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Best Sandals Resorts for Scuba Diving (Ranked for 2026)
Free PADI scuba diving is included at every Sandals: two boat dives per day for certified divers, free PADI Open Water certification for non-divers, free equipment rental. Sandals is the only major all-inclusive chain that gives you unlimited scuba as part of the all-inclusive math. The sites and dive operations vary meaningfully though. Here is my 2026 ranking of the best Sandals for divers.
What's included in Sandals scuba
- Two boat dives per day for certified divers (PADI Open Water and above)
- Free PADI Open Water certification for non-divers (typically 3-4 days, $400-$500 retail value)
- Free equipment rental (BCD, regulator, fins, mask, snorkel; bring your own computer if you want)
- Boat fuel, dive guide, and Nitrox at most properties
- Discover Scuba intro program for first-timers (one pool session plus one shallow boat dive)
Excluded: Advanced Open Water and Rescue certifications (paid), specialty courses, third dive of the day (paid).
Top 5 Sandals for divers
- Sandals Grenada - the consensus best Sandals for diving. Pink Gin Beach, the underwater sculpture park (Molinere Bay) with 75+ life-size sculptures, healthy reefs, regular ray and turtle sightings. Dive operation runs 3 boats daily.
- Sandals Curaçao - Curacao's reef system is part of the Bonaire-tier Caribbean dive zone. Wall dives off the south coast of Curacao, plus the famous Tugboat wreck dive 30 minutes from the resort.
- Sandals Saint Vincent - newest property, fresh dive infrastructure. Saint Vincent's reef system is dramatic (volcanic black-sand basins, deep walls). Easy access to the Bequia Channel for advanced divers.
- Sandals Antigua - Antigua has 365 beaches and the dive operation accesses the eastern reef system plus the Pillars of Hercules formations. Strong shore-dive options as a bonus.
- Sandals Bahamas Nassau - Bahamas dive sites are famous (drop-offs, blue holes, shark dives nearby). Sandals Bahamas Nassau's dive operation accesses the New Providence reef system.
Sandals you might skip if diving is your priority
The Jamaica Sandals (Negril, Montego Bay, Royal Caribbean, South Coast, Ochi, Royal Plantation, Dunn's River) all run dive operations but Jamaica's dive sites are good-not-great by Caribbean standards. The dive teams are excellent; the underwater landscape just is not the highlight of the destination. If diving is the primary trip purpose, prioritize Grenada, Curacao, Saint Vincent, or Antigua over the Jamaica options. For the broader Sandals lineup see my best Sandals resort guide.
Getting your PADI certification at Sandals
The Open Water certification at Sandals takes 3-4 days. Day 1: classroom plus pool sessions. Day 2: more pool plus the first shallow boat dive. Days 3-4: 4 open-water dives. Plan a 7-night stay if you want to certify and then have a few days of fun diving as a newly-certified diver. Couples often split: one partner certifies while the other dives the same boats as a certified diver. Note for honeymoons: scuba certification booking should happen on day 1 of arrival to avoid the 24-hours-no-fly rule biting your departure.