Heraklion Scuba Diving for Beginners with PADI Instructor

You'll move freely underwater on your first dive, not just be held and pulled around.

A beginner scuba diving class in Agia Pelagia bay near Heraklion, taught by a PADI-certified instructor in shallow, protected water. You spend an hour learning the basics on land, then an hour in the sea practicing techniques under direct supervision, reaching a maximum depth of six meters only where you feel safe. Hotel pickup and all equipment are included, and you receive HD video of the dive.

The experience

The class starts at the diving center with an hour of ground instruction: a 20-minute video in your language covers the fundamentals, and your instructor walks you through every technique you'll need before entering the water. This is not a rushed briefing. It's the foundation that makes the underwater part possible. You learn how to breathe efficiently with the regulator, how to clear water from your mask, and how to move with the full weight of the tank and gear until the motions feel natural.

Then you're in Agia Pelagia bay, a weather-protected inlet where the sea stays calm and the water is shallow. Your instructor stays with you the entire time, guiding you through the same techniques on the seafloor. You'll practice moving like a diver, not as a passenger, the difference matters. The maximum depth is six meters, but you only go as deep as you feel comfortable. The point is confidence, not a number. Fish swim around you. You play games underwater. You explore the house reef. The whole experience is personalized: everyone's comfort level is different, and the pacing adjusts to yours.

When you surface and return to the diving center, you watch HD video captured during your dive. A record of what you did, not a sales pitch. The full day is six hours. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included (the scope depends on which transfer option you choose at checkout), along with all scuba equipment, bottled water, and fees. Your guide speaks English, French, German, or Greek.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off (depending on which transfer option you select).
• all scuba equipment and air.
• bottled water.
• classroom instruction with a 20-minute video in your language.
• one-on-one water training in the bay.
• HD video of your dive.
• all fees and taxes.

Options for this experience

3 options

Activity no transferGuide in 4 languages · Available from 1 Apr 2027Transfer is not included. The meeting point is at the diving center in Agia Pelagia.

Includes transport to and from the activity locationGuide in 4 languages · Available from 1 Apr 2027Local transfer covers pickup from nearby areas: Mononaftis, Mades, Lygaria and Agia Pelagia. Pickup is included.

Activity with transfer from all areasGuide in 4 languages · Available from 1 Apr 2027Transfer from all areas covers Malia, Stalida, Hersonissos, Analipsi, Anissaras, Gouves, Kokkini Hani, Heraklion and Amoudara. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 Apr 2027

AgesAdult (18 to 85 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (8 to 12 years) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish, French, German and Greek

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by CRETANDIVERS

Is this one for you?Choose this class if you want real instruction in a protected, shallow bay where you can focus on learning instead of managing fear. The one-on-one approach and personalized pacing mean you move at your own comfort level, not the group's schedule.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French, German and Greek.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (8 to 12 years). Children under 8 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the difference between the three transfer options for this class?

The activity itself is the same across all three options. You choose at checkout: full-area hotel transfer (pickup and drop-off from anywhere in the region), local transfer (a more limited pickup zone), or no transfer (you arrange your own way to the diving center). The class, instruction, and equipment don't change.

How deep will I go on my first dive?

The maximum allowed depth for a first dive is six meters, but your PADI instructor will take you only as deep as you feel comfortable and safe. Many beginners stay shallower while they adjust to breathing underwater and moving with the gear.

What happens if I've never been underwater before?

The class is designed for people with no diving experience. You spend the first hour on land learning breathing techniques, mask clearing, and equipment handling before you ever enter the water. Your instructor stays beside you the entire time in the sea, and the bay is shallow and calm. There's no surprise or rush.

Is the video included, or do I pay extra for it?

HD video of your dive is captured and shown to you at the diving center after you surface. It's part of the class experience, not an add-on.

What's the minimum age to take this class?

Children are welcome from age 8. Infants and small children can come along (they can ride in a pram or stroller during the classroom portion), but only children 8 and older can participate in the actual dive.

Can I do this if I have a medical condition?

The class is not recommended for pregnant travelers or for people with poor cardiovascular health, respiratory problems, or epilepsy. If you have any health concerns, discuss them with the instructor before booking.