Discover Exciting Underwater Alternatives to Snorkeling and Diving

Snorkeling and diving excursions rank among the most sought-after activities on cruises to destinations like the Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Hawaii, and The Bahamas. With their warm waters and vibrant offshore reefs filled with tropical fish, these exotic locations offer unforgettable underwater experiences. However, scuba diving and snorkeling aren't the only options for exploring the water. If you prefer not to dive or snorkel, or if you're simply in search of a new and enjoyable activity on your next cruise, take a look at these alternative experiences.

Semi-Submersible Submarine

Experience the underwater world in a semi-submersible submarine, a fantastic alternative to scuba diving that’s accessible to almost everyone. No swimming skills are necessary, you won’t need to hold your breath, and you’ll stay completely dry! (Just be prepared to climb down a short ladder.)

Travelers aboard a semi-submersible submarine enjoy the expertise of knowledgeable guides who can highlight fascinating underwater species and share insights about the marine ecosystem. Additionally, you'll dive deeper and explore a broader range of sights than what’s possible through swimming alone.

Semi-submersible submarine tours, along with options like glass-bottom boat excursions, are offered in the Caribbean, The Bahamas, Hawaii, and Mexico. Noteworthy experiences include the Atlantis Submarine adventure in Kona, Hawaii, where you descend 100 feet into the Pacific to witness a vast coral garden, and the Cabo Semi-Sub Underwater Explorer in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where you can observe the stunning marine life of the Gulf of California.

Snuba

Snuba combines elements of scuba diving and snorkeling, offering many advantages of both activities. Unlike scuba, no certification is necessary, and the only requirement is the ability to swim.

Snuba is just as simple as snorkeling, and many find it even easier since you breathe through a regulator instead of a snorkel, eliminating the chance of swallowing water. Your regulator is attached by a long hose to air tanks floating on a raft above your snuba group. This allows you to dive deeper than snorkeling while using a diving mask, fins, and weights to help you stay underwater among the fish and corals without needing to surface for air.

Snuba tours are available off the coast of Nassau in The Bahamas, the Mexican island of Cozumel, and the Caribbean islands of St. Maarten and Grand Cayman. The snuba excursion in Grand Cayman allows you to explore a shipwreck. Most of these tours also provide opportunities for snorkeling at the snuba site while other groups enjoy their snuba experience.

Helmet Diving

Helmet diving may evoke images of the old-fashioned deep-sea diving suits seen in cartoons. However, it's actually a modern experience that enables you to take an unforgettable underwater walk, even if you can’t swim! Your entire head remains dry inside the special helmet, which continuously supplies you with air, allowing you to breathe as comfortably as you would on land.

You can even wear glasses inside the helmet, allowing everyone to appreciate the vibrant sea creatures and corals surrounding you. The helmet supplies air for breathing and provides enough weight to keep you steady as you walk along the ocean floor at depths of 10 to 30 feet, depending on the dive site. Helmet diving is often likened to walking in zero gravity on the moon, except you’re immersed in stunning marine life. Additionally, if you’re on a family cruise and wondering how to engage your children, helmet diving is available for older kids, teens, and adults alike.

The ports of call offering helmet diving shore excursions are all located in the Caribbean: Grand Cayman, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas. The helmet diving site in St. Maarten features shipwrecks, historic cannons, and a sunken submarine, while in St. Thomas, the excursion takes place at Coral World Ocean Park, where you can also explore aquariums, beaches, nature trails, and an undersea observatory.

B.O.S.S.

B.O.S.S. stands for “Breathing Observation Submersible Scooter.” It’s an unforgettable experience that resembles helmet diving, where your head and shoulders are enclosed in a helmet that provides air. However, instead of walking underwater, you navigate an underwater scooter. The vehicle carries you—and your attached air tank—through the ocean in any direction you choose. The technology keeps you suspended about 8 feet underwater, providing a perfect view of tropical reefs and the fish that inhabit them.

Cruise ship passengers aged 10 and older heading to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands can reserve a place on the B.O.S.S. Underwater Adventure excursion. You’ll enjoy a scenic journey to and from the dive site aboard a 60-foot yacht, with plenty of time for sunbathing and enjoying refreshing drinks on deck. When you’re not exploring underwater on a B.O.S.S., you can also snorkel at the site to enhance your experience.

Ready to Dive In?

With four incredible alternatives to traditional diving and snorkeling, you’re likely considering all the exciting underwater activities as well as adventures around the stunning ports of the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, and The Bahamas. Whether you’re planning a solo trip, a romantic escape, or a family vacation, be sure to add an underwater adventure to your travel plans.

Please note: Onboard activities, shore excursions, and dining options may differ by ship and destination.