Puerto Del Carmen: Try Scuba Diving with 2 Dives and Photos

The best part of this Puerto del Carmen experience is the gentle progression. You start in shallow water at a maximum of 6 metres, then move to 12 metres only after you have had time to settle your breathing and trust the equipment. I like the one instructor for every two people and the chance to see cuttlefish, octopuses, seahorses, and colorful fish in Lanzarote’s clear water. The main consideration is that you must fully understand the safety briefing in your chosen language, or you will not be allowed into the water and no refund will be given.

I also like that the four-hour session includes equipment, insurance, two underwater outings, photos, and a diploma. Instructors such as Connor, Kieran, Ari, Gaizka, and Mike have been praised for calm, patient teaching, especially when a nervous beginner needs a little extra time. You will need to arrange your own way to Playa Chica, and you must leave at least 24 hours between the activity and a flight.

Key points to know before booking

• Two carefully graded sessions: The first reaches 6 metres for 30 to 40 minutes, while the second reaches a maximum of 12 metres.
• Very close instruction: One professional instructor looks after no more than two participants, within a group capped at six.
• Excellent wildlife potential: You might see cuttlefish, octopuses, seahorses, squid, catfish, and plenty of smaller fish.
• Meet at the shore site: Playa Chica is the meeting point, not the Atlantis center. Look for the Atlantis van, yellow-shirted instructors, and labeled white equipment boxes.
• Beginner-friendly pace: The staff focus on clear instructions, steady breathing, and confidence rather than rushing you.
• Good practical value: At $153 per person, the fee covers two sessions, all equipment, insurance, photos, and a completion diploma.

A calm introduction to scuba at Playa Chica

Lanzarote is a fine place to try scuba for the first time. The water is described as warm, blue, and clear, and the Puerto del Carmen setting keeps the activity simple: meet by the sea, learn the basics, check your gear, and enter the water under close supervision.

This is not a certification course. It is an introductory experience for people who want to find out how it feels to breathe underwater and move without normal body weight. That makes the format less intimidating than signing up for a full training program, but it still includes the serious safety steps that matter.

At $153, this is not a throwaway beach activity. You are paying for four hours, two sessions, a small instructor ratio, equipment, insurance, photos, and a diploma. I consider that a fair package for someone who wants a properly supervised first attempt, especially if private instruction or a very small group would otherwise cost more.

The experience also has a useful built-in test. If you love the first session, the second lets you spend more time looking around. If breathing through a regulator or managing the equipment feels wrong, you are not pushed straight into deeper water.

Finding the right meeting point at Playa Chica

Pay close attention to the meeting instructions. The meeting point is Playa Chica in Puerto del Carmen, which is the shore site, not the Atlantis Diving Lanzarote center.

Look for the Atlantis van, instructors wearing bright yellow, and white boxes of equipment labeled with each participant’s name. This arrangement should make the group easy to identify, but arriving at the wrong location would waste valuable time. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so plan your own transport to Playa Chica.

Bring swimwear and a towel. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed, and you should arrive ready for a physical activity in the water. The provided information does not list a hotel transfer, meal, or snack as an included service, so do not assume those extras are part of the price.

The total duration is four hours, with starting times subject to availability. That makes this a substantial half-day plan rather than something to squeeze between two quick appointments.

The briefing: breathing, signals, and safety first

Your instructor begins with the essential skills. You learn how to breathe through the equipment, how to communicate underwater, and what to do during basic safety situations. You then assemble the scuba equipment with guidance and complete safety checks before entering the water.

This teaching stage is particularly important for beginners. Many people are comfortable swimming but still find the first few breaths through a regulator strange. Calm instruction can make the difference between enjoying the activity and deciding too quickly that it is not for you.

The instructors work in Spanish, Catalan, English, and Italian. You must be able to fully understand the instructions and safety briefing in the language selected when booking. This is not a minor formality. If you cannot follow the procedures clearly, the provider will not let you participate, and no refund will be issued in that situation.

You also complete a short medical questionnaire on site. This is a standard international check used to confirm that you are fit for scuba. The activity is not suitable for pregnant women or people with heart problems or epilepsy. The age information supplied gives both under 8 and under 10 as restrictions, so families should confirm the exact minimum age before booking.

First session: 6 metres and time to settle in

The first underwater session goes to a maximum depth of 6 metres and lasts about 30 to 40 minutes. The shallow limit is a smart feature for a first attempt. You can work on breathing, body position, and hand signals without being placed immediately in deeper water.

The pace is meant to be yours. Your instructor guides you through the entry, watches your comfort level, and helps you adjust to the feeling of weightlessness. You may spend part of this session simply becoming familiar with the equipment and the rhythm of breathing.

That does not make the first session a lesser experience. It is where you learn to look up, look around, and stop fighting the water. The clearer your head becomes, the more likely you are to notice the sea life nearby.

A nervous beginner may appreciate the close supervision most of all. The one-to-two instructor ratio means your guide has a much better chance of noticing uncertainty quickly than on a large group outing. Several instructors have been singled out for patient reassurance, including Connor, Kieran, Ari, Gaizka, and Mike.

The break between sessions

After the first session, you take a break and have time to prepare for the second. The supplied information refers to a snack during this interval, but it does not specify what is provided, so bring any food or drink you know you will need.

This pause matters more than it might seem. You can talk through what felt easy or awkward, ask questions, and regain energy before returning to the water. For a first-time participant, it is also a useful moment to decide if you want to continue.

If you are sharing the activity with children or family members, the break can keep the day from feeling like one long block of instruction. One family booking included parents and children, with the staff providing information and help throughout. Still, the minimum age and medical rules need checking before you reserve.

Second session: up to 12 metres

The second session reaches a maximum of 12 metres and gives you more time to look for sea life. By now, you have already handled the basic sensations, so the experience can feel less like a lesson and more like an underwater outing.

You might see colorful fish, cuttlefish, octopuses, seahorses, squid, catfish, and other marine life. Sightings are never guaranteed, but the warm, clear water gives you a good chance to notice small creatures if you move slowly and listen to your guide.

The reports of seahorses and octopuses are especially useful because they show why patience matters. A large fish is easy to spot, but a small seahorse or camouflaged cuttlefish requires a careful eye. Your instructor can point out what you might otherwise swim past.

The second session is also where you discover if scuba is something you want to pursue further. One participant described the experience as a first step toward taking it up as a hobby. That is a realistic expectation: this activity can introduce you to the sport, but it does not replace a formal certification course.

How good is the instruction for nervous beginners?

This is the experience’s strongest point. The instructor ratio is unusually personal, and the teaching style is built around reassurance and clarity. You are not expected to arrive knowing how to assemble equipment or behave underwater.

Past instructors have included Connor, Kieran, Ari, Gaizka, Mike, and others from the Atlantis team. The names matter less than the consistent pattern in the feedback: clear briefings, calm support, and a willingness to let people proceed at their own pace.

One beginner initially struggled with the idea of breathing underwater but completed a full session after calm guidance. Another participant could not finish the first attempt, while her partner continued through both sessions. That is a useful reminder that people respond differently, and completing the activity is not a test of courage.

The staff’s safety-first approach is a real advantage. They will not compromise the briefing requirements or allow someone to proceed if communication is not clear. If you want a casual activity with minimal instruction, this may feel more formal than expected. If you want close supervision, that formality is exactly what you are paying for.

What the price includes, and what it does not

The $153 price includes:

• Two guided underwater sessions
• A professional instructor for every two participants
• All required scuba equipment
• Activity insurance
• Photos
• A diving diploma

The equipment being ready in labeled boxes is a practical touch. It means you are not left wondering which gear belongs to you, and it helps the session begin in an organized way.

The diploma is a small souvenir, but it has value as a record of your first experience. The photos are more useful still, since underwater memories are difficult to capture without help. The information does not specify how many photos you receive or how they are delivered, so ask if that detail matters to you.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You also need to bring swimwear and a towel, and you should not assume food or refreshments beyond the stated break and snack reference.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which is helpful if your Lanzarote plans are still shifting.

The flight rule is important

Do not schedule this activity close to your departure flight. After scuba, you need to wait at least 24 hours before boarding a plane because of decompression sickness risks.

This rule can affect your itinerary more than the four-hour duration. Booking it early or in the middle of your holiday gives you more freedom. Booking it on the final day before flying home does not.

It is also sensible to avoid placing the activity immediately after a flight if you expect to be tired, though the supplied information does not set a formal waiting period before the session. The firm rule is the 24-hour gap after scuba and before flying.

Who will enjoy this Puerto del Carmen experience?

This is best for an adult or family group wanting a first, closely supervised taste of scuba. It suits you if you like marine life, can follow instructions in Spanish, Catalan, English, or Italian, and are willing to spend a full half-day on the activity.

It is also a good match for people who are curious but nervous. The shallow first session, small group size, and patient instructors reduce the pressure to perform.

You may want a different option if you are seeking a certified qualification, a long technical session, or a large independent underwater adventure. This experience is an introduction, not a replacement for a certification course.

Families should check the age limit carefully. The information supplied lists both under 8 and under 10 among those not suitable, so do not rely on a child’s swimming ability alone.

Practical verdict: should you book it?

I would book this if you want a well-supervised introduction to scuba in Lanzarote and value personal instruction over a bargain-basement price. The strongest reasons are the two-to-one instructor ratio, the gradual move from 6 metres to 12 metres, and the repeated focus on calm, clear safety teaching.

The $153 fee makes most sense if you use the full package: both sessions, equipment, insurance, photos, and the diploma. Check the exact meeting point, confirm the age rule, choose a language you understand fully, and leave at least 24 hours before your flight.

If those conditions work for your schedule, this is a sensible way to try breathing underwater without committing to a full course. The chance of seeing an octopus or seahorse is a bonus, but the real value is getting a careful first lesson from an instructor who has time to look after you.

FAQ

Where does the scuba experience meet?

It meets at Playa Chica in Puerto del Carmen. Playa Chica is the activity site, not the Atlantis Diving Lanzarote center.

How do I identify the meeting point?

Look for the Atlantis van, instructors wearing bright yellow, and white equipment boxes labeled with each participant’s name.

How long does the activity last?

The experience lasts four hours. Starting times depend on availability.

How many underwater sessions are included?

Two sessions are included. The first reaches a maximum of 6 metres and lasts about 30 to 40 minutes. The second reaches a maximum of 12 metres.

How many participants does each instructor supervise?

There is one professional instructor for every two participants. The overall group is limited to six people.

What languages are available?

Instruction is available in Spanish, Catalan, English, and Italian. You must fully understand the safety briefing and instructions in your selected language.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear and a towel. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Can I fly after the activity?

You must wait at least 24 hours after scuba before boarding a flight.

Is cancellation available?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The activity also offers a reserve-now, pay-later option.