BEST OF · 3-DAY EXPERIENCES

15 Three-Day Dive Trips That Earn the Boat Ride

31 dives  ·  from $315 a head

Prices, water time and who each one suits, in one place. The 15 three-day dive trips below are the ones worth spending a spare morning on.

Open Water Course - Become certified diver in 3 days - Day two: putting the lessons into practice
3-Day Experiences, Dives for Certified Divers, Scuba Diving Around the World, Scuba Diving Courses, Scuba Diving in Koh Tao, Scuba Diving in Thailand, Tour Reviews

Open Water Course – Become certified diver in 3 days

1.Open Water Course – Become certified diver in 3 days

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,137 reviews · from $358Our pick

Meet at Koh Tao Scuba Club at 9:00 am for three days of small-group scuba training. With no more than four people, instructors such as Tom and A can give close attention as you learn in Koh Tao’s calm, clear waters and finish with a digital certificate.

“Tom was an amazing instructor. He was so calm and laid back which made everything feel much less scary while also keeping us educated and safe . I was so nervous but I signed up for an advance course right after I finished .”

Dates and spaces →The full review

3-Day PADI Open Water Diving Course in Dubai - Confined-water practice comes before the sea
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3-Day PADI Open Water Diving Course in Dubai

2.3-Day PADI Open Water Diving Course in Dubai

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 173 reviews · from $354

Train with Nemo Diving Center on Palm Jumeirah over three flexible days. You’ll complete forms, gear fitting, confined-water skills, and four open-water sessions. Trainers including Abdel, Hasan, and Mostafa offer patient instruction, while PADI e-learning costs an extra 370 AED.

“Fantastic few days learning to dive with the Nemo Diving Centre with some very experienced instructors (especially Hasan) who were incredibly patient and attentive throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed learning new skills as the instructors foRead more”

Dates and spaces →The full review

Padi open water diver course, become a diver in 3 days - Day three: finishing the four required sessions
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Padi open water diver course, become a diver in 3 days

3.Padi open water diver course, become a diver in 3 days

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 113 reviews · from $586

Train with BB Divers in a small group on Koh Chang. You’ll study PADI basics, practice in a pool or shallow bay, then complete four reef sessions around Koh Chang and Koh Rang National Park. Equipment, meals, insurance, transfers, and your online manual are included.

“We picked BB Divers for our Open Water Diver certificate and we couldn't be happier. Our first day of theory and pool practice took place in Cliff cottage restaurant, which is located in an incredible environment, with cozy seating options, dRead more”

Dates and spaces →The full review

Become certified diver in 3 days - PADI Open Water Diver course on Koh Tao - Day one: five chapters, equipment practice, and shallow water
3-Day Experiences, Dives for Certified Divers, Scuba Diving Around the World, Scuba Diving Courses, Scuba Diving in Koh Tao, Scuba Diving in Thailand, Tour Reviews

Become certified diver in 3 days – PADI Open Water Diver course on Koh Tao

4.Become certified diver in 3 days – PADI Open Water Diver course on Koh Tao

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 104 reviews · from $375

Learn scuba skills with PADI 5 Star IDC Center Scuba Birds in Koh Tao. Instructor Dominik Maier may lead your training, which combines study, shallow-water practice, four open-water sessions, a final exam, and certification. The center is a short walk from Mae Haad Pier.

“What a unique experience! My instructor was Dominik Maier who was an equally hilarious yet stern when needed teacher. I was very nervous at certain points as I have never scuba dived before, and he was able to calm both myself anRead more”

Dates and spaces →The full review

Hurghada: 3-Day PADI Open Water Diving Course - How the three days are likely to unfold
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Hurghada: 3-Day PADI Open Water Diving Course

5.Hurghada: 3-Day PADI Open Water Diving Course

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 78 reviews · 3 days · from $412

Learn scuba skills with a PADI instructor in Hurghada over three days, with two underwater sessions each day, equipment, hotel transfers, and refreshments included. You can request an instructor in several languages. Confirm the separate PADI learning and certification fee before booking.

“Be aware that you have to pay additional 115€ to get the PADI certificate. There was no lunch for all of the 3 days (nothing was prepared or offered). On the last day the taxi brought me to the wrong place (I almost got registered to a boat dive) but got help to get to the right place. The PADI E-Learning access, which is needed contains the theoretical Exam, was only given after day 1. It should take at least 10 hours (if done correctly, reading and listening to all material) and I had to rush to all the questions and skip most of the material in order to be…”

Dates and spaces →The full review

Punta Cana: PADI Open Water Scuba Certification (2–3 Days) - Day two: proving your skills in the ocean
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Punta Cana: PADI Open Water Scuba Certification (2–3 Days)

6.Punta Cana: PADI Open Water Scuba Certification (2–3 Days)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 50 reviews · from $649

Spend two or three days learning scuba skills with SeaPro Divers in Punta Cana. You’ll train in the pool, complete classroom work, then practice in the ocean with instructors such as Jennifer, Daniel, or Eugenio. Equipment, certification, and selected hotel transport are included.

“There was a lot of seaweed and the water had a lot of algae, but the experience was great because the staff was excellent. Daniel and Jennifer are top notch!”

Dates and spaces →The full review

3-Day PADI Open Water Diver Course, Koh Samui - Days two and three: four boat sessions in the Gulf of Thailand
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3-Day PADI Open Water Diver Course, Koh Samui

7.3-Day PADI Open Water Diver Course, Koh Samui

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 48 reviews · from $681

Learn the PADI Open Water course in Koh Samui with pool practice on day one and four boat-based open-water sessions over the next two days. E-learning helps you finish theory early. Expect small groups of up to four, hotel pickup at selected hotels, air-conditioned transport, and instructors such as Yuan.

“Had a very good experience, and I would say everyone with other dive leaders was too. New/ fast boats, fluent English and other languages, good lunch and well organised from pick up to drop off.”

Dates and spaces →The full review

3 days Open Water Course | Scuba Diving - What the three days actually involve
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3 days Open Water Course | Scuba Diving

8.3 days Open Water Course | Scuba Diving

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 43 reviews · 3 days (approx.) · from $527

Build your scuba skills in Funchal with Azul Diving Madeira during a three-day SSI Open Water course. You’ll study the basics, practice in a pool, then complete sea sessions with an instructor such as Lupii, Rafa, Sara, or Nico. Equipment, taxes, and certification costs are included.

“We did our advanced PADI with Azul dive centre”

Dates and spaces →The full review

3-Day Open Water Scuba Diving Course in Aqaba - The Instructors Make a Big Difference
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3-Day Open Water Scuba Diving Course in Aqaba

9.3-Day Open Water Scuba Diving Course in Aqaba

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $500

Spend three days learning scuba in Aqaba with PADI instructors including Nasim, Naseem, Sally, Thaer, and Yusef. You’ll complete nine practical sessions, five in confined water and four in the Red Sea, alongside online or manual theory. Pickup is offered, and groups are limited to six.

“Awesome experience, waves diving centre was very professional and spoke very good English. A all round gratifying course.”

Dates and spaces →The full review

Gold Coast: 3-Day PADI Open Water Course - Confined-water practice before the sea
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Gold Coast: 3-Day PADI Open Water Course

10.Gold Coast: 3-Day PADI Open Water Course

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 28 reviews · 6 hours · from $315Best value

Meet your instructor at 19 Karloo Street in Surfers Paradise for a three-day PADI Open Water course. You’ll study safety, practise in confined water, then train in the sea with boat transport and gear provided. Instructors include Ryan, Rhan, and Josh.

“It was great!! Ryan is a great instructor super calm for beginners.”

Dates and spaces →The full review

From Phuket: 3-Day SSI/PADI Open Water Diver Certification - Racha Yai brings your first sea sessions
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From Phuket: 3-Day SSI/PADI Open Water Diver Certification

11.From Phuket: 3-Day SSI/PADI Open Water Diver Certification

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews · 3 days · from $530

Train in Chalong with a dedicated SSI or PADI instructor, then head to Racha Yai and Racha Noi for five supervised sea sessions to a maximum of 18 meters. Equipment, meals, transfers, and certification fees are included, with instructors speaking Thai, English, and French.

“It was a highlight in my life. The underwater world is stunning. I felt safe and confident after my last and 5th dive. This is an experience I'll carry with me always.”

Dates and spaces →The full review

(3 Days) PADI Open Water Diver Course Kota Kinabalu - Starting at Go Aquatic near Jesselton Point
3-Day Experiences, Scuba Diving Around the World, Scuba Diving Courses, Scuba Diving in Malaysia, Tour Reviews

(3 Days) PADI Open Water Diver Course Kota Kinabalu

12.(3 Days) PADI Open Water Diver Course Kota Kinabalu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · from $437

Learn scuba skills in Kota Kinabalu over three days. Study theory at Go Aquatic, then complete four practical sessions near Sapi Island with an instructor teaching no more than four students. Equipment, lunch, bottled water, fees, and certification are included.

“Booked with my younger brother who unfortunately got sick and couldn’t join. I was able to obtain the official OWD PADI license in 3 days diving in two reefs around Gaya Island in Kota Kinabalu. English Guide was super helpful and patient in making sure I learned all of the diving skills but also that I practiced all of the book concepts safely.”

Dates and spaces →The full review

Gran Canaria 3 days / 6 dives in Various Locations - Reefs, wrecks, arches, and caves
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Gran Canaria 3 days / 6 dives in Various Locations

13.Gran Canaria 3 days / 6 dives in Various Locations

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · from $320

Spend three mornings with Blue Water Diving, led by Chris, Kate, and their local team, making six guided scuba descents from shore or boat. Sites change with conditions and certification, with reefs, wrecks, arches, caves, and varied marine life on the plan.

“We had a brilliant week diving with the Blue Water Diving team. Friendly, efficient, and knowledgeable. A great experience at some interesting locations - from seeing our first angelshark to looking out for the tourist submarine, it was certainly memorable!”

Dates and spaces →The full review

Koh Chang: 3-Day PADI Open Water Scuba Dive Course - Day one: online theory review and pool training
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Koh Chang: 3-Day PADI Open Water Scuba Dive Course

14.Koh Chang: 3-Day PADI Open Water Scuba Dive Course

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · 3 days · from $498

Learn the PADI Open Water course with a small team from BB Divers, then train in the pool and at Koh Chang’s reefs for six sea sessions. Your three days include equipment, boat trips, lunch, drinks, hotel pickup, and instruction in several languages. Markus, Charles, Tam, and Pierre are among the named instructors.

“I had such a great time doing my open water diving PADI course, with the very reknowned BB divers. The teaching was thorough, but still very fun, thanks to my instructor Charles, who made my experience very enjoyable. Would definitely recommend to anyone interested!”

Dates and spaces →The full review

Cairns: Pro Dive Great Barrier Reef 3 Day/2 Night Dive Trip - Day one: leaving Cairns and settling into the boat
3-Day Experiences, Evening Experiences, Night Diving, Reef Diving, Scuba Diving Around the World, Scuba Diving in Australia, Scuba Diving in Cairns, Tour Reviews

Cairns: Pro Dive Great Barrier Reef 3 Day/2 Night Dive Trip

15.Cairns: Pro Dive Great Barrier Reef 3 Day/2 Night Dive Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 12 reviews · 3 days · from $739

Join Pro Dive Cairns for three days and two nights aboard an air-conditioned liveaboard, visiting 19 sites across four Outer Reef locations. Certified scuba divers can take up to 11 sessions, including two at night. Guides such as Daniel and Matthias support courses and dive planning.

“From hotel pick up to dives and drop off everything work perfectly. All we did for 3 days was sleep, dive, eat and repeat”

Dates and spaces →The full review

Just written up in 3-Day Experiences

★ 4.9Zanzibar : 3-Day PADI Open Water Scuba Diving AdventureFrom $4506
★ 5.0PADI 3 Days Open Water CourseFrom $3577
★ 5.03 Days Open Water Diving Course in Punta CanaFrom $4904
★ 5.03 days diving in cenotes for certified diversFrom $5403
★ 5.03 Days PADI Open Water Course in PemuteranFrom $4253
★ 4.53 Day Dive TourFrom $6007
★ 5.0Learn to scuba dive with professional instructors – 3 daysFrom $4995
★ 5.0La Romana: 3-Day PADI Open Water Diver Course2
★ 5.0Koh Samui: 3-Day PADI Open Water Diver CourseFrom $6722
★ 5.0Ko Tao: 3-Day Open Water Scuba Diving CourseFrom $3412

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