June Is 'Learn To Dive Month' In Greater Fort Lauderdale

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., March 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Looking to get more out of your vacation? Want to explore the wonders of the ocean from beneath the sea? Want to look a parrot fish in the eye?

Take the plunge. Greater Fort Lauderdale is making it easier than ever to learn to Scuba dive during the destination's new official "Learn to Dive Month" this June. Surf temperatures are perfect, the water is calm and special dive packages offering a free graduation dive along with a free hotel night or special hotel rate make it easy and affordable to get certified.

"How easy is it to learn to Scuba dive? A vacation of three days in Greater Fort Lauderdale plus some online study in advance will do it. And, throughout June's 'Learn to Dive Month,' newcomers to the sport will enjoy extra-value savings with a free graduation dive as well hotel deals and special offers," said Nicki E. Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. "With a free dive and a free hotel room, there is no need to delay."

Greater Fort Lauderdale's new June "Learn to Dive Month" features online training through local dive operators and shops to help visitors get trained, suited up and certified in an easy and safe program. Participants can go through instruction to graduation to their dive vacation in a few simple steps:

• Begin the pre-certification process online before leaving home
• Conduct an open-water dive in Greater Fort Lauderdale
• Stay a minimum of three days in Greater Fort Lauderdale to complete the certification process (a minimum of four days required for those who fly).
• Enjoy a special hotels rates and even a free fourth night when staying a minimum of three nights at a participating hotel
• Enjoy a free congratulatory graduation dive

Worldwide, 17.5 million dive enthusiasts have been certified since the 1960's. What makes Greater Fort Lauderdale one of the stand-out destinations for those millions of diving enthusiasts is a unique three-tiered natural reef system and more than 75 artificial reefs and wreck sites created by careful environmental planning over the last 20 years, plus an abundance of full-service dive shops and expert instructors.

From Deerfield Beach in the north to Hallandale Beach in the south, Greater Fort Lauderdale's 23 miles of beaches offer dive spots starting at 100 yards from shore. Add championship golf, hundreds of resorts, hotels and motels; some 4,000 restaurants; a vibrant cultural scene; and great shopping – from flea markets to fashion boutiques to mega-malls - help transform a "Learn to Dive Month" experience into a complete vacation.

"Learn to Dive Month" is easy to book with simple one-stop shopping. Those interested in learning to Scuba dive can log on to www.sunny.org/learntodive where they can link to PADI or SDI to register to take the online technical training necessary.  They can also link to participating dive shops in Greater Fort Lauderdale to provide the "in-water" lessons and certification, plus the graduation dives necessary for completion of the training and special hotel offers.  

For more information about Greater Fort Lauderdale and "Learn to Dive Month," visit www.sunny.org.

About Greater Fort Lauderdale

The new Greater Fort Lauderdale is a vibrant, "beach chic" destination offering more than 33,000 lodging accommodations at a variety of hotels, resorts, and Superior Small Lodgings, plus new high-end, luxury resorts and more to come. Nearly 11 million annual visitors enjoy Greater Fort Lauderdale's 23 miles of Blue Wave Beaches and eight charming beach communities, 300+ miles of inland waterways that run from the Intracoastal to the Everglades, more than 4,000 restaurants, top shopping, and a thriving arts and culture scene.  For more information, contact the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 22-SUNNY or visit www.sunny.org.

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau can also be followed on Twitter @visitlauderdale and on www.facebook.com/visitlauderdale, or you can download the free iPhone application, iVisitLauderdale at www.sunny.org/iphone.

SOURCE Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau