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What is the main focus of the Divemaster Voyage?       
The Divemaster Voyage is for already-certified PADI rescue divers who are looking to take their skills and knowledge to the first professional level. The primary focus of this program is diving, and you are going to dive, dive dive. We teach our Divemaster course as an internship. This means that you will be working with and learning from our instructors who are actually teaching a real Open Water course. This is the absolute best way to learn and will prepare you well for the next jump to the PADI Diving Instructor level.
Divemaster candidates live aboard with shipmates of a similar age enrolling for the Vega Voyage and, outside of the dive training you'll also have a chance to water ski, windsurf, and wakeboard. Off the water, we'll visit the islands, explore the towns, cook out on the white sand beaches and hike to the top of the tallest mountain.

What certifications will I earn?       
Over the course of the program, you will achieve the PADI Divemaster certification as well as the American Red Cross First Aid and CPR certifications.

How many people go on this program?       
The Divemaster Programs that we offer are small, so as to maximize experience and training. There will be no more than 8 candidates. However, living aboard and sailing as part of the Vega fleet, there can be up to eight boats sailing together in a flotilla.

What type of boat will I be on?       
It depends. We have always run the programs aboard single-hulled yachts (monohulls), but the size of the boat may vary from program to program. Most often you would be aboard a vessel in the 50-foot range similar to those listed below. However, for the past couple of years, during the middle session of the summer, the Divemasters have lived aboard the 41-foot fleet leaders vessel. If the type of vessel and/or student make up is important to you, please call out Florida office and we'll be able to tell you more about how we are going to be running the program this year.

Where do we all sleep?
From the moment you arrive, you'll move aboard your yacht and live on board full-time. If you've never lived aboard a yacht before, you'll find that there are a lot of differences to living on land! What's the head? Where's the lazarette? How do you pump the bilge? All the boats have 5 cabins and a large salon that converts to a 6th, so there's enough room for us all to sleep down below if it should rain, but, for the most part, the evenings are clear and dry and most of us like to sleep out on deck, swinging in a hammock under the stars.

Who will be my staff?       
Two or three staff members live with you aboard your vessel full-time. There will be your skipper, your first mate who is typically your diving instructor, and a third staff member who could also be a diving instructor, EMT, Marine Biologist or someone with other special skills. Take a look through the staff section within the general FAQs for more information on the ActionQuest staff.

What's the weather like?       
The short answer to this question is, GORGEOUS! Well, usually anyway! In the British Virgin Islands, the trade winds blow a steady 8-14 knots and the average summer temperature is 83°F with 76% humidity and 81°F water temperature (South Florida by comparison averages 89°F with humidity of 87%.) What's great about the BVI weather is that there is always a breeze, so it feels very comfortable almost all the time. Yes, it does rain now and then but it is more of a tropical shower, lasting only a few minutes, rather than a complete day of rain.

Can I call home?       
Yes, we are in port where public phones are available on average every 4 days or so and we encourage students to call at every opportunity. However, we do not require this, as our staff are usually busy with other activities such as stocking the boats with fresh food over this time. The old saying "you can lead a horse to water..." comes to mind, as some shipmates call home every time and some never call! In the BVI there are ample opportunities, and the phone service is pretty reliable.

How will I pay for calls home?       
There are a few different methods to call home. We have found the cheapest way is to purchase a local phone card. These can be purchased at local stores or directly from the program director. Other methods include using a credit card, AT&T Calling Card (or other major calling card), and on some phones you may even be able to call collect. These other methods are expensive, which is why we recommend using a local calling card.

How can parents find out what's going on aboard the program?       
The easiest way is for shipmates to place a quick call home to let Mom and Dad in on what's going on! Sometimes this doesn't happen though so, in 2004, we instigated a trip update system in which, at the end of each day, the shipmate skipper of the day writes a few remarks in the log. At various times (typically once every 3 or 4 days) this is typed up and posted on the ActionQuest website. This way, Mom and Dad can vicariously live aboard too!

Can I get mail on the program?       
Typically not, since mail can take up to three weeks to make it to the BVI. Of course, with us being out on the water and in a different location every day, this adds a further dimension to the dilemma!