Rhodes Scuba Diving: Try Dive with PADI 5-Star Instructor

Your First Dive in Rhodes' Clearest Water

You show up, do a short theory lesson, get suited up with full equipment, and dive once at Kalithea with a PADI instructor who stays with you the entire time. The boat runs May to October, and the full day includes all gear and professional guidance: no separate rentals or certifications required. Book if you want to try diving without committing to a multi-day course.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day scuba diving experience

• Attend theory lesson
• Dive at Kalithea dive site
• Explore underwater world

The experience

What if the hardest part of learning to dive is just showing up? The theory takes maybe an hour, and it's genuinely simple. Nothing like the certification courses that stretch over days. After that, you're in the water at Kalithea with a PADI 5-Star instructor who's been doing this since the school opened on Rhodes in 1990, and suddenly the underwater world is just... there. The visibility is the thing that gets people: you can see the seafloor clearly, the light coming down through the water, fish moving in and out of the rocks. It's not murky or scary. It's just quiet and weightless.

The boat runs May through October, which means you're diving during the warmest months when the Aegean is at its calmest. The full day includes all your scuba equipment (tank, wetsuit, weights, the works), so you're not renting anything separately or figuring out what you need. Your instructor stays with you the whole time, watching your breathing, your hand signals, making sure you're comfortable. The school's been running this Try Dive program long enough that they've refined it: the theory lesson is short and focused, the pace in the water is slow, and they don't rush you through it. If you've always wondered what diving feels like but never committed to certification, this is the actual chance to find out without the three-day commitment.

Kalithea is a protected site with clear water and enough marine life to make the dive interesting without being overwhelming. You're not going deep (the dive is designed for first-timers), and you're not going far from the boat. The whole experience is built around making you feel safe enough to relax and actually notice what's below the surface. The Greek hospitality part isn't just marketing language. The instructors are genuinely friendly and patient, and they want you to have a good day, not just tick a box.

What’s included

• Your day includes all scuba equipment (tank, regulator, wetsuit, weights), a theory lesson, one full dive at Kalithea with a professional PADI instructor, and boat transport to the dive site. The program runs May through October.
• outside those months, a half-day beach dive option is available from Ladiko.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (8 to 10 years) · Under 8: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 70

Live guideEnglish, French, German and Dutch

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go 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 3 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by The Waterhoppers Diving School

Is this one for you?Book this if you've always wanted to try diving but never committed to a certification course: the full day removes the guesswork, and the PADI instructor handles everything so you can focus on the experience itself.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, French, German and Dutch.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (8 to 10 years). Under 8: they 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.

Do I need diving experience to do the Try Dive program?

No. The program is designed for beginners. You'll do a simple theory lesson first, then dive with an instructor who guides you the whole time.

What's included in the full-day price?

All scuba equipment (tank, wetsuit, weights, regulator), the theory lesson, one dive at Kalithea, and a professional PADI instructor with you in the water.

When does the boat run?

May through October for full-day boat trips to Kalithea. In March, April, and November, a half-day beach dive program runs from Ladiko instead.

Is there an age limit?

Infants and small children can come along (in a pram or stroller), but they cannot dive. Pregnant travelers and people with poor cardiovascular health should not dive. People with epilepsy are not permitted.

Can I fly after diving?

No. You must wait at least 18 hours after diving before flying.

Is the dive school really PADI 5-Star?

Yes. It's the first PADI 5-Star IDC center on Rhodes, established in Greece in 1978 and operating on Rhodes since 1990.

What if I'm nervous about diving?

The instructors are experienced and patient. The theory lesson is short and practical, the water at Kalithea is clear and calm, and you stay close to the instructor the whole time.