General
ScubaGetaway is a TICO licensed travel agency based in Toronto, Canada. It is owned and operated by scuba diving professionals who have travelled extensively experiencing first-hand many of the world’s best dive locations and leading dive operators. ScubaGetaway is a boutique dive travel agency that offers products that have been experienced by our trip ambassadors and meets the standards representative of its mission which is to advise, arrange and deliver world-class diving to every client based on each individual diver’s ability, needs and ambition.
A ScubaGetaway led trip is a group trip led by ScubaGetaway ambassadors who are also professional scuba instructors. Everything about a SG led trip will have been specifically arranged by ScubaGetaway. On these expeditions, SG may be able to offer opportunities to further your dive training such as Open Water checkout dives, Advanced Open Water certification, Rescue certification and more. Divers can feel comfortable being guided by experienced travellers and instructors who are there to provide personal support and optional dive development during your trip. Having someone who knows your ability and can respond to your needs as a diver can be crucially important for some divers and provides a layer of service that is not generally offered in dive travel. Many ScubaGetaway clients have been on multiple trips and because of this we have cultivated an incredible travel environment in which divers have the opportunity to meet new divers and develop long lasting friendships as well as diving ability.
Yes! As a licensed travel agency, we can book you on land-based or liveaboard diving trips. There are a variety of destination options listed on our website that fit all types of budgets and diving ability. Let us help you create your ideal dive vacation and handle booking directly with the resorts and liveaboards.
We have a flight manager assigned to our company from a partnered local travel agency. We would be happy to connect you with them if you would like us to arrange flights for you too.
A liveaboard is a boat that scuba divers live on for the duration of their trip. Liveaboards come in many different sizes and styles and offer a wide range of comfort, luxury and service to their clientele. Divers will spend multiple days and nights sailing the ocean to dive sites that are generally not accessible by land-based dive vacations. Liveaboards offer multiple dives per day as part of an all-inclusive package that also includes a dedicated chef for meals and dive professionals to guide all diving activities. Land tours are also often available on these trips as the boat can often come close to places of great cultural beauty that are not seen by many people on earth.
A land-based dive trip is operated from a resort with divers staying in hotels overnight and diving from boats and or the shore during the day time. There are a wide range of options for accommodations, meals, and diving schedules with a land-based trip. Trip packages will vary by location and pricing can be quite varied depending on destination.
Let’s chat! We are still in the process of expanding our network to include more options. If you don’t see what you’re looking for let us know, we can look into options that work for you.
Diving and Gear
Yes! ScubaGetaway is operated by PADI Scuba Diving Instructors. We can arrange for training before you embark on your travels, or if you join a ScubaGetaway led trip we can arrange for some training to be completed while on your trip.
You must be a minimum of an Open Water Diver or planning to complete your Open Water certification on the trip. Depending on destination, the Advanced Open Water Diver may be required and quite often we would complete this training with you on the trip. Dive locations vary in skill and sometimes require a minimum number of dives. We can advise you on the level and style of training required for anywhere you want to travel and we can also train you in preparation for that trip. For example; you want to go to Galapagos. Well, you’ll need to learn how to do a negative entry, dive in current, and equalize properly all whist wearing a thicker than normal wetsuit and extra weight. Don’t panic or avoid these trips, we can do that training with you before you leave!!!
We recommend divers take a refresher course if they haven’t been diving for over 1 year. Connect with us and we can book a refresher course for you before your travels in one of our Toronto pools.
Yes! We can provide you with high quality rental equipment suitable for your diving destination. We will make sure you have every piece of equipment required for your diving adventures and that It is ready for the warm waters of the Indian Ocean or the cooler waters of the Arctic Ocean.
Yes! If you wish to purchase your own gear to take on your travels, we offer high quality options suitable for your needs.
Yes! It is always a good practice to have your gear serviced before taking it on a trip. Let us make sure everything is ready for diving before you leave.
Non-Diver Questions
Yes! We can offer suggestions for liveaboards and resorts that are non-diver friendly. We can book diving packages for the diver, and accommodations for the non-diver together.
Our expertise is focussed on scuba travel, unfortunately we do not book travel for non-scuba vacations right now.
Payment and Refund Policy Questions
Outside of the initial sign up deposit, all trips will have a payment schedule set out but we can work with you to arrange a payment plan and schedule that works for you if you to. Dive vacations and certainly the bucket list dive destinations are not cheap but are also not just reserved for those with deeper pockets. We will work with everyone to make sure you can realize the dream of the most incredible diving trips on the planet. If you want it, we will make it work with you.
You must send written notice of cancellation to Scuba Getaway. As we have scheduled your payments to coincide with our payment schedule to the resort or liveaboard, once we have taken your payment it is sent directly to the resort or liveaboard and becomes non-refundable. Because of this, we cannot offer you any refund or partial refund on any payments we have taken. If you choose to cancel your trip within 6 months of departure, you will be charged the full amount of the trip. We strongly suggest purchasing cancellation/travel insurance to protect you against this.
Please visit the link for Terms and Conditions at the bottom of this page to read a typical cancellation and refund policy for a Scuba Getaway dive trip.
