Scuba diving experience in Hurghada is designed for people who have never dived. On a full-day boat trip, a certified instructor explains the basics, practises key skills with you in shallow water, then takes you on two short, shallow dives at different coral reefs. All equipment, lunch on board and hotel transfers are included. You need to be 10 or older and complete a diving medical questionnaire.
Important information
- Medical questionnaire: Every diver must complete a diving medical questionnaire before diving. If you answer yes to certain questions, for example about heart, lung or ear conditions, you will need a doctor’s written clearance before you can dive. We will send you the form after booking so you can check it in advance.
- Age: The minimum age is 10. Children under 10 may be able to join as snorkelers if the dive centre allows.
- Pregnancy: Scuba diving is not permitted during pregnancy.
- Flying after diving: Do not fly for at least 18 hours after your dives, following recognised diving safety guidelines. Plan this trip so it is not on the day before your flight home.
- Colds and ears: If you have a cold, blocked sinuses or ear problems on the day, you may not be able to equalise safely. Let the instructor know.
- Your comfort comes first: The instructor will only take you underwater when you are ready, and you can end a dive at any time.
- Not a certification: This experience does not give you a diving qualification, but it is a good first step if you want to take a course later.
What to bring?
- Swimwear and a towel
- Your completed diving medical questionnaire, and doctor’s clearance if required
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Hat and sunglasses for the boat
- A warm layer for after the dives, especially in winter
- Motion-sickness tablets if you are prone to seasickness (check with the instructor that they are suitable for diving)
- Cash for any marine park fee, photos and tips
Who is this tour for?
This experience suits healthy beginners aged 10 and over who want to find out what scuba diving feels like before committing to a course. It works well for couples, friends and families with older children, as long as everyone diving meets the medical requirements.
It is not suitable during pregnancy or for anyone with a medical condition that rules out diving. Travelers who would rather stay at the surface may prefer the Giftun Island snorkeling trip or the semi-submarine trip.
Trip info
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Free pickup in Hurghada, Sahl Hasheesh and Makadi Bay; El Gouna, Soma Bay and Safaga on request with US$10 extra
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PADI instructors; one or two beginners per instructor; instructor within arm's reach throughout
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Children under 10 may join as snorkelers if the centre allows
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Age 10+; signed diving medical questionnaire; doctor's clearance where the form requires it; not during pregnancy
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1
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80
Full tour overview
The Red Sea around Hurghada is one of the most popular places in the world to try scuba diving. The water is warm for much of the year, visibility is usually good, and there are sheltered reefs close to the coast where beginners can dive in shallow, calm water.
An introductory dive lets you experience diving in a single day, without a certification course. After hotel pickup, you transfer to the marina and board a dive boat. On the way to the first reef, your instructor explains how the equipment works, how to breathe from a regulator and how to equalise the pressure in your ears.
At the first site, you put on your wetsuit and equipment and start in shallow water, practising simple skills such as clearing water from your mask and recovering your regulator. When you feel comfortable, your instructor takes you on a short guided dive along the reef, staying beside you the whole time and managing your depth and air.
Lunch is served on board, followed by a second dive at a different reef. Between dives, you can snorkel or relax on deck. In the afternoon, the boat returns to the marina and you are driven back to your hotel.
The experience suits curious beginners aged 10 and over who are in good health. Afterwards, many people decide whether they want to take a full diving course. If you would rather stay at the surface, the Giftun Island snorkeling trip or the semi-submarine trip is a better choice.
Tour highlights
- Try scuba diving with no previous experience or certification
- Make two short, shallow dives at different coral reefs
- Dive with a certified instructor beside you, with no more than two beginners each
- Practise key skills in shallow water before each dive
- See corals and reef fish up close in the Red Sea
- Enjoy lunch on board and snorkeling between dives
- Travel with return hotel transfers, with all diving equipment included
