Top Rated
Let's be honest up front: you do not need to be a strong swimmer to try scuba diving, but you do need basic comfort in the water. At the surface your inflated buoyancy vest keeps you floating without any effort, underwater your instructor stays within arm's reach, and the first guided dive goes no deeper than 5–8 metres for a gentle 15–25 minutes. If putting your face in the sea genuinely frightens you, we will tell you so — and you can still join any of our boats as a visitor at a reduced rate, enjoy the fresh lunch on board and watch the divers from the deck.
For this ranking we compared our full-day boat trips purely on beginner-gentleness: how much personal attention you get, how long the day runs, and how forgiving the dive plan feels for someone nervous about water. Every trip includes two guided dives, all equipment, a full safety briefing, passenger and diving insurance, free two-way hotel transfer and lunch on board — so the differences come down to group size and pace, not what's in the package.
No licence is needed and try-dives start from around age 10. To see how a first dive works step by step, start with our discover scuba diving page, browse all boat trips, or simply message us — we will honestly tell you whether diving or the visitor deck is the better choice for you.
The Underwater Museum trip from Side keeps groups at just 3–4 divers per instructor, so a nervous beginner is never out of arm's reach. Your first guided dive stays at 5–8 metres for 15–25 minutes among the sunken sculptures, and hand-feeding the fish gives you something calming to focus on. At €45 for a 7-hour day with equipment, lunch, insurance and hotel transfer included, it is our most closely supervised trip.
At 6 hours, the Kumköy trip is our shortest day on the water — a real advantage if being at sea for a long time makes you anxious. The dive plan is just as gentle: a shallow 5–8 metre first dive of 15–25 minutes beside your instructor, and a second dive only if you feel ready. €43 includes all equipment, the safety briefing, lunch on board and free hotel transfer.
You need basic water comfort, not swimming skill. At the surface your inflated vest keeps you afloat without effort, and underwater your instructor guides and supports you throughout the dive. If you are genuinely afraid of the water, tell us — joining the boat as a visitor at a reduced rate is often the better first step.
The morning dive stays at 5–8 metres and lasts 15–25 minutes — shallow enough that the surface always feels close. The afternoon dive goes to 12–13 metres, but only if you felt comfortable on the first one. No licence is required, and try-dives are possible from around age 10.
Nothing is lost. You reserve free online and pay on the day in cash or by card, cancellation is free up to 24 hours before, and if you decide on the boat not to dive you can switch to the visitor option at a reduced rate. Please note the health rules: no diving when pregnant or with serious heart, asthma or respiratory conditions, and no flying within 24 hours after diving.