3 National Parks Tours That Earn the Boat Ride

1.Tayrona National Park: Scuba Diving Tour for Beginners

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · 4 hours · from $138Our pick

Meet your PADI instructor at Santa Marta marina for a four-hour beginner scuba session in Tayrona National Park. Learn gear use, hand signals, and basic skills in calm water, then explore underwater life with a group of no more than four. David is praised for careful instruction, and photos, videos, snacks, and refreshments are included.

“This was my first time scuba diving and the experience could not have been better. The sites were excellent and David could not have been a better guide. He insured not only was the experience great but also safe.”

Dates and spaces →The full review

2.L’Escala: Introductory diving in the Montgri Nature Reserve

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 14 reviews · 3 hours · from $106

Spend three hours with Grassi Sub in L’Escala, learning scuba basics before a 20-minute boat-based underwater session. Each person has one-to-one instructor supervision, followed by free swimming and snorkeling in Montgrí Natural Park. Guides speak French, English, German, Catalan, and Spanish.

“great team. if you are over 60 bring a doctor's permission with you.. unfortunately not on their website. I am 80 so although they tried to get a note for me on the day not possible. But to be fair noone over the the age of 60 had wanted to dive with them before. but still had a great experience snorkelling. rest of my family loved the diving.”

Dates and spaces →The full review

3.Funchal: Garajau national park – certified divers

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 4 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $50Best value

Join Madeira Divepoint at the Pestana Carlton for a 2.5-hour boat outing to Garajau Marine Park. Certified scuba participants descend among protected marine life, with a strong chance of seeing large dusky groupers. Groups are limited to six, and Ricardo is praised for calm, personal support.

“Niks dan lof voor deze mensen. Als beginnende duiker was mij aangeraden om eerst een duik vanaf de kant te doen voordat ik aan de Maracuja-duik begon. Helaas kreeg ik tijdens deze laatste duik last van paniek. Hier werd direct adequaat op gereageerd, waardoor ik de duik toch heb kunnen afmaken onder begeleiding. Na afloop werd er op de boot continu gecheckt of ik oké was, en ik werd aangemoedigd om een nieuwe duik in te plannen om mijn angst te overwinnen. Ook tijdens die tweede duik, een paar dagen later, werd ik goed in de gaten gehouden, zonder me ongemakkelijk te laten voelen. Mijn speciale dank gaat uit naar…”

Dates and spaces →The full review