Looking for unique gifts? We can help!
From the diver who needs everything to the diver who has everything. You tell us who you’re shopping for and we will give you some great ideas.
Classes
From a one night Try Scuba or Beginning Scuba Class to Advanced Training and Specialty Classes. What a wonderful way to share our underwater world.
Equipment
No matter what your budget is we can show you equipment that any snorkeler or diver would love to have in their gear bag.
Travel
“Best Gift Ever”, that’s what they’ll say (and maybe you’ll get to enjoy it too?). We can help you plan an amazing dive adventure above and below the water.
Cuba is a MUST
Nowhere in the Caribbean has WOWED us like the Gardens of the Queen. In this super-protected area off the coast of Cuba, we were treated to one of the healthiest coral reefs we have seen in years. Vibrant hard and soft corals, endless sea fans, and giant pillar coral made for a spectacular backdrop, as huge reef sharks and grouper of all kinds and sizes, followed us around like puppies.
We encountered giant loggerhead, hawksbill and green turtles, plenty of moray eels, and hundreds and hundreds of tarpon. We came upon never-ending parades of yellow tails, school masters, chromis, and tangs, and we swam through schools of silversides so dense that we couldn’t see through them. WOW!
If that wasn’t enough, we all had the chance to swim with juvenile saltwater crocodiles (or take photos and video from above water). We learned to salsa dance from our Cuban dive crew. We enjoyed the awesome sights and sounds of colorful Havana and tasted some of the best mojitos ever! Yes, we are going back!
Check out the pics and video from our inaugural trips below and learn how you too can enjoy this very special place! 2017 Dates
Check out video of the incredible diving ! Check out video of the incredible touring topside !
Rec Diving Video Featured on “River Monsters” show premier
Check out Jim Richards video here.
Tubbataha
When it comes to dive trips, does it pay to plan ahead? We think so. Especially if you want to dive a super protected reef like Tubbataha. After a year of anticipation, we were blown away. This place has it all – a reef that is so dense in diverse marine life and topside some of the most beautiful island beaches we have ever seen. Check out a short video here.
Special thanks to photographers Kim Tomala, Bill Nyitray, Randy Judd, Russ Propst and Chris Konyn for sharing some trip pics below. Stay tuned…more to come 🙂
It was a great group of divers and snorkelers who enjoyed all kinds of big and little critters and day after day of beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
Congratulations to Coni, Dee Dee and Michelle! Each of these divers logged dive #400 in Tubbataha. We also celebrated St. Patrick’s Day and Cathy and Pat’s birthdays on the trip.
We had some “firsts” to cheer as well. For the divers who encountered their first whaleshark, first hammerhead shark and first manta rays, this trip was extra special!
We can’t wait to go back and we are already working on trips to Tubbataha for clients for next year. If we can help you create your own dream trip to this dream dive destination, let us know.
There is a limited diving season in Tubbataha and a limited number of operators. As we said, this one is worth planning for!
Our Top Pick for Your First Livaboard Experience
We help divers plan dive trips all the time, often making recommendations based on our awesome experiences. We know if you really want to maximize your dive time, then liveaboard dive boats offer some of the best dive vacations you’ll ever enjoy.
Our pick for your first liveaboard is the Belize Aggressor III. Why? For ease of diving and diverse marine life, we don’t think it can be beat. Unpack your gear one time and for the rest of the week your floating home takes you to the best dive sites with no crowds on the reef. What’s not to love?
Take a giant stride off the back of the boat and you’ll be diving incredible walls and reefs covered with amazing coral formations, giant sponges and teeming with colorful fish and critters. The famous explorer Jacques Cousteau brought his ship, the Calypso here to dive the world’s largest Blue Hole. How cool to follow in his footsteps!
When you’re not diving, you can relax on this roomy 110’ yacht with a shade and sun deck complete with a hot tub, lounge and deck chairs, stereo and CD player, wet bar and grill, a complete photo center with a digital video and still photo editing computer.
You will never feel like you are on a crowded dive boat. The crew of six are there to cater to only 18 guests in nine deluxe staterooms (each with their own marine head and shower).
You never have to worry about picking out a restaurant or making reservations as all your meals and snacks are included, along with beer and wine and soft drinks. Dress is super casual. You can even live in your bathing suit and go barefoot all week if you want!
We are excited to have the Belize Aggressor III on our list of upcoming Group Trips for 2016. Rec Diving instructor Barb Diefenbaker is leading this trip from February 6-13, 2016. Let us know if you’d like to join us on this trip or if these dates don’t work for you, we can book a trip on your schedule.
We know it’s always fun to check out the topside fun before or after your dive liveaboard trip. We’ve enjoyed everything from jungle spa stays to tree top canopy tours to cave tubing on our past trips to Belize. We can help you make the most of a few days on land as well.
Let our experience work for you, contact us to plan your dream dive vacation. We think you’ll really love it! Check out our already planned escorted group trips here. https://recdiving.com/adventure-travel/belize-2/
Snorkeling with Humpback Whales in the Silver Bank
WOW. Just when you think you’ve seen everything there is under the sea…
SCUBA CUBA with Rec Diving and Help Preserve our Oceans
Cuba, a place of intrigue and fascination, is now on the Rec Diving trip list! And you can now be among the first to explore this Caribbean island that was long off-limits to U.S. residents by joining Rec Diving on a special Oceans for Youth Foundation People-to-People education program.
During each of our featured 10-day visits, we begin in Havana for a unique cultural exchange to provide an understanding of the setting in which Cubans experience their own marine environment. Seven days is then spent in the Gardens of the Queen National Park, Cuba’s first marine park, where we’ll accompany Cuban marine specialists and be able to scuba dive in one of the healthiest marine ecosystems in Cuba.
We’ll stay off the southern coast aboard the new Jardines Aggressor and experience first-hand the importance of this ecosystem. We’re featuring two full boat charters at the height of the spring diving season. If you want to be among the first divers or snorkelers to experience Cuba on the new Jardines Aggressor, come with us on one of two special trips starting April 28 or May 26, 2016.
This is a special trip for Rec Diving as we’ve long dreamed of diving Cuba’s Gardens of the Queen. We’re super excited to be able to experience direct People-to-People interactions between Americans and Cubans (youths and their parents; local marine officials; and marine professionals) to benefit the Oceans for Youth Foundation. The Foundation takes pride in the hope that these meetings between and among American and Cuban participants will vet out those youth who will someday be the guardians and defenders of the marine environment. This is a truly unique opportunity for us as divers and snorkelers.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS TRIP:
What are the Rec Diving premier group trip dates?
April 28-May 7, 2016 and May 26-June 4, 2016
How do I get on one of these trips?
Contact us at Rec Diving. Remember, Dive Travel is our specialty (escorted groups as well as small groups and individuals). We are happy to arrange your own trip for you and your friends on dates of your choice (based on availability).
What travel documents will be provided by Oceans For Youth and required for travel to Cuba?
Oceans For Youth will provide you with an authorization letter that we issue under our license from the OFAC office of the US Treasury Department.
How does the People-to-People program work and do I have to apply to the US government for a permit?
If you are traveling under the Oceans For Youth OFAC license, you are required to strictly follow the program outlined that is detailed in the authorization letter.
Am I able to write off any portion of my trip on my taxes for the charitable work I will be doing?
Travelers may download the tax letter after final payment has been made which will provide documentation of your charitable work on behalf of Oceans For Youth Foundation (501C3), and our Cuba Marine Conservation Program.
Does Cuba have a recompression chamber with qualified personel to operate it?
Yes, there are several recompression chambers in Cuba with qualified personel manning them should you have an issue.
Do we need additional shots or vaccinations?
No, there are no required vaccinations for US citizens before traveling to Cuba.
In Search of Giants: Swimming with Whale Sharks
Wow. If you have ever been lucky enough to swim with a Whale Shark you know what we mean. If you’ve only dreamed of it, we might be able to help make that dream come true.
We had a very last minute chance to join a few other Rec Divers on a short trip to Mexico. We were hoping for a chance to swim with the Whale Sharks that congregate there in the summer for a few months. Now, we would have been happy with one or two whale sharks. What we got were dozens and dozens in every direction. Please check out our short video to get an idea of what it’s like. But believe us when we say, it’s no where near as exciting as actually being there along side one of these giant and beautiful creatures.
We found a great little Villa and Marina as well as an excellent charter boat operator. If you want an amazing experience, than join us next summer! Read more
Follow in Jacques Cousteau’s Bubbles
Cozumel Scuba Fest this December is in honor of the famous french underwater explorer who discovered the beauty of Palancar Reef in 1960. Now you can retrace his steps and dive nine of the sites.
Check out this short video and then let us know if you would like to join in on this epic journey. Read more
