Try Dives – Discover Scuba Diving in Albufeira

Albufeira’s Try Dives gives you more than a quick splash in the sea. You first learn the basics, practise safety skills in an indoor tank, and only then head by boat to an Algarve reef for about 30 minutes underwater. Instructors such as Paulo, Mario, and Macedonia are praised for their patience, clear guidance, and calm manner.

I like the pool session before open water, since it lets you test the breathing gear and hand signals before the sea adds waves and nerves. I also like the close supervision: the ratio is two students per instructor, and instructors may hold your hand throughout the sea session when needed.

The main caution is simple but important: you must be able to swim, meet the health requirements, and handle the pool exercises before entering the sea. A few people have been stopped before the final session because instructors felt they had not met the safety standard, and the stated terms do not provide a refund if you cannot complete the activity.

Key points at a glance

• Indoor tank practice first: Learn and repeat the basic safety exercises before going out on the boat.
• Maximum depth of 12 metres: The sea session is designed for beginners and lasts about 30 minutes, or until the tank reaches 70 bar.
• Two students per instructor: Close supervision is a major part of the safety setup.
• Albufeira Marina meeting point: Check in at Easydivers Dive Center at 1:45 pm, with the activity ending back there.
• Six-month SSI certification: You receive an official certification allowing supervised scuba to 12 metres, plus credit toward an Open Water course.
• A real first test, not a guaranteed sea swim: You must pass the pool portion and follow the instructor’s safety directions.

Starting at Easydivers in Albufeira Marina

Your afternoon begins at Easydivers Dive Center in Albufeira Marina at 1:45 pm. The address is Passeio dos Oceanos, Lote 4, Loja 5, Loja 5, 8200-371 Albufeira. The centre is near public transport, but hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so plan your own way there.

Check-in includes an RTCW form and a medical questionnaire. This is routine for scuba, but do not treat the health form as paperwork to rush through. Conditions such as asthma and heart problems may prevent you from participating, and the operator advises consulting your doctor if you have concerns.

The centre supplies the scuba equipment, including the essential gear used in the pool and at sea. Bottled water, the instructor, a guide, and taxes are included. Food, drinks, and souvenir photographs cost extra if you want them.

The activity has a maximum of 10 participants. That number can sound fairly large, but the two-to-one student-to-instructor ratio is the more useful detail. It tells you how closely you should expect to be watched once you are in the water.

The theory session gives you the basics

The first lesson covers the essentials of breathing underwater, using the equipment, communicating with hand signals, and responding to the standard safety exercises. You do not need a scuba qualification before arriving, since this program is made for people who have never tried it.

The tone appears to be friendly rather than stiff. Mario is known for using jokes to help people relax during the classroom portion, while other instructors focus on careful explanations and practical support. That mix matters because first-time scuba can feel strange even before you leave the shore.

Do not expect a full certification course in one afternoon. This is an introduction, not a replacement for the Open Water program. You receive some course credit, but you still need further training if you want to scuba independently.

The English-language option is useful for international visitors. Some participants have noted small communication difficulties, so tell the instructor immediately if you do not understand a safety instruction. Underwater, a polite nod is not enough if you are unsure.

The indoor tank is the most important part

After the classroom lesson, you enter the indoor tank with your instructor. This is where you become familiar with the regulator, mask, buoyancy equipment, and the sensation of breathing from a tank. Your instructor demonstrates the required safety exercises, and you practise them under supervision.

I consider this the strongest part of the format. The sea can be distracting, with boat movement, open space, and changing visibility. The tank gives you a controlled place to learn how the equipment feels and to decide if you are comfortable continuing.

The pool session is also the point where the instructor assesses your readiness. This is not merely a short demonstration followed by an automatic trip to the reef. You must show that you can manage the equipment and follow the safety procedures.

That standard has caused disappointment for some participants. A few people were not taken into the sea after the pool work because the instructors judged that they had not yet met the minimum safety level. The operator says safety is the reason, and its conditions state that there is no refund if a participant cannot complete the activity.

That may feel harsh, especially at a price of $157.22 per person. Still, the alternative would be taking an unprepared person into open water. If you are anxious, tell the instructor early and ask for each step to be explained clearly. The pool is your chance to settle your nerves, not a formality to get through as quickly as possible.

Boat ride to an Algarve reef

Once the instructors are satisfied that you are ready, you board the boat at the marina. The ride follows the coast to the sea site, described as a natural reef in the activity details. One account refers to the location as an artificial reef, so the exact character of the site may vary with the day or the description used by the crew.

The boat trip is short, but it adds something a pool-only introduction cannot offer. You move from a training environment into the setting where scuba is actually practised, with the Algarve coast around you and the equipment already fitted for the sea session.

Your instructor remains with you at the site. Groups are kept close, with two students per instructor, and the instructors are described as staying beside participants throughout the underwater portion. If you are nervous, that close presence is likely to be more valuable than any sightseeing feature.

Sea conditions can affect visibility and comfort. One participant found the marine life memorable even though the water was not especially clear, and that is a sensible expectation. Visibility is not fully within the operator’s control, so the quality of the underwater views can change from one outing to another.

What you may see below the surface

The reef gives you a chance to look for Algarve marine life rather than simply practise in a tank. Fish, octopus, coral, anemones, and their associated small creatures have all been specifically noted during these sessions.

You should not book this as a guaranteed wildlife encounter. The attraction is the chance to observe the reef, marine plants, and animals while your instructor manages the route and your safety. On a good outing, an instructor may point out an octopus or anemone that you would otherwise swim past.

The underwater portion reaches a maximum depth of 12 metres. That is a sensible limit for an introductory session, deep enough to give you a genuine sense of scuba but still within a closely supervised beginner format.

The planned underwater time is about 30 minutes, or until the tank pressure reaches 70 bar. Your actual time can vary according to breathing rate, comfort, conditions, and the instructor’s safety judgment. New scuba users often breathe faster when nervous, so do not assume that every participant will stay underwater for exactly the same length of time.

The return to shore and the SSI follow-up

After the sea session, the boat returns to the marina and you go back to the centre. You can remove the equipment, shower if you wish, and finish the afternoon at the original meeting point.

The most useful extra is the official SSI certification valid for six months. It allows you to scuba to 12 metres when accompanied by a professional. This is not permission to head into the water alone, and it should not be confused with a complete Open Water qualification.

You also receive credits toward an Open Water course. That makes the program more worthwhile if you are testing a possible new hobby. You can treat the afternoon as a one-time holiday activity, or use it as a first step before continuing your training at home.

The six-month period matters. If you plan to use the certification elsewhere, check the receiving operator’s requirements before booking a future session. The information supplied here confirms the depth, time limit, and need for professional accompaniment, but it does not promise that another centre will accept it without checking.

How the instructors handle nervous beginners

The strongest theme in the feedback is personal attention. Instructors are repeatedly described as friendly, patient, professional, and reassuring. Paulo receives particular praise for kindness and patience, while Macedonia is singled out for careful guidance underwater. Mario helps ease the classroom mood.

The two-to-one ratio supports that hands-on approach. Instructors may hold a participant’s hand in the sea, watch each person closely, and stop to point out marine life. For a first underwater experience, that can make the difference between panic and enjoyment.

You should still take responsibility for your side of the arrangement. Arrive early enough to be ready at the 1:45 pm start, answer the medical form honestly, listen during the theory lesson, and follow every instruction in the pool. The centre can support you, but it cannot remove every fear or guarantee that you will feel ready for open water.

The experience is also not a good fit for someone who cannot swim. Children under 10 years old or under 1.40 metres tall are not allowed, and most other participants can take part if they meet the health and swimming requirements.

Is $157.22 good value?

At $157.22 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend an afternoon in Albufeira. You are paying for an instructor, equipment, pool training, boat transport to the reef, the sea session, bottled water, and the follow-up SSI certification.

The value improves if you want to find out if scuba suits you before paying for a full course. The pool test is useful, the boat trip makes the activity feel genuine, and the Open Water course credit gives the session some ongoing value.

The price is less attractive if your only goal is a guaranteed 30 minutes underwater. You may not complete the sea portion if the instructor decides that you have not met the safety standard, and the stated terms say no refund is provided in that situation. That is the most important financial risk to understand before booking.

Photos are not included, though souvenir photos may be available to purchase. Food and drinks are also your responsibility, so bring anything you need for the afternoon outside the bottled water provided.

Timing, cancellation, and practical planning

The activity lasts about three hours and begins at 1:45 pm. It ends back at Easydivers, not at your hotel. Since diving within 48 hours of flying is not recommended, leave a suitable gap before your return flight.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that period are not refunded or accepted. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you are offered another date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of participants is not reached.

Do not arrive late. No refund is provided for a missed start caused by late arrival or a no-show. Wear something practical for changing after the session, and remember that the operator includes the equipment but not hotel transport.

Who should book this Albufeira scuba introduction?

This suits a confident swimmer who is curious about scuba but not ready to commit to a full course. It is especially useful if you want a guided first attempt, value close supervision, and like the idea of seeing fish and octopus on a real reef rather than only practising in a pool.

It can also suit someone who is nervous, provided that the nerves do not prevent them from completing the pool exercises. The instructors appear comfortable supporting beginners, but they will not take you to sea simply because you have paid.

I would be cautious about booking this for a person who cannot swim, has an unresolved medical concern, dislikes close-fitting equipment, or wants a guaranteed result. The policy around incomplete participation is firm, and the sea portion depends on both your readiness and the conditions.

Should you book it?

I would book this if you want a serious first taste of scuba in Albufeira, especially if the pool lesson, small instructor groups, and SSI follow-up matter to you. The marine life is a welcome bonus, while the real strength is the careful progression from theory to tank to sea.

Before paying, make sure you understand three points: you must swim, you must pass the pool safety check, and there is no refund if you cannot complete the activity. If those terms suit you and you are free from flying for at least 48 hours afterward, Easydivers offers a well-structured introduction with close support and a useful path toward further training.

FAQ

Where does the activity start?

It starts at Easydivers Dive Center, Diving School, at Marina de Albufeira, Passeio dos Oceanos, Lote 4, Loja 5, 8200-371 Albufeira, Portugal.

What time should I arrive?

The stated start time is 1:45 pm. Late arrival or a no-show does not qualify for a refund.

How long does the activity last?

The full activity takes about three hours, including check-in, the theory lesson, indoor tank practice, the boat trip, the sea session, and returning the equipment.

Is scuba equipment included?

Yes. The activity includes use of the necessary scuba equipment, as well as a diver or guide, professional guide, bottled water, and taxes and handling charges.

How deep will I go?

The maximum depth is 12 metres. The sea session lasts about 30 minutes or until the tank reaches 70 bar.

Do I need to know how to swim?

Yes. Swimming is an essential requirement for this activity.

Are children allowed to participate?

Children under 10 years old or under 1.40 metres tall are not allowed to take part.

What certification do I receive?

You receive an official SSI certification valid for six months. It permits scuba to 12 metres when accompanied by a professional, and you also receive credits toward an Open Water course.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded or accepted. If weather or insufficient numbers force the operator to cancel, you are offered another date or a full refund.