Intro dive vs Open Water course
which way in?
Both options put you underwater. Which fits your trip · and your plans for what happens after. Neutral comparison, no sales pressure.
If you never plan to dive again after this trip, do the intro (€35). If you plan to dive anywhere ever again · this trip or another · do the Open Water course (€330). The maths almost always tips toward the course.
| Intro dive | Open Water course | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (€) | 35 | 330 |
| Duration | Half day · ~4 h | 3–4 days |
| Number of dives | 1 reef dive (12 m max) | 4 open-water dives (18 m max) |
| Theory required | 30-minute brief on the day | 5 PADI eLearning chapters · 6-10 hours self-study |
| Cert card you keep | Participation slip only | PADI Open Water Diver · lifetime, worldwide |
| Min age | 10 | 10 (Junior OW), 15 (full OW) |
| Swim test | Comfort in water · informal | 200 m unaided + 10-min tread water · day 1 |
| Counts toward Open Water? | Yes · the intro skills credit toward day 1 confined water if you book OW within 12 months | — |
| Right for… | First-time divers, holiday triers, partners-of-divers | Anyone who plans to dive again after this trip |
Intro dive
For the undecided
€35, half a day, no card. Do it on day 1 of your trip · decide on day 2 whether to upgrade.
Open Water course
Recommended
€330, 3-4 days, lifetime cert. If you'll ever dive again, the maths almost always works out.
Common comparison questions
If I do an intro dive and love it, can I upgrade to the Open Water course later?
Yes. The PADI Discover Scuba Diving session credits toward your first confined-water training dive if you enrol in the PADI Open Water course with us within 12 months. So the €35 you paid for the intro effectively becomes a deposit on the €330 course · net cost €295 if you upgrade.
Is the intro dive 'real' diving?
Yes · same equipment, same depth range as a beginner reef dive (max 12 m), same instructor next to you the whole time. The difference vs the Open Water course is you don't get the cert card and you can't dive without an instructor afterward. The actual underwater experience is genuine.
Why is the Open Water course so much more expensive?
More instructor time (3-4 days vs half a day), 4 dives instead of 1, the PADI eLearning materials (paid royalty), the cert card processing, and a much smaller group ratio (max 4 students per instructor on the course vs 1:2 on intros). The €330 covers genuinely more value.
Can I share an intro dive with my partner who is already certified?
Yes · the intro group goes on the same boat as our regular daily-dive group. Your certified partner does the regular two-tank day (€45) while you do the supervised intro session at the same site. You'll see each other underwater, surface together, share lunch on the boat.
What if I get to Hurghada and decide I want the course instead of just the intro?
Easy · we upgrade you on the day. Tell us when you arrive at the boat. The intro session counts toward day 1 of the course, and you continue with the eLearning starting that evening. We can certify you in 3 days if your trip is long enough.
Can I do the intro dive on day 1 of my trip and decide later?
Recommended approach for the undecided. Do the intro on day 1 of the trip · costs €35, takes half a day. If you love it, enrol in the Open Water course on day 2 (€330 minus the €35 you already paid). If you decide diving isn't for you, you've spent €35 and had a memorable day.
Ready to get in the water?
Tell us which one · we'll come back with availability and the captain's plan.