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The following are Frequently Asked Questions of our guests. If you cannot find an answer to your specific question, please use our FAQ Request Form.
Q: Where are Red Sail Sports' facilities located?
A. The Red Sail Sports shop where you check-in for your activities is
just a few short steps from the cruise ship dock area in Port Zante.
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Q: Do you offer scuba diving services?
A. No, not at this time.
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Q: Do you offer packages that include airfare
as well as diving and accommodations?
A.
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Q: Should I make reservations in advance?
A. In order to guarantee spots on our dive boats, it is best to book prior
to leaving for your trip. Just like hotels and airlines, spaces are limited
and can sell out.
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Q: How far in advance should I make
reservations?
A. There is no set time limit to book. The earlier you book, the better your
chances are of availability.
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Q: What do you require a deposit or
guarantee to make reservations?
A. For our dive only packages, a 15% deposit is billed to your credit card
up front and the remainder is charged 14 days prior to arrival. We accept Visa,
MasterCard, and American Express.
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Q: Do I need to give exact dates I want to dive,
or can that be set up when I get there?
A. It is best to set your full dive itinerary in advance because it
is based upon availability, but if you are not sure of what your plans are,
the first day of diving is all we would require.
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Q: Is it possible to dive with Red Sail
Sports without purchasing hotel accommodations?
A. Yes, we do offer a package for certified divers. See our Dive
Packages.
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Q: How many people do your boats accommodate?
A. We have three dive boats, the "Biba Bon", “Pasa Bon” and the “Vista Mar”.
Maximum capacity for each boat is 24 divers.
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Q: I’ll be taking a cruise which
docks for only a day. Will I have enough time to dive with Red Sail Sports?
Also, do you provide transportation to and from the port?
A. Whether or not you have enough time depends on which day of the
week and at what time your ship arrives and departs. Most of our dives do not
take more than 4 hours (plus a half hour for registration), and we offer a
la carte diving daily in the morning and afternoon, and at night a few times
a week. Transportation is not included. Check with your shore excursion manager
to book your Red Sail Sports activity.
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Q: Does Red Sail Sports offer Nitrox
diving?
A. Yes, Nitrox is available.
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Q: I am trying to decide if I need to
bring along my wetsuit. Could you tell me what the water temperature is like?
A.In Aruba, the water temperature is fairly constant at 78°. Whether
or not you will need one depends on your comfort level. We also rent shorties
for the day, if you decide that you need one.
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Q: Does Red Sail Sports offer night
diving?
A. One-tank night dives are offered at 6:30 p.m. on select nights of the week.
Reservations are required and a minimum number of divers are required.
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Q: I’m not a certified diver but
would like to dive with Red Sail Sports. What are my options?
A. There are four ways you can dive with Red Sail Sports:
First is the full certification course. The PADI certification takes 4 days
to complete at about 5-6 hours per day. This includes theory and pool sessions
as well as all the equipment you will need to become certified.
Second, if you choose to take your classes and pool session in your hometown,
you can then complete your open water dives at Red Sail Sports in Aruba—we
offer open water referral completion. PADI/NAUI/SSI/IDEA/NASDS*. Open Water
Referrals includes all equipment, consists of 4 dives, and takes 2 to 4 days.
Please call first to ensure that certification by a particular agency is available.
Third, now there is a new way to become certified - through PADI's Virtual
Scuba School! This CD/ROM or video program includes your classroom sessions
and preparation for your pool sessions. The cost is the same as the Open Water
Course. You just complete the CD/ROM or video and answer the Knowledge Reviews,
print it out and bring it with you to Red Sail Sports. Then you complete your
pool sessions and 4 dives, which takes approximately 3 days. Please allow at
least 3-4 weeks to receive and complete the CD/ROM or video program.
Fourth, if you decide that you don't have enough time or want to test the
waters before becoming certified, we do offer a Resort Course for non-certified
divers which includes instruction, all equipment, pool session, and 1 tank
boat dive.
Children must be at least 12 years to be certified or to do the resort course.
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Q: I’m a certified diver and would like
to further my diving education. Do you offer an Advanced Open Water Course?
A. Yes, we do offer an Advanced Open Water
Course, and it takes 2
1/2 days to complete. The price includes 5 dives and all equipment. We also
offer other Specialty Courses such as underwater photography, wreck diving,
and divemaster certification.
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Q: I haven’t been diving in over
2 years. Should I take a refresher course? And does Red Sail Sports offer a
refresher course?
A.It is mandatory that you take a refresher course if you have not
gone diving in two years. And yes, Red Sail Sports does offer a refresher course.
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Q: I’m a certified diver but my
travel companion is not. How can I go diving while still spending some time
with him/her?
A. Your friend can either become certified or take the resort as mentioned
above, and you could schedule your dives to coincide with your friend’s.
Also, snorkelers or passengers may accompany divers on some of our diving excursions for
a nominal charge. Space available basis only.
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Q:
Are snorkelers allowed on your dive boats?
A. Yes. Snorkelers are allowed on the afternoon dive
boats. Non-snorkelers are also welcome - space available.
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Q:
Please provide me more information about your snorkeling trips.
A. In Aruba, we offer a Half Day Luncheon Snorkel Sail and Afternoon Antilla
Sail. The
first excursion takes snorkelers to a shallow reef area where the water is
very calm. A second stop arrives at the Antilla, which is a 400' German freighter,
located in about 60' of water and the last stop is at the Arashi reef. The
afternoon sail stops at the Antilla and Catalina Bay.
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Q:
Should I bring my own equipment or rent it from you?
A. That is up to your discretion. Tanks, weights, and weight belt
are provided on every dive at no extra charge and all other equipment can be
rented at an additional cost. All of our equipment is renewed every year and
we have top-quality equipment. If you bring your own equipment, we have locker
facilities for you to store it..
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Q: Do you have lockers where I could store my equipment?
A. Not at this time.
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Q: I’ll be vacationing with my children and plan to go diving
with Red Sail Sports. Can you suggest any activities for my children to do
while I go
diving?
A. Children interested in snorkeling can accompany divers on some of our diving
and snorkeling excursions. Part of our Kid's Programs is the SASY
and Bubblemaker.
SASY is snorkel device, where kids use diving equipment and a non-sinkable
vest for snorkeling (age 6 and up). The Bubblemaker is a program that introduces
kids into the diving world, pool lessons only (age 8-11).
Additionally, here are some of the childcare services that our hotel partners
offer when staying there. Hyatt Regency offers Camp Hyatt- a full range of
activities for potty trained children from the ages of 3 -12 years old. Prices
vary from $18 to $46 depending on times. All other hotels are more than willing
to arrange for a baby-sitter for you.
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If you cannot find an answer to your specific question, please use our FAQ
Request Form.
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