BEST OF · 1-DAY TOURS
Prices, water time and who each one suits, in one place. The 15 one-day dive trips below are the ones worth spending a spare morning on.
Set out on AquaQuest from Cairns at 8:30 AM for two outer reef sites at Norman, Saxon, or Hastings reefs. Snorkel with guides, use provided wetsuits and prescription masks, and enjoy meals, hot showers, and optional scuba sessions.
“The staff was amazing and the dives were beautiful!”
Spend a full day learning basic scuba skills at LBD Diving Koh Tao in Sairee. You will practice in shallow water, then reach up to 12 meters with an instructor such as Nico, Armand, or Alberto. The second underwater session costs 1,000 baht and is often the highlight.
“amazing day, got Arland the guide and he was fantastic, everything was really well explained and the theory portion was overlooking the beach which was nice. the dives were fantastic (definetly do the optional second one) and I had an amazing time, my only disappointment was that I wasn't in koh tao longer to be able to do the full course they offer”
Join Aquarius Diving Club at Hurghada’s Marriott Beach Resort for two guided boat sessions at selected Red Sea sites. You get expert instruction, lunch, drinks, and hotel pickup. Equipment rental and the 5 euro national park fee cost extra. Non-divers can snorkel.
“We had an amazing experience with Acquarius Diving Club in Hurghada! We are a couple and had already gone on a snorkeling trip the day before with another company, but it was not in the least comparable to what we experienced with them. With Acquarius, we did botRead moreAuto-translated”
Meet an SSI professional at Koh Tao Scuba Club for basic theory, equipment practice, and a first underwater session to 5 meters. If you feel ready, add a second outing to 12 meters with no skills practice. The group limit is four people.
“Really cool. They have patience with beginners, even if you are scared like me and start panicking:)”
You’ll leave your South Bali hotel at 7 a.m. for Tulamben, then complete three scuba sessions with a certified instructor, including the USS Liberty wreck. Rifki, Komang, and Yoko are among the instructors praised for patient briefings and careful marine-life spotting. Lunch, equipment, hot drinks, and hotel transfers are included.
“Beautiful wreck dive, had great visibility and our skilled diving instructor took lots of great photos and videos for us. Lucky to be able to see sea turtles, clown fish, garden eels, octopus, puffer fish and electric flame scallop. Great value for monRead more”
Join BB Divers at 8 a.m. for an eight-hour Koh Chang scuba trip limited to four people. Certified divers visit the HTMS Chang wreck or Koh Rang National Park, with guides such as Oscar, Steve, Max, or Chang, plus equipment, lunch, drinks, snacks, and hotel transfers.
“I went on 2 diving trips with BB divers represented by Oscar the boatmaster and his team. They took really good care of me and we had lovely and safe dives around the national park and the local military wreck. The equipment is well maintaiRead more”
Spend a full day exploring Nusa Penida’s reefs from Sanur, with three boat-based scuba sessions, lunch, transfers, tanks, and weights included. Expect strong currents and cooler water. Certified Nitrox users receive two free 32% Nitrox tanks, while equipment hire and private guiding cost extra.
“Bali Scuba were amazing. Safe, professional and efficient. And very friendly. Diving was tricky with big surges, and rough on the surface. They made it all work seamlessly and the three drives were all excellent - and very varied. On top of everything else they sent me video the dive master took of our amazing encounter with manta rays - for no charge. Can’t speak highly enough of them”
Start with a 7:00 a.m. pickup and travel from Sanur to Tulamben for two guided shore-based scuba sessions at the USAT Liberty wreck. You receive equipment, instruction, lunch, snacks, water, and a small-group guide. The package is built for first-timers, not certified divers seeking a fast-paced trip.
“Absolutely awesome experience for non-divers, everything is explained and it is very easy for a beginner to experience a great dive on a stunning ship wreck site. We felt safe and are happy we did this on our vacation here in Bali.”
Join Divers Den from Cairns Marina for a full day at two Outer Great Barrier Reef sites on Norman, Saxon, or Hastings Reef. You get about four hours in the water, guided snorkelling, optional scuba for ages 12 and up, lunch, wetsuits, showers, and time to spot turtles, clownfish, stingrays, and reef sharks.
“Great day, fab guides and saw some sharks, colourful fish and a turtle. Very well done and professional. Food and amenities were great. Definitely worth doing.”
Meet Blue Planet at Dubrovnik Palace hotel for a one-day introduction to scuba. After a theory and equipment briefing, you’ll make two guided descents with an English- or German-speaking instructor, see Adriatic sea life, and earn credit toward PADI Open Water certification.
“The discover course was perfect for first timers. We felt instantly comforted and eased into everything. The staff are very friendly and accommodating. The dive itself was immersive and fun!”
Spend five hours exploring Phi Phi Leh with a PADI instructor and no more than one other participant. You will complete eLearning first, practice basic skills to 12 metres, enjoy Thai lunch and fruit aboard the boat, and make two warm-water reef descents. Ask for José if you want English, Spanish, or Portuguese support.
“Das war ein wunderbarer Tag ! Gut organisiert, super nettes Team, meine ersten 2 Tauchgänge waren richtig entspannt und ich konnte mich voll auf meine 1:1 betreuende Tauchlehrerin verlassen . Mittagessen auf dem Boot, gekühltes Wasser, Obst, an alles war gedacht. Perfekt !👌”
Travel by air-conditioned bus from Cartagena to Barú, complete a short scuba lesson, then reach the reef by boat for an underwater session. Lunch, equipment, photos, and lemonade are included. English and Spanish support is offered, but confirm your guide and inclusions before booking.
“I asked for a guide in English, but had someone who only spoke Spanish. What was good was that the bus came to the hotel. An hour late, without letting me know or responding to a message. Furthermore, I got the entire explanation in Spanish. The guide did not know that I was registered for scuba diving. I had to find out for myself. Diving was very good, only the description said one hour of diving and this was only 20 minutes. Even after that I had to figure out where I had to go myself, the guide, Mary, was nowhere to be seen and did not respond to whatsapp…”
Join JOY CREATE OKINAWA TEA-DA for a seven-hour certified scuba trip from Naha to the Kerama Islands. Veteran instructors, including Takashi and Koyama, guide three sites around Tokashiki, Zamami, or Aka Island. Towels, equipment, boat coats, and hotel pickup are included, with seasonal whale watching and shaved ice.
“The whole trip was amazing. Firstly there will be direct transport from ur hotel in Naha to the port. The coaches are so nice and friendly, there was shaved ice after lunch. My diving coaches was so patient and the view under the sea was stunning, discovered many sea animals. Other divers/ snorkelers were nice as well, I solo travelled and didn’t feel left out at all. Highly recommended”
Travel by fast catamaran from Koh Samui to Sail Rock, the Gulf of Thailand’s famous underwater pinnacle. You’ll complete two boat-based scuba sessions in a group of up to four, with equipment, lunch, water, and hotel transfers included. Guides such as Tilo and Wojciech offer multilingual support.
“Excellent days diving. Well organised and professional. Pick up in small minivan comfortable with lots of space. Boat to dive site was well organised and only two divers with one dive master (Wojciech) who gave us a good refresher and review, very beneficial and welcome after not diving for a few years. Two interesting dives with a lovely Thai lunch on deck between the two dives. a fast boat ride back and transfer to hotel.. Great day. Thanks”
Meet Blue Planet Diving Center at Dubrovnik Palace hotel for two guided scuba sessions in small groups. You may explore caves, walls, wrecks, or Lokrum’s lake, with sites chosen for your certificate level, experience, weather, and interests. Instructors speak English, German, Italian, Croatian, and Swedish.
“absolutely amazin Michelewaas fun, interactive and helped you find all the sealife. water was prestine and equipment was comfortable woth a beautiful dive site.”
Choose a coast, a certification level, or an animal.
