Lanzarote Introductory Scuba Diving Experience

Playa Chica gives you a gentle introduction to scuba, with training in waist-deep water before you head down for 30 to 35 minutes among fish, volcanic rock, and clear Atlantic water. The best part is the calm, closely supervised setup: one instructor for every two students keeps the pace personal. I also like that the package includes equipment and 10 to 20 souvenir photos. The main consideration is that this is a short introductory session, not a certification course, and the advertised depth is modest.

This works especially well if you are curious but nervous, or if you want to try scuba with your children. Instructors such as Victor and Piere have been praised for explaining things clearly and allowing beginners to move at their own speed. You will need reasonable fitness, comfort in the water, and enough time between the session and your flight.

Key points at a glance

• Playa Chica setting: Enter the water from the bay at Puerto del Carmen and explore a sheltered section of Lanzarote’s coast.
• Beginner-friendly training: Practice breathing and three basic skills in waist-deep water before going farther out.
• Small teaching ratio: The group is limited to six, with one SSI instructor for every two students.
• Short underwater session: Expect about 30 to 35 minutes at roughly 5 meters, with the activity lasting about two hours in total.
• Useful inclusions: Wetsuit, mask, fins, boots, tank, professional instruction, and 10 to 20 emailed photos are included.
• Good family option: Children from age 10 can take part when accompanied by an adult.

Why Playa Chica is a sensible first scuba site

For a first underwater session, the setting matters as much as the fish. Playa Chica gives you a straightforward start: the centre is in Puerto del Carmen, and from Manta Diving Lanzarote you walk down to the bay with the equipment. There is no complicated boat transfer to manage before you have even learned how to breathe through a regulator.

The initial work takes place in waist-deep water. That is valuable because you can get used to the mask, fins, wetsuit, and breathing equipment while you still have solid footing. If the idea of going straight into open water makes you tense, this gradual start gives you room to settle down.

Once you are comfortable, the instructor takes you beneath the surface and practices three skills with you. The session then becomes a guided look at the bay’s marine life. You might see sea bream, parrotfish, damselfish, flounders, or ornate wrasse. One particularly fortunate group saw an angel shark, though wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

The water is described as clear, but sea conditions can change. If conditions are poor, the operator may suggest moving your session to another day. That is a sensible trade-off. You lose some flexibility, but you have a better chance of enjoying the underwater section rather than simply coping with rough water or poor visibility.

What happens at the Puerto del Carmen centre

You begin at Manta Diving Lanzarote, at C. Tenerife, 2, in Puerto del Carmen. The activity returns to this same point, and the centre is close to public transportation. You should arrive ready for paperwork, including a short medical history.

The medical questionnaire is not a formality to rush through. Certain conditions, including asthma and heart problems, may prevent you from taking part, so speak with your doctor before booking if you have any concern. The activity is not recommended during pregnancy or for people with serious medical conditions.

After the paperwork, your SSI instructor explains the basic equipment, breathing, safety procedures, and the plan for the session. This classroom-style briefing is short, but it is an important part of the experience. Good instruction can make the difference between spending the underwater portion looking around and spending it trying to calm your breathing.

The instructors receive especially strong praise for patience and clear explanations. Victor has been singled out for making the theory section enjoyable while keeping the group comfortable. Piere is also noted for putting beginners at ease. The exact instructor depends on the day, but the teaching approach appears to be personal rather than rushed.

Getting fitted with the equipment

The centre provides the main equipment, including a wetsuit, mask, fins, boots, and scuba gear. You bring your swimwear, towel, and a change of clothes. The staff help you find sizes that fit, which matters more than it may sound. A loose mask can leak, and uncomfortable boots can make the walk to the water awkward.

You do not need to buy or bring specialist equipment for this introductory session. That keeps the commitment low. You can find out if scuba suits you before paying for a longer course or purchasing gear.

There is still some physical effort involved. You will carry or wear equipment while walking to Playa Chica, enter the water, and spend up to 35 minutes moving with fins. The stated requirement is a moderate level of fitness. This is not a strenuous athletic outing, but it is not completely effortless either.

The first breathing practice in the bay

At Playa Chica, you put on the equipment and walk into waist-deep water. The instructor lets you practice breathing before asking you to go underneath. This pause is useful, especially for children or anyone who feels uneasy with the mask and regulator.

The first aim is comfort, not speed. You need to learn how breathing through the regulator feels, how to clear your mask, and how to respond to simple instructions. The instructor then works through three skills beneath the surface. The exact skills are not specified in the activity details, but they are part of the basic introduction before the main swim.

The close supervision is one of the strongest features here. The group has a maximum of six people, with one SSI instructor for every two students. That ratio gives the instructor a practical chance to watch each person, adjust the pace, and help if nerves appear.

This is particularly useful for families. An 11-year-old who arrived nervous about the water was able to continue after the guides worked patiently at the child’s pace. The minimum age is 10, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Parents should still judge their own child’s comfort and swimming ability rather than treating the minimum age as a guarantee that every child will enjoy it.

The 30 to 35 minute underwater tour

The main underwater session is listed at about 5 meters and lasts 30 to 35 minutes. Another part of the description refers to 6 meters, so you should think of this as a shallow introductory session in the 5 to 6-meter range rather than expect a precise depth.

That depth is enough to give you a real sense of scuba without placing you far below the surface. The instructor remains with you as you move through Playa Chica, stopping to point out fish and other marine life. You are not simply left to swim around on your own.

The pace is designed for beginners. You may spend part of the time getting used to buoyancy, hand signals, and breathing. That is normal. If you have imagined a fast-moving tour packed with sightings, reset your expectations. The appeal is the chance to experience the underwater world in a controlled way.

Some participants have reported a session lasting closer to 45 minutes and reaching 10 meters, but that is not the standard promise. The advertised plan is 30 to 35 minutes at approximately 5 meters. I would judge the experience against those terms and regard any additional time or depth as a bonus, not something to count on.

You may see sea bream, parrotfish, damselfish, flounders, and ornate wrasse. The angel shark sighting is a memorable possibility, but no operator can promise a particular animal. Water clarity, weather, timing, and the movements of the fish all affect what you see.

The value of the $81.10 price

At $81.10 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend two hours in Lanzarote. The value comes from what the price removes from your planning. Equipment rental, an SSI professional, the shallow-water instruction, the guided session, and souvenir photos are all included.

A beginner course would require a larger commitment of time, study, and money. This session lets you test the sport first. If you love it, you can look into formal training later. If you decide it is not for you, you have not paid for a full certification program.

The small group also matters. A cheaper session with a large group could feel less personal, especially during the first breathing practice. Here, the stated ratio of one instructor to two students gives you more direct support than a typical sightseeing activity.

The photos add practical value. You receive around 10 to 20 images by email afterward, giving you a record of the experience without needing to manage a camera underwater. Photo quality and the exact subjects will vary, but this is a useful inclusion for a first session.

I consider the price fair for someone who wants a properly supervised introduction and values convenience. It is less appealing if you are already certified or have considerable scuba experience, since the shallow depth and short format may feel limited.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend this activity to adults and children aged 10 or older who want a first taste of scuba in a closely supervised setting. It is a particularly good match for:

• First-timers who are curious but cautious
• Families with a child who can follow instructions and is comfortable enough in the water
• Couples or friends who want to try something together
• People staying in Puerto del Carmen who prefer an activity without a long transfer
• Anyone who wants to test scuba before taking a longer course

It is not the right choice if you want a full qualification, a deep-water outing, or a long day exploring several sites. It may also be unsuitable if you are pregnant, have serious medical concerns, or cannot meet the health requirements.

You should also plan around air travel. Scuba activity within 12 hours of flying is not recommended. If your return flight is soon after the session, choose another day rather than trying to squeeze this into the final hours of your holiday.

Timing, clothing, and practical planning

The full activity takes about two hours, although the underwater portion lasts only 30 to 35 minutes. Allow enough time for paperwork, instruction, equipment fitting, the walk to the water, and the return to the centre.

Bring swimwear, a towel, and a change of clothes. The wetsuit is supplied, but you will want dry clothing afterward. The activity ends back at Manta Diving Lanzarote, so you do not need to arrange a separate pickup from the bay.

A minimum of two people per booking is required. The maximum group size is six. If you are booking alone, check availability before assuming you can join an existing group.

The activity requires suitable weather. If poor conditions lead to cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. That policy is helpful, but you should leave some flexibility in your holiday schedule if scuba is a priority.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded, so do not book this for a day when your plans are still uncertain.

How this compares with snorkeling

Snorkeling requires less equipment and less instruction, but it does not give you the same feeling of moving below the surface for an extended period. This session lets you breathe underwater and stay with the marine life at a greater depth than a surface swim.

The trade-off is preparation. You will complete a medical questionnaire, attend a briefing, practice skills, wear a wetsuit and tank, and follow the instructor’s signals. If you want a quick, casual look at the bay, snorkeling is simpler. If you want to know how scuba actually feels, this experience offers a more useful test.

The shallow setting keeps the first attempt manageable. You are not committing to a demanding expedition, but you are still learning the central skill that makes scuba different from surface swimming.

Should you book it?

I would book this if you want a careful first attempt rather than a rushed thrill ride. The strongest reasons are the small teaching ratio, patient instruction, and gradual move from waist-deep practice to the main session. Those details matter more than a long list of equipment when you are learning to breathe underwater for the first time.

The $81.10 cost is reasonable for the instruction, gear, close supervision, and emailed photos. Just keep the limits clear: the session lasts about two hours, the underwater portion is short, and the normal depth is around 5 meters. If those boundaries suit you, Manta Diving Lanzarote offers a practical way to find out if scuba belongs in your future holiday plans.

FAQ

Where does the scuba experience begin?

It begins at Manta Diving Lanzarote, C. Tenerife, 2, 35510 Puerto del Carmen, Las Palmas, Spain. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the activity last?

The full activity takes approximately two hours. The underwater session lasts around 30 to 35 minutes.

How deep will I go?

The experience is advertised at approximately 5 meters. Another description refers to 6 meters, so expect a shallow session in roughly the 5 to 6-meter range.

Do I need previous scuba experience?

No. This is an introductory session designed for people who have not tried scuba before.

What equipment is included?

Rental equipment is included, along with an SSI professional instructor. The centre fits you with a wetsuit, mask, fins, and boots.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a towel, and a change of clothes.

What marine life might I see?

You might see sea bream, parrotfish, damselfish, flounders, and ornate wrasse. An angel shark has also been seen during a session, but sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Can children take part?

The minimum age is 10. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Can I take part shortly before flying?

Scuba within 12 hours of flying is not recommended. You must also complete a health questionnaire, and some medical conditions may prevent participation.