“DIVE partners for life,” is exactly how Sandals Negril first-time guest Norman Krobath sums up his relationship with his wife Tracy.

The couple, who has spent years travelling around the world, recently undertook their 300th and 150th dive, respectively, off the shores of Negril’s famous seven-mile beach, while vacationing at Sandals Negril.

The Krobaths have dived in various parts of the world, including Egypt, Belize, Mexico, as well as at Sandals Grande St Lucian and Sandals Grenada.

For Norman, scuba diving is not just a passion that has strengthened the bond between him and his wife, but it has also given them the opportunity to explore the vast wonders of the ocean.

Diving for almost 20 years, Norman noted that this recreational sport was always something he was interested in, as he saw it as life-changing to have the opportunity to see a part of the world that just a small percentage of people get to experience.

Adding that some of the best dives they have done have been with Sandals Resorts, the couple shared that Sandals Negril’s watersports team has been truly exceptional, and every dive with them has been memorable.

Tracy, who has been diving for about seven years, was happy to mark her 150th dive and was effusive in her praise for the resort’s team.

“Though I am still a bit scared of the water, I must admit that I did about 50 dives before I actually knew how to swim, so I’d encourage persons to take a leap at it. The team can teach you how to maintain breath control before taking you out to the water to dive. The watersports team here at Sandals Negril, and especially scuba instructor Sangha Spencer, was really great at connecting and giving us the perfect diving experience,” she said.

The Krobaths shared that diving has heightened their love for the ocean and the creatures that inhabit it. Additionally, the sport has increased their drive to see to the ocean’s protection.

“Diving gives you an appreciation for the environment that you live in; and many people globally source food from the sea so it is important to know what your reefs look like in order to effectively practise safe fishing and to maintain a healthy marine environment,” Norman reasoned.

When asked what his ultimate milestone is for diving, Norman said that he plans to dive until he can’t anymore. He also shared that diving with great white sharks is very high on his bucket list.

That bucket list included diving with dolphins, which the couple was able to tick off in Negril, describing the experience as breathtaking.

Norman has been sharing his diving skills with his nephews, friends, and anyone that he and his wife meet. The couple also shared that they have met a lot of people through diving and have become friends with other guests at Sandals Negril who they will be diving with next year during their trip to Sandals Royal Curaçao, the resort chain’s newest property.

Currently a dive master, Norman said that he is not counting out being a dive instructor once he retires.

Scuba diving is a part of the extensive and award-winning watersports activities at all Sandals resorts, with an exceptional group of PADI-certified watersports team members offering more than 33,000 dives each year and over 10,000 visitors take their first underwater breath through a Sandals diving programme.

PADI has named Sandals Resorts as one of the top five dive operations in the Western hemisphere. For guests who are interested in diving, the resort offers certification lessons.