Hurghada: Beginners Scuba Diving Full-Day Boat Trip & Lunch

The best part of this Hurghada boat trip is the gentle introduction to Red Sea scuba. You get two underwater sessions, not just one quick try, so you have time to settle your breathing, learn the equipment, and enjoy the second session more fully. The day also includes snorkeling, swimming, sea views, lunch, and hotel transport.

I like the patient instruction and the value. Several beginners received close, one-on-one help, including calm support when masks filled with water or a breathing hose shifted. I also like that the trip gives you two chances underwater, plus unlimited soft and hot drinks, instead of charging you for every small extra.

The main consideration is that this is an introductory experience, not a full certification course. Each session lasts about 15 to 20 minutes, and the reef quality can vary from site to site. If you already hold a qualification, you need to choose the certified option and pay an additional €25 per person.

Key points to know before booking

• Two short underwater sessions: Introductory sessions last 15 to 20 minutes each, depending on your condition.
• Patient support for first-timers: Instructors explain the equipment and can stay close to you underwater.
• A full boat day for $30: Hotel pickup, boat transport, lunch, drinks, equipment, and two snorkeling stops are included when selected.
• Snorkeling fills the gaps: Children under 12 cannot use scuba equipment but can join the snorkeling portions.
• Expect a mixed reef experience: The Red Sea scenery and fish are the focus, but reef quality may not impress experienced snorkelers.
• Check your pickup area: Hurghada transfers are included, while transport from nearby resort areas costs extra.

Starting from your Hurghada hotel

Your day begins with pickup from your hotel in Hurghada, followed by a transfer to the port and the boat. That simple arrangement matters in Hurghada, where resort areas can be spread out and arranging a taxi before an early boat trip can be a nuisance.

Pickup and return transport are included for Hurghada hotels. If you are staying in Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh, El Gouna, Soma Bay, Safaga, or Sharm El Naga, you need to add the appropriate transfer at checkout for each person. Check this carefully before paying, since the base price does not cover all resort areas.

Bring your passport, swimwear, towel, sunglasses, sun hat, camera, and some cash. You will spend much of the day outdoors, with little shade away from the boat, so a hat and sunglasses are useful even when you are in the water. A towel is not listed as an included item, so pack your own.

What the boat day feels like

Once aboard, the yacht crew takes you out toward the Red Sea sites. The boat ride gives you time to enjoy the open water, settle into the day, and listen to the instructions before getting into the sea.

This is not only a scuba outing. You can relax on board, look out over the water, swim, and join two snorkeling stops. That mix makes the schedule easier for couples or families where one person wants to try scuba and another prefers to stay on the surface.

The boat has bathroom and shower facilities, which are useful after saltwater sessions. Lunch is served on board as a buffet, with unlimited soft and hot drinks throughout the day. At $30 per person, the combination of transport, food, equipment, instruction, and two water sessions gives this trip strong value.

You should still keep your expectations sensible. This is a shared boat excursion, not a private yacht charter. The exact reef locations depend on the day’s operation and sea conditions, and the information provided does not promise a particular named reef or a fixed group size.

The first underwater session: learning without rushing

Before each session, a certified instructor explains the site and the basic procedure. If you have never used scuba equipment, this briefing is the part to take seriously. You will need to become comfortable breathing through the regulator, clearing your mask, and following the guide’s signals.

The first session can feel demanding even when you are a confident swimmer. One beginner found the opening attempt challenging, while the second session became much easier. That pattern is common sense for a first-timer: your first minutes are spent learning how the gear feels, not admiring fish.

The strongest feature here is the close supervision. The instructors are described as patient and willing to calm people who panic because water enters the mask or the hose does not sit correctly. That kind of support matters more than a long list of fish species. A calm instructor can turn a frightening first few minutes into a manageable experience.

Introductory sessions last 15 to 20 minutes, depending on your individual condition. The maximum depth and exact underwater route are not specified, though one first-time participant reached about 10 meters with the guide. Do not treat that depth as a guarantee. Your instructor will decide what is suitable.

I would advise you to tell the instructor plainly if you feel nervous, uncomfortable, or short of breath. You do not need to prove anything. The whole point of a first session is to learn at a pace you can handle.

The second session is often the better one

The second underwater session is a major reason to choose this trip over a single introductory outing. Once you have adjusted the mask, regulator, buoyancy, and hand signals, you can spend less time thinking about equipment and more time looking at the reef.

For many beginners, the first session is about staying calm. The second is where the fun begins. One couple enjoyed seeing a clownfish close enough to give it a playful kiss, though you should never touch fish or coral. The Red Sea can offer colorful fish and coral formations, but the exact quality depends on the selected site and current conditions.

The sessions are not long enough to make you an experienced scuba user. They are a first taste, with an instructor nearby, rather than a substitute for certification. If you decide you want more after this day, you will need a proper training course.

Certified participants have a different option. Professional scuba users must select the certified experience, which costs an additional €25 per person. Certified sessions last about 30 to 40 minutes, again depending on individual condition. Make sure you select the correct option when booking, since the beginner package is not designed for qualified participants seeking a standard certified session.

Snorkeling gives the day a second rhythm

The two snorkeling stops are useful for anyone who wants more time in the water than the short introductory sessions allow. You can move at your own pace on the surface, watch fish from above, and enjoy the reef without managing a tank and regulator.

Snorkeling also makes this trip better for mixed groups. Children under 12 cannot take part in scuba, but they can snorkel. The activity is not suitable for children under 12 as scuba participants, so families should plan around that restriction.

The reef experience may not satisfy someone who has spent many days snorkeling in the Red Sea. The sites can be attractive, but reef quality is not guaranteed to be exceptional at every stop. If you are new to the region, the combination of coral, fish, open water, and boat time should still give you a pleasant introduction.

Wear sunscreen before boarding, but avoid getting large amounts of lotion in the water. Keep your camera secure, and ask the crew about taking photos before the session. One trip participant particularly valued the photos and videos made by the onboard videographer, but these media services are not listed as included, so expect a separate charge if offered.

Lunch, drinks, and time between water sessions

Lunch comes as a buffet on board. This is a practical arrangement because you can eat without losing time to a return trip to shore. Unlimited soft and hot drinks are included, which helps on a hot day when you are moving between sun, saltwater, and the boat deck.

The food received especially warm praise, but I would treat that as a pleasant bonus rather than the main reason to book. The real value is the complete day: transport, boat access, equipment, instruction, two scuba sessions, snorkeling, food, and drinks in one package.

There is also time to rest between stops. You can sit on board, enjoy the sea views, or simply dry off before the next activity. That slower pace is helpful for beginners, since rushing from one session to another can make the day feel tiring rather than enjoyable.

How much value do you get for $30?

At $30 per person, this is an inexpensive way to try scuba in Hurghada. The price includes hotel pickup and return for Hurghada hotels, the boat trip, lunch, unlimited soft and hot drinks, bathroom and shower access, and the equipment and instruction included in your chosen package.

The value is strongest if you have never used scuba equipment. A standalone lesson, boat ride, and meal would often cost more than this combined day, though prices vary. You also get two attempts, which is important because a single short session can end just as you begin to feel comfortable.

Read the option details carefully. The standard package is for beginners without a license. Certified scuba costs an additional €25 per person. Transfer fees may also apply if you stay outside Hurghada.

The price does not include DVD or CD media. Photos or video may be available through the crew, but you should ask about the cost before agreeing. Bring cash for optional extras and personal spending.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend this trip to you if you are curious about scuba but do not want to commit to a full course. It suits a first-timer who wants professional help, a relaxed boat day, and a second chance after the nerves of the first session.

It also works well for couples or groups with mixed interests. One person can try scuba while another spends more time snorkeling, swimming, or relaxing on board. The buffet lunch and drinks keep the day simple.

This is less suitable if you want a long, technical underwater session or a carefully tailored private experience. The introductory sessions are brief, and the trip follows a shared boat schedule. Experienced snorkelers may also find that some reef areas are less impressive than the best Red Sea sites they have already seen.

You should not book if you are pregnant, use a wheelchair, or have heart or respiratory problems. The activity is also not suitable for children under 12 as scuba participants. If you are uncertain about your health, seek medical advice before booking and tell the operator about any concern.

Languages, cancellation, and small practical details

Instruction is available in English, German, Arabic, Polish, and French. That range is helpful when you are learning breathing equipment and underwater hand signals, since clear communication matters.

You can reserve and pay later, which keeps your plans flexible. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. Bring your passport, even though the trip is only a day on the water, and keep valuables to a minimum.

The operator is FTS Travels. The available information does not provide individual instructor names, so you should not expect to request a particular guide. What you can expect is a certified instructor briefing before each session and close help in the water.

Should you book the Hurghada scuba boat trip?

Book it if you want an affordable first taste of Red Sea scuba, especially if you value patient instruction more than a long underwater route. The two sessions, snorkeling stops, lunch, drinks, hotel transfer, and calm support make the $30 price easy to justify.

Skip it if you are already certified and want a full-length technical outing, unless you select the certified option. Also skip it if you expect every reef to be spectacular. For a nervous beginner, though, the second session can make the day worthwhile. You get a low-cost introduction, plenty of time on the water, and practical support when the equipment feels unfamiliar.

FAQ

Is this trip suitable for a first-time scuba participant?

Yes. The activity is designed for beginners without a license, and a certified instructor provides instructions before each session.

How long does each beginner session last?

Each introductory session lasts about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on your individual condition.

How many scuba and snorkeling stops are included?

The trip includes two scuba sessions at two Red Sea sites and two snorkeling stops when the selected option includes those activities.

Can children join the trip?

Children under 12 cannot take part in scuba, but they can go snorkeling. The activity is not suitable for children under 12 as scuba participants.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup and return transport are included from Hurghada hotels. Transfers from Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh, El Gouna, Soma Bay, Safaga, or Sharm El Naga require an extra add-on for each participant.

What is included with the $30 price?

The package includes the boat trip, hotel pickup and return in Hurghada, a buffet lunch, unlimited soft and hot drinks, and the equipment and instruction included in your selected option. Certified scuba costs an additional €25 per person.