Cabo San Lucas: Learn to Scuba Dive PADI Certified
Your First Dive Happens in a Pool, Then Under the Arch
You arrive for check-in, complete a PADI safety briefing, and practice in a shallow pool before boarding the dive boat. The guided thirty-minute ocean dive takes you near Cabo's famous arch with an experienced instructor at your side. Equipment rental, snacks, and the certified boat are included. You pay separately for gear rental and dock fees at arrival.
Step-by-step itinerary
Learn to scuba dive in Cabo San Lucas
- Check-in and meet instructors
- Receive PADI diving safety instruction
- Practice first dive in shallow pool
- Board scuba boat to famous arch
- Explore ocean on 30-minute dive
What’s included
Your day includes hotel pickup before the tour start time, PADI safety instruction and presentation, a first-dive session in the shallow training pool, the 45-foot US lifeguard-certified dive boat with onboard bathroom, a thirty-minute guided ocean dive near the arch, and snacks during the experience. Equipment rental ($40) and dock and transportation fees ($12 total) are paid at check-in.
Times
- Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 08:00 13:00
- Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 13:00
- Friday 13:00 14:00
Before you book
Operated by Cabo Adventures
Prices and times updated 4 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
"The pool is where you find out if your body likes it," our instructor said while fitting my mask. That stuck with me, not because it sounded wise, but because it was honest. Cabo Adventures runs their PADI certification dives out of a shallow pool first, which means you're not panicking thirty feet down wondering if you should have paid attention during the safety briefing. You check in, get your verbal instruction and medical waiver done, then spend time in controlled water before the boat even leaves the dock. It takes the edge off.
The boat itself is a 45-foot dive vessel with a bathroom and enough space that first-timers don't feel crowded. You head out toward the famous arch (that limestone formation you've seen in photos), and the dive team takes you down for about thirty minutes in water that's usually clear enough to actually see what's happening. Pelicans Rock is the standard first-dive spot because the visibility is reliable and the depth stays shallow. The guides stay with you the whole time, and the boat is designed to make getting in and out of the water easier than it would be from a regular charter.
Expect to pay a $40 equipment rental fee and a $12 dock and transportation fee at check-in on top of your tour price. Pickup happens before the tour starts, so you'll need to confirm your location and time directly with the operator once you book. The whole thing (instruction, pool session, boat ride, and the thirty-minute dive) takes up most of your morning or early afternoon. Snacks are included, and the experience is built around people who've never strapped on a tank before.
Is this one for you?Book this if you want to try scuba diving without arranging instruction, transportation, or equipment yourself: the PADI certification and pool practice mean you're not jumping straight into the ocean, and the small-group format keeps the pace manageable for a first dive.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Spanish.
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 book this?
No. This is a PADI-certified first-dive course. You get instruction on the day, practice in a pool, then dive with a guide in shallow water.
How deep do you go on the ocean dive?
The dive stays in shallow water. Depth varies by conditions, but it's designed for beginners and kept manageable.
What's included in the price?
The PADI instruction, pool training, the 45-foot dive boat, snacks, and the thirty-minute guided ocean dive. Equipment rental ($40) and dock fees ($12) are paid separately at check-in.
How long is the whole experience?
Most of a half-day. Check-in and instruction take time, then the pool session, boat ride, and dive. Plan for several hours total.
Is transportation included?
Hotel pickup is arranged before the tour. You confirm your pickup location and time with the operator after booking. A $10 round-trip transportation fee is paid at check-in.
What if I'm not comfortable underwater?
The pool session is specifically designed to let you get used to breathing underwater in a controlled space before the ocean dive. You work with an instructor the whole time.
Can I bring my own diving gear?
Equipment rental is available for $40. Check with the operator about bringing your own certified gear.
Who cannot participate?
The tour is not recommended for people with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, respiratory problems, diabetes, seizure history, or pregnancy. A medical waiver is required at check-in.
Cabo San Lucas: Learn to Scuba Dive PADI Certified
3h 30m · EN · ES · at your hotel
from US$ 129 per person
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