Red Sea Diving
Learn to Dive
There's no better place to learn to dive than the Red Sea, where the crystal clear waters, variety of wildlife and range of diving options for all levels from beginners to advanced set the perfect conditions for your first diving holiday.
All entry level courses include full equipment.
Introductory Dives
Begin your adventure with PADI and Longwood Holidays! Experience the wonders of the underwater world in the Red Sea from 8 years old, without having to take a full course. The PADI Bubblemaker and Discover Scuba introductory dives allow you to do just that, under the immediate and close supervision of a PADI professional.
PADI Bubblemaker
PADI Discover Scuba Diving
Learn to Dive Courses
Learning to dive has never been easier or more accessible. Learn to dive in the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea or undertake essential theory and confined water training in the UK prior to departure, and complete your qualifying open water dives on holiday. Whatever your preference, our professional team will ensure your Red Sea learn to dive holiday is one you will never forget.
PADI Open Water Diver
PADI Scuba Diver
PADI Junior Open Water Diver
PADI Open Water Referral
Please note that Israeli diving regulations do not permit 10-12 year olds to learn to dive in Israel; those wishing to dive & staying in Eilat will learn in Taba, across the Egypt border.
Where to learn to dive
You can learn to dive at any one of our featured Red Sea resorts across Egypt, Israel and Jordan. For many, diving holidays are as much about what you can do outside the water as in it, but bear in mind that if you're doing a full PADI Open Water Diver course, it is very comprehensive - it will take 4-5 days to complete and will also involve some studying. You can reduce the amount of study necessary by reading your course materials before you go.
Taba, Taba Heights, Nuweiba and Dahab are good places to start your diving experience, as there are plenty of reefs close to the shore. Dahab has long been favoured by travellers as a laid back resort with fantastic beaches, and is also home to Reef 2000, where you can learn to dive with other like-minded people on a solo traveller week. Taba Heights' gentle currents, good visibility and pristine reefs make it an ideal place for beginners, while the resort itself is very quiet and ideal for relaxing.
Sharm el Sheikh has long been a favourite for learners and experienced divers alike, thanks to sheer volume and variety of dive sites. It can get very busy in summer, but is a great place to learn to dive if you want to combine your diving holiday with a bit of nightlife. Most of the action - and the dive centres - are located in Naama Bay, Sharm's centre.
Port Ghalib, in Marsa Alam, is one of the Red Sea's most exciting new developments and home to one of the region's best learn to dive facilities at Emperor Divers.
A haven for experienced divers, Hurghada offers a good alternative for first time divers who want some nightlife and facilities, but want a more chilled out atmosphere than Sharm el Sheikh. Along with its neighbours, El Gouna and Soma Bay, Hurghada is ideally located for trips to Luxor - so if absorbing some culture is a priority, or if you want to do a week's diving after a Nile Cruise or visit to Luxor, these are the places to stay.
If you want to visit Petra, Wadi Rum and Jordan's other attractions, learn to dive in Aqaba. It's a short way from the main sights and can easily be incorporated into a multi centre holiday. Dive sites around Aqaba tend to be quieter than those of its counterparts in Egypt, and the reefs are in excellent condition.
Eilat is where Red Sea diving all started, and is the most established resort in the region. The diving may not be as spectacular as in other areas, but this will make little difference to those learning to dive - and there's plenty going on in the resort to make holidays here attractive, from VAT free shopping in designer shops and malls to cosmopolitan restaurants and bars along the beachfront promenade.
When to dive
Thanks to the Red Sea's wonderful year-round sunny climate and warm waters, you can learn to dive at any time of the year. Summer is the most popular time for divers, and in peak season (ie during the school holidays), the hotels and resorts themselves get very busy. Early and late summer - May, June and September - are ideal times to dive as it's still very warm, but not as busy - and holiday prices are more attractive than in peak season as well.
What to expect
Introductory dives are simple short experiences that offer a taste of diving, and can be easily incorporated into your existing holiday plans. Bubblemaker, designed for 8-10 year olds, tends to take place in the dive centre's pool, or a quiet, calm area of the sea and lasts about half a day. Discover Scuba is more comprehensive and usually consists of a confined dive in a pool or similar followed by a dive in the open water, where you can see first hand the beautiful underwater world of the Red Sea.
The PADI Open Water Diver course is the most popular option for learners, and on completion of this course you will be qualified to dive to a depth of 18m, with a buddy (please note certification costs are not included in prices, and must be paid locally). The course is likely to take up most of your day for 4-5 days, and combines a mixture of classroom teaching, confined water dives and open water dives. Please note that you are not able to dive within 24 hours of flying - so if you want to try out your new skills on completion of the course, book a two week holiday or do your theory and confined water training before you go (a PADI Open Water Referral).
If you don't have time to undertake an Open Water Course, try a PADI Scuba Diver course instead - it lasts 2-3 days and on completion you'll be qualified to dive to a depth of 12m, under supervision (please note certification costs are not included in prices, and must be paid locally). It's easy to upgrade your qualification from Scuba Diver to Open Water - so you can spilt your learning over two separate holidays, giving you more time to relax or do excursions.
Please note that course delivery varies from dive centre to dive centre; for more specific advice and information on each qualification, resort or dive centre, contact our dive team on 020 8418 2570.
Make sure you read the PADI Medical Statement and related information before you go; people with some health conditions are not recommended to dive.
See also our FAQs for answers to some of the most common questions about our Red Sea diving programme.
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Study Materials
Study materials must be purchased prior to departure from the UK, or locally (click here for further details). It is advisable to begin reading the manual prior to starting the course.