A first scuba dive in Sharm El Sheikh: how the day unfolds

A first scuba dive is a calm, short and well-supervised day, and it suits anyone who can swim a little and is happy putting their face in the water. You will not need a licence. The intro dive day from Sharm El Sheikh lasts about seven hours and includes two guided dives of up to 12 metres, full equipment and lunch on board, with an instructor beside you the whole time.

What surprises most beginners is how slow it is. The first hour is paperwork, fitting and a briefing, not diving. The dives themselves are short and shallow, and you spend much of the day on the boat between them. The minimum age is 10. For the current price, see the trip page, and remember that the dive boat is shared with up to 20 other guests.

The morning: pick-up, paperwork and fitting

A minibus collects you from your hotel at 08:00 and takes you to the dive centre. At about 08:30 you sign the paperwork and complete a medical self-declaration, which asks about conditions such as asthma, heart problems and recent illness. If you answer yes to a question, you may need a doctor's opinion, so read the form honestly. Your equipment is then fitted, including the wetsuit, mask, fins and tank.

The briefing and the first dive

The boat leaves at about 09:15 and sails to a sheltered reef. At 10:15 the instructor gives a briefing on how to breathe through the regulator, how to equalise the pressure in your ears and the hand signals you will use underwater. You practise in shallow water before going deeper. The first dive starts at around 10:45, reaches about 6 metres and has one instructor for at most two guests.

At 6 metres, the light is bright and the reef is close. You will see coral, reef fish and sometimes larger animals, though nothing is guaranteed. Dive at your own pace, breathe slowly and keep checking with the instructor. Many beginners are surprised at how quickly the fear fades once they are underwater and breathing normally.

Underwater, the main skills are simple. Breathe slowly and never hold your breath, and equalise your ears every metre or so by pinching your nose and gently blowing, as you do on a descending plane. If water gets into your mask, the instructor shows you how to clear it. You also learn to signal that you are fine, that something is wrong or that you want to go up. Hand signals replace speech.

Lunch, the second dive and the return

Lunch is served on board at 12:30, with soft drinks and water. This is a good time to ask questions and rest. At about 13:30 the boat moves to another reef for the second dive, which goes to no more than 12 metres. You can snorkel between dives. The boat returns to the jetty at 15:00 and a minibus takes you back to your hotel.

Who it suits, and who should wait

• Suits: anyone aged 10 or over who can swim a little and has no medical conditions on the form.
• Suits: nervous snorkellers who want to try breathing underwater with an instructor beside them.
• May not suit: anyone with asthma, heart or lung problems or a recent ear infection, unless a doctor confirms they are fit.
• May not suit: anyone flying home within a day, since you should not fly straight after diving.
• Not a qualification: this is a taster, and it does not count towards a licence on its own.

After the dive, you may feel tired and hungry, which is normal. Drink water and avoid alcohol until later. Do not fly on the day of the dive, and ask the dive centre how long to leave before your flight home. Plan the dive for the early part of your holiday, and not for your last full day, so there is room to follow that advice.

What is and is not included

The price includes hotel pick-up and drop-off from Naama Bay, Sharks Bay, Nabq, Hadaba and the Old Market, the shared dive boat, two guided intro dives with a certified instructor, full scuba equipment, lunch on board with soft drinks and water, and the marine park fees. It does not include gratuities, underwater photos and video, towels, dive insurance or personal expenses.

Online booking is open until 48 hours before the dive day, and then it becomes a request. A full refund applies if you cancel three or more days ahead, and half between three days and 24 hours. If the port authority halts a sea trip because of the weather, it is rebooked or refunded.