REVIEW · LANZAROTE
Puerto del Carmen: Try Scuba Diving with 1 Dive
Book on GetYourGuide →Operated by Atlantis Diving Lanzarote · Bookable on GetYourGuide
Taking your first breaths underwater is a quick test. This Puerto del Carmen try-scuba session is interesting because you get small-group coaching with an SSI professional, plus a real chance to enjoy marine life in clear Lanzarote water. I especially liked the 1 instructor for every 2 people feel, and how the team keeps things calm with step-by-step safety skills before you even hit the water. The main thing to consider is language: you must fully understand the briefing in the language you choose, or they may not take you in for safety.
What makes this outing worth your time is the structure: short, focused training at the center, gear checks, then a controlled water session to a max depth of 6 meters. You’ll also leave with digital proof of completion, and the crew includes free photos and videos from the experience—handy if you want to remember what it felt like to float.
In This Review
- Key Things I’d Watch For
- Where You Start: The Centro Comercial Montaña Tropical Meeting Point
- What Happens Before You Enter the Water (Gear, Checks, and Calm Coaching)
- Your Underwater Time: Max Depth 6 Meters and About 30–40 Minutes
- Free Photos and Videos: The Memory Part You Should Not Skip
- Price and Value: What $74 Really Buys You
- Instructor Quality: SSI Standards and Multiple Language Options
- Who This Is Perfect For (And Who Should Skip It)
- Common Gotchas: Language, Timing, and Your Flight Plan
- Language comprehension
- Medical paperwork
- Flight timing
- No hotel pickup
- Should You Book This Puerto del Carmen Scuba Session?
- FAQ
- Where is the meeting point for this experience?
- How long is the activity?
- How deep will I go and how long will I be underwater?
- Does this include hotel pickup and drop-off?
- What should I bring?
- What’s required before I can participate?
- Do I need to speak a specific language?
Key Things I’d Watch For
- Tiny group size, real supervision: Max 4 participants, with an instructor ratio designed for comfort and quick help.
- Safety skills first: Equipment setup, safety checks, and practice-style instruction happen before you go down.
- Controlled depth and time: A max of 6 meters (about 20 feet) with roughly 30–40 minutes underwater.
- Clear-water marine life focus: Expect colorful fish and living reefs in warm, clear water.
- Free media after the session: Videos and photos are included, and some guests note they receive files by email.
- Booking language matters: You must understand the language selected for the safety briefing.
Where You Start: The Centro Comercial Montaña Tropical Meeting Point

Your session begins at the local partner’s office in Puerto del Carmen, inside Centro Comercial Montaña Tropical, Unit L6 (Calle El Toscón 7, 35510). Since there’s no hotel pickup, I’d treat this like a “go to the shop first” activity. That’s often a plus: you’re not stuck waiting on a shuttle loop, and you can arrive calmly.
One practical tip from real-world experience: different map apps can point you to slightly different spots inside large commercial areas. Before you leave your accommodation, I’d copy the full address and double-check in your preferred navigation app. If you’re the type who arrives early anyway (smart), you’ll have time to sort it out without rushing.
The good news: your session ends back at the same meeting point. That keeps the day simple. You can go for lunch or a sunset walk afterward without needing a second plan.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Lanzarote.
What Happens Before You Enter the Water (Gear, Checks, and Calm Coaching)

The heart of this experience is the “you’re safe, you’re ready” buildup. You’ll meet an SSI professional, cover essentials, and learn how scuba breathing and communication work underwater. They don’t start with guesswork. They start with a clear safety brief and the basic skills you need for a first session.
Here’s the flow you should expect:
1) Gear set-up and equipment orientation
You’ll assemble the scuba kit with staff, and you’ll do safety checks before anyone goes in. This is where you learn what each piece does and how to use it. If you tend to feel anxious about new equipment, this stage usually matters most—because understanding your gear turns fear into focus.
2) Safety checks, then controlled entry
Next comes the practical portion: the team confirms everything is working as it should and then guides you into the water. The goal is a smooth start, not a big leap.
3) Instruction continues underwater
You’re not left to figure it out alone. The team stays close and monitors your setup and progress. The small-group format helps here—more attention per person, not more bodies per instructor.
In the feedback, the most praised theme is how patient and reassuring instructors are, especially for first-timers. People often mention feeling comfortable because the instructor is right there, checking that things are going smoothly. For a first scuba experience, that’s exactly what you want: confidence built on simple steps, not hype.
Your Underwater Time: Max Depth 6 Meters and About 30–40 Minutes

Once you’re in, you’ll head down to a maximum depth of about 6 meters (20 feet). That depth is intentionally conservative for a first experience. It’s deep enough to feel like a true underwater world, while still staying within a safe, beginner-friendly range.
Your time underwater is roughly 30–40 minutes within a total session time of around 2 hours (starting times vary). That time window is a sweet spot:
- long enough to settle into breathing
- short enough that you don’t feel rushed
- structured enough that staff can keep close control
You’ll explore Lanzarote’s underwater world with the focus on marine life. Expect colorful fish and living reefs in clear, warm water. Several pieces of feedback highlight how surprising it feels to watch the sea life while you float—there’s a distinct weightlessness to the experience, and people describe it as unforgettable.
Also, keep expectations realistic about what you’ll see. The underwater environment can vary by conditions. Still, the standout animal mention in the feedback is the chance to spot an endangered angel shark. That’s not guaranteed, but it’s a strong reminder that this isn’t just “pretty fish from a brochure.” Lanzarote has real biodiversity.
Free Photos and Videos: The Memory Part You Should Not Skip

One of the easiest reasons this is good value: media is included. Videos and photos come at no extra charge, and some guests note they receive them by email afterward.
That matters because underwater photos are tricky and costly when you try to do it yourself. Gear, housing, and timing are all issues. When the staff takes care of the camera work, you get the reward (proof and memories) without the hassle.
If you’re the kind of person who collects experiences, this is the part that makes you glad you didn’t just do a quick one-and-done. It also helps if you’re traveling with someone who wants to see what you did when you’re out of reach on the boat or in the water.
Price and Value: What $74 Really Buys You
At around $74 per person, this isn’t a “budget chaos” experience. It’s priced like a guided, instructor-led scuba starter session—with the kind of support first-timers need.
To judge value, I look at what’s bundled:
- All scuba equipment included
You don’t have to figure out rentals or whether the fit is correct.
- Insurance for the activity included
That’s important when the activity involves underwater safety systems.
- Instructor ratio designed for attention
You get a professional instructor for every 2 divers/learners (and the group size is kept tight overall). That’s a real quality factor, not fluff.
- Digital certificate of completion
This is not an autonomous diver qualification, but it’s useful as proof you completed the session and as a solid step toward future training.
- Photos and videos included
That’s often where value slips away with other activities—here it’s built in.
Taken together, the price feels fair for the level of supervision, equipment, insurance, and the “you leave with something” media element.
Instructor Quality: SSI Standards and Multiple Language Options
This program uses SSI-certified professionals. SSI is widely recognized, and for you that translates to consistent training standards and a focus on safety structure. Even if you’re brand new, you benefit from a system built around what you need to learn first and how to keep it safe.
Language options are Spanish, Catalan, and English. That’s great for visitors, but the instruction comes with one strict requirement: you must be able to fully understand the language of your instructors to participate. If you select a language you can’t truly follow during safety briefings, the provider will not compromise on safety—and you won’t be eligible for a refund if they decide you can’t be taken in.
So, my advice is simple: choose the language you’re most confident understanding under pressure. Safety briefings move fast.
From the feedback, instructors like Maria, Carla, Graizka, and Connor are repeatedly praised for being clear, calm, and thorough. There are also mentions of helpful staff such as Marion (assistant support) and people involved in booking like Stevie and Nuria. That points to a team that doesn’t just “show up and hand you gear”—they actually teach.
Who This Is Perfect For (And Who Should Skip It)
This is best for people who want a guided underwater first experience without a long course. It’s also a great fit if you value small groups and hands-on coaching rather than a crowded try-it-and-go setup.
You should consider it if you want:
- a structured introduction to scuba basics
- a short but meaningful underwater experience
- close instructor attention
- free photos/videos afterward
It’s not suitable for:
- pregnant women
- people with heart problems
- people with epilepsy
- children under 8 years
And you’ll need to complete an online medical questionnaire before you can go. Also, alcohol and drugs are not allowed.
If you’re unsure about any medical suitability, take the questionnaire seriously and be honest. It’s safer for you and it protects the instructor team.
Common Gotchas: Language, Timing, and Your Flight Plan

This experience has a few “watch it” items that can affect your day.
Language comprehension
As noted above, you must fully understand the language of the safety briefing. Don’t rely on basic phrases. If you’re comfortable in English but select Spanish, for example, you might get stuck during the key safety explanations. Safety rules here are firm.
Medical paperwork
The medical questionnaire is required online before you scuba session. Do it early so you’re not scrambling.
Flight timing
You should leave 12 hours between your scuba session and flying. If your itinerary includes a tight travel day, plan a buffer day or schedule your flight for later. This is the kind of detail that can protect you from avoidable problems.
No hotel pickup
You’re responsible for getting to the meeting point. That’s normal for this kind of activity, but it’s worth planning for—especially if you’re staying outside the center or you’re traveling with family.
Should You Book This Puerto del Carmen Scuba Session?

I’d book it if you want a first underwater experience with real structure: small groups, instructor attention, clear safety steps, and a capped depth that feels manageable. The free photos and videos are a strong bonus, and the equipment-and-insurance bundle is the kind of thing that reduces stress while traveling.
Skip it if you:
- aren’t confident you can understand the safety briefing language you choose
- have any medical conditions that might make you unsuitable
- need last-minute flexibility for travel timing (because of the 12-hour flight rule)
If you’re ready to follow instructions and you want a memorable, guided way to see Lanzarote’s underwater life, this is one of the smarter choices for a “first time” scuba experience in Puerto del Carmen.
FAQ

Where is the meeting point for this experience?
You meet at Centro Comercial Montaña Tropical, Unit L6, Calle El Toscón 7, 35510 Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote.
How long is the activity?
The session runs for about 2 hours. Starting times vary based on availability.
How deep will I go and how long will I be underwater?
You’ll go to a maximum depth of about 6 meters (20 feet). You’ll spend roughly 30 to 40 minutes in the water.
Does this include hotel pickup and drop-off?
No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.
What should I bring?
Bring swimwear and a towel.
What’s required before I can participate?
You must complete an online medical questionnaire before scuba can be done.
Do I need to speak a specific language?
Yes. You must be able to fully understand the language of the instructors for the safety briefing. Languages offered are Spanish, Catalan, and English, and safety rules are strict if you cannot understand the briefing.


















