Scuba Diving in Albufeira: First Dive with Instructor

Pool training, sea dive, and a certification card in one morning

Discover Scuba Diving is a beginner scuba class in Albufeira where you complete pool training, a guided sea dive on a natural reef, and earn SSI certification valid to 12 meters. The instructor works with two students at a time, guiding you through safety exercises in the pool before taking you out on the boat to a reef site in the Algarve. You'll observe marine life and reef structure during a 30-minute dive, then return to shore for a shower and your official certification card, which also credits toward an Open Water course.

The experience

You start with paperwork (a health questionnaire and RTCW form, standard safety procedure), then move into the pool for theory and demonstration. Your instructor shows you how to use the regulator, manage buoyancy, and perform the safety drills you'll need underwater. This happens in a controlled tank, so you can ask questions and repeat movements until they feel natural. The whole pool session builds the muscle memory that matters when you're actually in the sea.

After the pool work, you board the boat for a short trip along the coast to a natural reef. The dive site sits in shallow water (maximum depth is 12 meters), and the reef holds fish, coral and the kind of marine life that makes the Algarve worth entering the water for. Your instructor stays with you the entire time, watching your breathing and hand signals, and the group stays small: two students per instructor. The dive runs about 30 minutes, or until the air in your bottle drops to 70 bar, whichever comes first.

Back on shore you rinse off, change out of the wetsuit, and walk away with an SSI certification card valid for six months. That card lets you dive independently to 12 meters with a professional, and it counts as credit toward the Open Water certification if you decide to go deeper later. The whole experience takes three hours from check-in to the moment you hold the card.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• all scuba equipment (wetsuit, tank, regulator, buoyancy control device).
• pool training and sea dive.
• bottled water.
• SSI certification valid to 12 meters for six months.
• all taxes and fees.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 13:45

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 to 75 years) · Child (10 to 17 years) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

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 or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Easydivers Portugal

Is this one for you?Book this class if you want to try scuba without committing to a full Open Water course: the pool training removes the guesswork, and the shallow reef dive keeps the pressure manageable while you're learning. The small group (two students per instructor) means your guide stays focused on you, not on managing a crowd.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (10 to 17 years). Children under 10 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.

Can I do this dive if I've never been underwater before?

Yes, Discover Scuba Diving is designed for people who have never dived. You'll spend time in the pool learning the basics before you enter the sea, so the instructor can make sure you're comfortable with the equipment and the breathing technique before you go deeper.

What's the water like at the dive site in Albufeira?

The reef where you dive sits in the Algarve's natural reef system at a maximum depth of 12 meters. You'll see fish, coral and marine flora typical of this part of the Portuguese coast during your 30-minute dive.

How many people dive together, and is the instructor with me the whole time?

The group stays small, two students per instructor, so your guide can watch your breathing and hand signals throughout the dive and respond if you need help or want to surface early.

Do I need to know how to swim?

Yes, knowing how to swim is an essential requirement for this dive. Children must be at least 10 years old and 1.40 meters tall to participate.

What happens after the dive? Do I get a certification?

You'll return to shore, shower if you wish, and receive an official SSI certification card valid for six months. That card lets you dive independently to 12 meters with a professional, and it also counts as credit toward an Open Water diving course if you want to go deeper.

How long does the whole experience take?

The activity runs three hours from check-in through the pool training, boat trip, sea dive, and return to shore with your certification.