even need to step on board to complete a dive. "Bonaire is the shore dive paradise of the world," Noij said. "The island is surrounded by a fringing coral reef that's just feet from the shore and enables you to dive pretty much anywhere right from the beach."

While it may seem obvious, I'd recommend doing a lot of research and choosing a great dive site because you'll not only have access to enthusiasts of the sport, but it'll quickly make you fall in love with scuba diving and drive you toward returning to the recreational sport over and over again.

Do your research ahead of time, especially because costs can vary widely.

I had done some research prior to our trip to see what it would cost to get certified in New York City. The airfare to New York alone can be expensive, and unsurprisingly, getting certified in the Big Apple costs more, too. In Manhattan , that price clocks in around $600 without the coursework fee ($130 for e-learning, nonrefundable) or charge for the separate (but necessary) open-water dive.

Different countries — and continents — have varying price levels for PADI certification, Noij advised. "In Asia, courses tend to be cheaper," he said.

At Alaia's on-site dive center, our price was $516.25 per person, which included the e-learning coursework, taxes, the dive site park entrance fee, and all rental gear, making it a great solution for folks just getting into the sport.

Becoming a certified scuba diver will change the way you think about travel.

There's a big payoff for getting certified. Remember that part about exploring 71% of the planet that is underwater? Nowadays, I can't even consider traveling somewhere new and not at least searching whether there's a great dive site in that destination.

During my open-water dives and subsequently afterward, it felt like a whole new world had opened up — forget the fact that "Under the Sea" from "The Little Mermaid" was practically playing itself out right in front of me.

I've witnessed colorful, striped, and spotted fish swim in schools; a turtle graze for food at the bottom of the ocean floor; and eels poke their little heads out of a coral reef where they're hiding. There were a few moments of overcoming fear, too, like when a family of sharks came to check out my dive buddies and me.

But beyond that, learning to scuba dive has also been a great way to meet new people, join a new community, celebrate something truly spectacular, and see firsthand why the ocean is so worthy of our protection.

Getting a PADI certification on vacation changed the course of my trips forever — in the best possible way. I now have something to look forward to anywhere I go in the world, whether that's a beach destination or a cold-weather spot like Iceland, where, with some advanced dry suit certification, you can even dive in frigid water and touch two continents at the same time. I know what's next on my list.

How to Get a Scuba Certification on Vacation, In 4 Steps

Many people dream of getting a scuba certification in an exotic destination. It makes sense: If you're going to spend days, even weeks, learning to dive, why not see some cool stuff in the process?

But there's a lot to consider when learning to dive on vacation. From the "where" to the "how much," here is everything you need to know to get scuba-certified while traveling.

1. Decide where to get your diving license

There are two ways to go about choosing a destination.

The first, more methodical, way would be to decide what kind of dives you are interested in experiencing. Certain destinations are known for certain things: Belize has the Blue Hole, Grenada has drift diving, Australia has the iconic Great Barrier Reef, Curacao has the Superior Producer wreck site, and Southeast Asia has endless, isolated islands. Perhaps your personal preferences and ambitions can lead you to a specific dive destination, be it specific geology, like holes or shelves, or scenery, like wrecks, reefs, and sea life.

But this train of thought can get technical really fast. In reality, most destinations offer a little bit of everything, especially for beginners. Since you'll have plenty of free time above water, the easiest way to choose your destination is to think about what you’d like to do when you’re not diving. Is the sunny, laid-back Caribbean your cup of tea? Do you want to experience a foreign culture in Southeast Asia? Logistics and budget also play a part. From the East Coast, for example, it’s very easy to reach the Caribbean, whereas Southeast Asia or Australia would be a hefty, and pricey, haul. Diving as a beginner is going to be great anywhere, so choose a destination that excites you and fits your budget.

2. Choose the best scuba certification program for you

There are three ways you can get your diving license.

The most comprehensive way is to sign up for a pre-existing package tour from a pre-picked destination. These packages charge a set price and have arranged all the details for you, including accommodations, meals, certification/dive schedules, and extracurricular activities, like sunset cruises, rum punch parties, and SNUBA lessons. Most times, the dates are limited to a specific week or weeks of travel. All that’s left to do is pay for your airfare.  These tours are also typically group oriented, so you’ll be able to meet other like-minded, scuba cert hopefuls. Pro-tip: Make sure that you go through a reputable dealer, like PADI , to be assured that the tour has been properly vetted.

The opposite approach would be to do your certification “a la carte,” meaning you select your destination, hotel, and dive shop independently of each other. All officially licensed PADI dive shops are aggregated in a search engine on its website. So, if drift diving in Grenada is your dream trip -- you can search all the shops that offer a certification program on the island. This gives you the flexibility to pick your dive shop based on the price, courses offered, reputation, and location. In this scenario, you would locate and contact the dive shop directly to arrange your certification.

The third way would be to combine the two above approaches by choosing a destination and then a specific hotel that offers a scuba-cert package. Suppose you pick Grenada because of its drift diving, but your preferences are limited beyond that. In this case, you could forgo an all-encompassing package (like the ones mentioned in the first paragraph) for a smaller, more compact scuba-cert program offered by a resort or hotel. For example, Sandals La Source , and all Sandals resorts, offer a scuba cert package and free dives to certified guests, so you can dive for free after passing your cert.

3. Know what to expect during your program

The entry-level course to become scuba certified is PADI’s Open Water Course . If you were doing this at home at the local community dive center, the program would entail classroom sessions, pool instruction, and then four “open water” dives, typically conducted in the local reservoir or lake.

Since many people have found this process somewhat laborious and unrealistic for their lifestyles, “accelerated” programs were created that allowed a scuba-cert hopeful to complete the coursework at their own pace from home. Then, a brief review, along with the pool session and open water dives, can be completed in a weekend. This second approach is what's usually followed by destination dive programs. Once you sign up for a course, you will be shipped the textbook and are expected to be prepared to take the final written exam upon arrival at your scuba destination. The material is important but pretty straightforward and can be reviewed with your instructor before taking the exam.

So, if you’ve heard that things are “more chill” in the Caribbean, it’s true. According to PADI’s website, it’s possible to complete your dives in three or four days by completing the knowledge development portion online or at home with materials provided by your local dive shop or resort.

When vetting dive shops, simply ask them how long the certification process typically takes the average person to complete. If you complete your coursework at home, it’s usually two to four days: one day of pool dives and two days of open water dives. It’s possible that these days could even be half days; pool training can be completed in a few hours, for example. The final exam is written and takes one to two hours to complete.

This all adds up to a good thing: If you pencil in a week’s vacation, you can, in theory, get your certification and still have half your trip left to dive and explore the destination (a week is also good in that it allows a few days’ buffer in case of bad weather). You also won’t be involved in scuba training all day. Most likely, you will have a morning and an afternoon dive, each only about 30 minutes, with a total commitment of two to three hours for paperwork, Q and A, and boat transfer. This means that you can truly have a well-rounded vacation while you get your certification.

Note: Despite the convenience of learning the material at home and the joy of a flexible certification program, the information and skills you will learn are vital to your life and survival, and so they should be taken with the utmost of seriousness.

4. Compare scuba certification costs

Given that PADI scuba certifications are for life -- meaning they never expire -- the cost is pretty reasonable. Each PADI dive shop is independently operated, so the price varies slightly, but you are usually looking at $400 to $600 for the written exam, pool sessions, and open-water dives.

Package tours and resorts offering PADI certification often include other perks, such as free dives post-certification, to sweeten the deal. Be sure to ask the dive shop if there are any extras included. It is everything around the actual certification -- flights, hotels, extra dives, and entertainment -- that make a scuba-cert vacation add up, so you’ll want to shop around.

But remember, the certification process will only be half your trip; you’re still paying for a legit vacation, one you will surely never forget, leaving with skills you will enjoy for the rest of your life.

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6 of the World's Cheapest Places to Get Scuba Certified

Joe Dovala / Getty Images

For those with a love of the sea or an adventurous spirit, learning to scuba dive is an unforgettable experience. It can also be an expensive one, with the average entry-level dive course in Florida, United States costing around $525. There are more affordable places to get certified, however — most of them in developing countries where rent, wages, fuel and other business essentials are considerably cheaper. 

In theory, the quality of a dive course should be the same all over the world — after all, scuba instructors are certified through international agencies with standardized training methods. However, the reality is that there are good and bad dive centers and instructors everywhere. Cheap doesn’t necessarily mean poor quality, but it is important that you research your options carefully to make sure you’re not saving a few dollars by compromising on safety.

Choosing Your Dive Destination

In particular, find out how many people will be in your class and how long the course will take. A quality entry-level dive course should take a minimum of three days (although four days or more is preferable in order to give you enough time to master the diving techniques that will keep you safe underwater). It’s also important to find out what’s included – if you have to pay extra for gear rental or teaching materials, a cheap course can quickly become expensive. 

You should also consider the expense of getting to your dive destination and the cost of living once you’re there. Generally, land-based (not liveaboard) diving is cheapest, especially if you can save on fuel costs by diving from the shore  instead of from a boat. In this article, we look at six of the most affordable places to do your  PADI Open Water Diver  course. All of them have good quality dive sites and an abundance of affordable accommodation and dining options. 

Koh Tao, Thailand

Located off the east coast of Thailand, the tiny island of Koh Tao has earned itself a reputation as South East Asia’s best destination for learning to dive on a budget. With more than 60 dive centers, prices are competitive, costing THB 11,000 on average (approximately $350). Courses are offered in a multitude of different languages, and once you’re qualified, fun dives are equally affordable — allowing you to gain experience underwater without breaking the bank. 

The conditions around Koh Tao are generally good, with average water temperatures of around 82ºF/28ºC. Visibility varies throughout the year and from site to site, but often exceeds 65 feet/20 meters. However, the quality of Koh Tao’s dive sites has been reduced in recent years by overfishing in the Gulf of Thailand. The coral cover and variety of fish life cannot be compared to more remote sites in Indonesia or Borneo , but first-time divers are still likely to be impressed. 

Utila, Honduras

Surrounded by the sparkling Caribbean, Utila is the smallest and cheapest of Honduras’ idyllic Bay Islands. Home to a host of budget accommodation options, it has earned itself a reputation as a tropical backpacker’s paradise. There are plenty of dive shops to choose from, with the cost of a PADI Open Water dive course averaging around $290. Although course prices are pretty consistent, some dive centers offer better package deals on diving and accommodation. 

Utila is an especially good choice if you’re planning on progressing through the PADI education system. It is one of the cheapest places on the planet to qualify as a professional divemaster or instructor. Best of all, the dive sites here are world-class. Healthy reefs support a wealth of marine life, ranging from manta rays and turtles to whale sharks in season. Expect sea mounts, reef walls and wrecks, all washed by perennially warm, clear waters. 

Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt

Egypt’s Red Sea has long been one of the world’s most iconic dive destinations. It is also surprisingly affordable, with PADI Open Water courses in Sharm El-Sheikh averaging around $360. In recent years, tourism in Egypt has suffered due to safety concerns raised by political instability and increased terrorist activity. However, resort towns like Sharm El-Sheikh are still considered safe, and the reduced number of visitors means uncrowded dive sites and rock-bottom prices. 

Many dive centers are slashing course rates in an attempt to revive business. With luck, you may be able to find specials that allow you to get scuba certified for as little as $250. The diving here is legendary, offering easy access to Sinai Peninsula highlights like the flourishing reefs of Ras Mohammed National Park and the Straits of Tiran. Stay on to do your PADI Advanced Open Water course and you may get to dive the SS Thistlegorm , considered by many to be the world’s best wreck dive. 

Dauin, Philippines

The Philippines is a well-known diver’s paradise. One of the cheapest places to get certified is Dauin, a small coastal town located just south of Dumaguete on Negros Island. Here, entry-level courses average around PHP 17,500 (approximately $330). Some dive centers offer discounts if you choose shore dives instead of boat dives for your qualifying sessions in open water. This means that you’ll enter the water directly from the land, saving money on fuel and crew. 

Dauin’s shore dives are a rewarding option for those interested in the ocean’s smaller critters — including octopus, cuttlefish, crabs, and seahorses, all of which thrive in the island’s inshore waters. However, if you’re hoping to see larger animals it’s worth paying extra for boat dives, which will give you access to nearby Apo Island. The sites here are protected, and the reefs support a stunning profusion of coral and fish life as a result. The visibility is also at its best offshore. 

Amed, Indonesia

TripSavvy / Jess Macdonald

Diving in Indonesia can be expensive, especially in far-flung areas like Komodo and Raja Ampat. Tiny beach resort Amed is the exception to the rule, with courses costing around IDR 4,790,000 (approximately $320) in low season. Located on the east coast of Bali (and far from the busy tourist center of Kuta), Amed has a wide choice of dive centers. Many of them offer generous dive packages with hugely discounted rates on local accommodation. 

The cost of living in Amed is minimal, with good food and beautiful beachfront rooms available for a fraction of the price one might expect elsewhere in Indonesia. The diving is characterized by stunning visibility, black volcanic sand and colorful reefs that teem with an impressive variety of marine life. Keep an eye out for turtles and reef sharks. Don’t miss the USAT Liberty, a magnificent WWII shipwreck located within a few feet of the surface at nearby Tulamben. 

Cozumel, Mexico

Luis Javier Sandoval/ Getty Images

Open Water courses cost around $375 plus tax in Cozumel , the dreamy diver's paradise located off the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. While that's a little more expensive than the other entries on this list, the balance is more than made up for by the relatively cheap price of flights from the US to Mexico. Once you get there, the cost of living is also low with operators like Cozumel Dive School offering packages from as little as $319 per person for five nights of accommodation and three days of diving.

There are plenty of other reasons to choose Cozumel for your first scuba experience. Amazing visibility, warm water temperatures and relaxed currents all make for beginner-friendly conditions – while the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is the second-largest in the world. You'll have a choice of over 45 dive sites, all defined by abundant coral and thriving marine life. Be on the lookout for turtles, dolphins, eels, eagle rays and more than 500 species of colorful fish.

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Diving the Red Sea Redefined My Idea of Regenerative Travel

A quick glance at my dive computer showed a steady 63 feet below the surface—a depth that, in and of itself, is quite forgettable. Neutrally buoyant, I hovered above the sandy bottom, starstruck at what was in front of me. Most dives involve coral and colorful fish. The good ones have dolphins, sharks , or shipwrecks. This was far better. Just a dozen yards away was a dugong, unaware of my presence.

Nicknamed the “sea cow,” dugongs are relatives of manatees, but much more rare. In the Red Sea—which is bigger than the state of California—there are just 2,000. With fragmented and vulnerable populations around the world, dugongs have been on IUCN's red list of threatened species since 1990.

Our small group barely moved for the next hour, using a full tank of gas to watch this stoic 1,000-pound creature search for food. Dugongs eat sea grass all day, using their flippers to walk along the ocean floor, creating trails that are easy to follow. As the son of an endangered species biologist, this moment felt a little extra special. At that moment, I couldn’t wait to call my mom and tell her all about the dugong.

Red Sea Diving 

A few days earlier I flew across the pond to Egypt, eager to visit a new corner of the world. I was invited by PADI , the world’s premier scuba organization, to join a group of divers in Marsa Alam, a coastal village in the southeastern corner of the country. The plan was to explore a few of the Red Sea’s underwater gems, take part in citizen science projects, and get to know the local community. This was a stark juxtaposition to all-inclusive resorts in Hurghada, just three and a half hours to the north.

The Red Sea is known to divers as the “Underwater Garden of Eden.” It’s home to thousands of species of fish, hundreds of species of coral, and six marine protected areas, which ostensibly limit commercial, human, and recreational activity for the long-term health of the ecosystem. 

While this sounds great on paper, I was curious how well the regulations were enforced in-person, knowing that tourism is one of the country’s largest industries and they are incredibly hard to monitor.

PADI is helping accelerate the creation of marine protected areas with a program called Adopt the Blue , its own collection of underwater conservation sites around the world. These sites leverage their network of 128,000 professional divers to tackle local projects like cleanups and animal surveys. 

The long-term goal is to galvanize a conservation groundswell, lobby governments, and protect 30 percent of the ocean by 2030. It’s an aggressive target, but perhaps not impossible, either.

What Is Regenerative Travel?

The trip was billed as an opportunity to take part in regenerative travel, a relatively new buzz word in the tourism industry. The concept of regenerative travel skyrocketed in popularity after a New York Times article predicted its inevitable post-COVID ascension. Many travel operators and resorts have bought into the idea, in part driven by an industry group called the Future of Tourism Coalition .

Regenerative travel, simply put, is leaving a place better than it was before you visited. It goes beyond sustainable tourism , which aims to conserve and protect what is already there. However, without third-party certification, an overseeing body, or objective guidelines as to what merits a regenerative travel title (and what doesn’t), it's hard to deduce what's real and what's just marketing jargon.

To create a regenerative option for scuba divers, PADI launched 11  Eco Centers in 2022 in association with the United Nations Environment Program and the Green Fins Initiative. This effectively codified sustainability goals not just within the organization, but also for its network of 6,600 dive centers around the world, giving the organization a path to scale impact in the foreseeable future.

PADI Eco Centers

To be honest, when I first heard about a regenerative travel trip to Egypt, it sparked equal intrigue and doubt. Was it actually possible to fly across the world and not do harm? Ultimately, curiosity got the best of me and I said yes, hoping the trip would unveil the truth behind the tourism fad.

After thirty-some hours of travel, I arrived at the family-run Red Sea Diving Safaris , one of PADI’s first Eco Centers. With three locations—Wadi Lahami, Marsa Nakari, and Marsa Shagra—Red Sea Diving Safaris is able to host hundreds of guests in a sustainable way, sourcing much of their food locally and keeping accommodations modest. Instead of luxury, their emphasis is hands-on conservation and education.

The week was spent diving twice daily—sometimes more—around the healthiest coral I’ve ever seen, even after time in Tahiti , Fiji , and Baja. The Red Sea shows little impact from human presence, even with a major shipping lane in the middle of it. 

We saw a pod of dolphins, sharks, turtles, and a wide variety of fish and vibrant coral. It’s hard to say for sure how much the marine protected areas play into this, but it’s safe to assume their impact will only grow in the future.

To break up the dives, we visited the local farm and solar array, spent time in the local communities, and had conversations with local and regional conservation leaders. Serendipitously, before our dive with the dugong, we met with Dr. Ahmed Shawky, a marine biologist and arguably the world’s leading expert on the species. Shawky created PADI’s Dugong Conservation Course, along with three other specialty courses on conservation: Marine Biology, Marine Surveys, and Coral Monitoring Surveys.

Big Takeaways

First, travel is and will continue to be unsustainable, let alone regenerative, without green aviation fuels and a major leap in modern technology. The carbon cost to fly roundtrip from the U.S. to Egypt is a quarter of what the average American uses in an entire year. To mitigate my impact—and feel comfortable with traveling as much as I do—I invest in carbon capture technologies to offset all of my flights.

That said, my trip to Egypt was far from a bust. Much the opposite, actually. My big lesson was to not let the imperfect get in the way of progress. Even though the premise of regenerative travel is currently flawed doesn't mean it will be in the future. 

Aspiring regenerative destinations like Red Sea Diving Safaris are, with any measure you want to apply, considerably better than places that care little about future generations. If you’re going to travel, a regenerative option should be a baseline requirement.

As a lifelong skeptic, my modus operandi is to poke holes in big ideas, but sometimes it's important to admit I was wrong. After seeing first-hand the community and conservation impact at Marsa Alam, it’s clear it's on the path towards positive change. I’m convinced they're already creating waves around Egypt, inspiring others to change their practices for the better.

Moscow Boat Tour

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Description

See all the gems of historical and cultural center of the capital in short time and without traffic jams or tiresome walking.

Depending on the itinerary and duration of the Moscow River boat trip, the tour can be 3 or 5 hours.

Highlights of the tour

• St Basil’s Cathedral;
• Stalin skyscraper on Kotelnicheskaya (Tinkers) embankment;
• The Kremlin;
• “House on the Embankment” Stalin skyscraper;
• Monument to Peter I;
• The Central House of Artists;
• Christ the Savior Cathedral;
• Gorky Park;
• Moscow State University;
• Russian Academy of Sciences;
• Luzhniki stadium;
• Novodevichy Monastery;
• Kiev railway station;
• Europe Square;
• Moscow City Hall;
• Government House;
• Expocentre Exhibition Complex;
• and other famous sights.

You will learn about the different epochs of the city from the foundation in 1147 till Soviet times of 20 th  century.

Moscow River

Moskva river has the form of a snake and is the main waterway of Moscow, consisting of a cascade of reservoirs. Within the city, Moskva river is 80 km long, 120 m - 200 m wide and up to 14 m deep. The narrowest part of the river is the Kremlin area in the city center, and the most extensive is around the Luzhniki Stadium in the south. 

Bridges in Moscow

Undoubtedly, bridges and embankments are among the most scenic spots and main attractions of Moscow. Plus, they are so romantic.

• Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge –  Great Stone Bridge –  is the main bridge of Moscow . The first stone bridge was constructed here in the 17th century.
• Patriarshy Bridge  is one of the youngest pedestrian bridges, built in 2004. The bridge connects the iconic Christ the Saviour Cathedral with funky Bersenevskaya embankment, extremely popular place among locals for its trendy art galleries, cafes and panoramic views. Patriarshy Bridge used to be a shooting location for ex-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's New Year speech to the nation.
• Borodinsky Bridge,  erected in honor of the 100th anniversary of the glorious victory in the Battle of Borodino (which every Russian kid knows about), a fierce legendary battle during the Russo-French war of 1812.
• Bagration Bridge  one of the  pedestrian bridges with most picturesque views of the Moskva River with its numerous upper-level observation platforms. The bridge was erected to celebrate the 850th anniversary of Moscow city in 1997.
• Krymsky Bridge  used to be in Top 5 Europe’s longest bridges some 100 years ago. The bridge got its name after the ancient Krymsky ford which Crimean Tartars used to invade Moscow in the 16 th  century.

Embankments of Moscow

Moscow river boats 37 embankments, the most popular being Kremlevskaya, Sofiyskaya, Pushkinskaya, Vorobyovskaya and Kolomenskaya.

You can get the most spectacular views of the Kremlin from  Kremlevskaya and Sofiyskaya embankments.

• Pushkinkaya embankment  is the most romantic in Moscow. It meanders along Gorky Park and Neskuchnyi garden and is rich for all kinds of entertainment as well as cozy nooks, including Olivkovy beach, the famous Zeleny theater as well as a pier for river cruisers.
• Vorobyevskaya embankment  is part of Sparrow Hills nature reserve. This place opens a beautiful panorama of the river and city from the observation deck and is considered to be the place for taking serious decisions in life.
• Embankment in Kolomenskoye  Museum-Reserve has a special charm due to its peculiar geographical relief. The boat trip around Kolomenskoye would be the most peaceful in your life.
• Taras Shevchenko embankment  is popular among photographers for its modern Moscow City skyscrapers. Highly recommended for your night boat trip.
• Embankments of Moscow are the pride of the capital. A distinctive feature of each of the promenades is its architecture and beautiful views. In addition, almost all the embankments of Moscow have a rich history and a lot of notable buildings.

Different epochs

Taking a walk along the Moskva River by boat, you will witness the architecture of Moscow from different eras and styles. Archaeological studies indicate that already in the XI century there stood a fortified settlement on Borovitsky hill, which is now called the Kremlin. Little fortress could not accommodate all the residents of the rapidly growing city, and the Grand Duke ordered the construction of a new Kremlin, larger than the former.

Boat trip around Kolomenskoe Park

Moscow river boat trip starts from the pier Klenovy (Maple) Boulevard and provides reat views of Nicholas Perervinsky monastery.

Nicholas Perervinsky monastery was founded at the time of the Battle of Kulikov (1380). The monastery, got its name from the surrounding area – “Pererva”, which can be translated like “tear off” and because of the location –  here it abruptly changed its course, turning to Kolomna, standing on the opposite bank.

Nowadays Kolomenskoye is State Art, Historical, Architectural and Natural Landscape Museum-Reserve, which doors are open to everyone who wants to get in touch with the ancient history of Russia.

Take a break from the big city hustle in the shady parks and gardens of the Kolomenskoe Museum-Reserve. Don’t miss a wonderful Church of the Ascension and Tsar Alexey’s Palace in Kolomenskoye!

Monasteries and temples

• Novospassky Monastery
• Founded in the 13th century on the site where now is located the Danilovsky monastery. After a few decades, in 1330, Ivan Kalita moved the monastery onto the Borovitskii hill of the Kremlin. However, in the 15th century, Spassky Monastery again moved, this time to a more spacious place on Krasnoholmskaya waterfront.
• Church of St. Nicholas in Zayaitskom
• Erected in the middle of the XVIII century in baroque style. The building survived after the 1812 fire, but the utensils were destoyed. Parishioners collected donations and restored the temple on their own. In Soviet times, it was closed and re-opened only in 1992.
• Cathedral of Christ the Savior
• The church was originally erected in honor of the victory over Napoleon and was being under construction for long 44 years. Notoriously demolished in 1937 to be a giant swimming pool under open sky. The current building was constructed in 1990s. It is the tallest and one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world.
• The temple was built in 1679-82, during the reign of Tsar Fedor Alekseevich, in late Muscovite Baroque style and can be characterized as bonfire temple. Each gable is a symbol of a heavenly fire.
• Novodevichy Convent
• The most famous concent and monastery in Moscow, presumably founded in 1524. Novodevichy’s status has always been high among other monasteries, it was in this monastery where the women of the royal blood, the wives of Tsars and local rulers of Moscow were kept in prison as nuns.
• St. Andrew’s church  (male acts as Compound Patriarch of Moscow)
• St. Andrew’s church stands right on the slopes of the Sparrow Hills, on the way down to the Moskva River, on the territory of the Nature Reserve “Sparrow Hills”. The monastery is small in size but is very cozy. It’s situated in a quiet courtyard surrounded by temples, fruit trees and flowers.

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow river cruise.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

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Rusmania • Deep into Russia

Day trip to Suzdal from Moscow: transport, sights, maps and tips

 DAY TRIP TO SUZDAL

  Suzdal is one of the most popular destinations on the Golden Ring and the whole city is often described as an open-air museum.  The city has no railway station and practically no heavy industry, meaning that is has preserved its provincial charm and a great deal of architectural monuments.

  From Moscow, Suzdal is not as easy to get to as Sergiev Posad (the closest Golden Ring city to the capital) but it is worth going the extra distance as Suzdal provides more of a contrast from Moscow.  If you make use of high-speed trains it is possible and not too demanding to visit for even just a day, but of course spending the night there is recommended to soak in the atmosphere or to combine it with a visit to neighbouring Vladimir.  As the city is a very popular tourist destination you will have no problem finding a cafe or guesthouse there.  There is practically no public transport in the city, but the city is small and most sights are located relatively close to each other.

Getting There and Back

Via Vladimir

Direct to Suzdal

  Buses directly to Suzdal leave from Moscow’s Schyolkovsky Bus Station.  There are about 9 buses a day and it takes around 4½ hours depending on traffic.  The buses stop at Vladimir too.  Using this option will mean a rather exhausting day trip.

Orientation and Main Sights

  Suzdal is a relatively small city and it is not difficult to walk around the city to see most of the sights.  

  The main road in the city is Ulitsa Lenina which runs north across the whole city.  

  The main sights of Suzdal are located either on or just off this road, including the two main sights: the Suzdal Kremlin in the south and the Spaso-Yevfimiev Monastery in the north.

  More information about Suzdal can be found on our Suzdal  pages.

  Suzdal is famous for its medovukha (mead) which is an alcoholic drink made out of honey.  It can be drunk either hot or cold, meaning it perfect in both summer and winter, and you will find it on practically every menu in the city.  There are various flavours of the drink available and even a non-alcoholic version.  In addition to medovukha, you can find all traditional Russian souvenirs in the city and there is a big souvenir market on Torgovaya Ploschad.

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