Try diving · No experience needed

Try scuba diving in Sri Lanka

Breathe underwater for the first time with an instructor beside you. No certification needed. We start at 8:00 am and pick you up free from hotels within about 5 km and from Mirissa.

Two ways to take your first dive

Which first dive is right for you?

Both are gentle, both include all your equipment, and both have a professional right beside you.

Comparison of Try Diving Experience and PADI Discover Scuba Diving
Detail	Try Diving ExperienceOur own beginner dive	PADI Discover Scuba DivingThe official PADI first dive
Price	$70 for 1 dive $105 for 2 dives	$110 for 1 dive $150 for 2 dives
Recognition	Not a PADI programme	PADI registration and e-card
Counts toward Open Water	No	Yes, if you continue with us
Depth	5 to 10 m	Up to 12 m
Time	About 3 hours, from 8:00 am	Half a day, from 8:00 am
Minimum age	10	10
Equipment	Included	Included

Try divingBeginners

Try Diving Experience

Curious about scuba but not ready for a course? This is the easy way in. After a practice session in shallow water you dive Moray Point with a professional right beside you.

It is our own experience, not a PADI programme, so it doesn't count toward a certification. If you think you'll want to continue, choose PADI Discover Scuba Diving instead.

How it goes

20–30 min
Briefing and gear
Safety talk, hand signals and getting to know your equipment.
20 min
Shallow-water practice
Breathe underwater and practise the basics until you feel at ease.
35–40 min
Your first dive
Dive Moray Point at 5–10 m with a divemaster or instructor.
10–15 min
Back on shore
Relax and talk through the dive with the team.

Included

All scuba equipment
Divemaster or instructor with you underwater
Refreshments
Free tuk-tuk pickup within about 5 km, and from Mirissa

Not included

PADI registration (see Discover Scuba Diving)
GoPro rental (ask at the centre)

What to bring

Swimwear and a towel
Reef-safe sunscreen
A hat and sunglasses for the beach

Before you book

Age 10 or older.
Comfortable in water. You don't need to be a strong swimmer.
You'll fill in a short medical form. Some conditions need a doctor's sign-off, so ask us if unsure.

From a guest

Excellent dive centre. Welcoming and enthusiastic staff. Good kit and fun trip out on the dive boat. Diving experience was excellent with a special mention for Rory who was a great lead. An electric ray and a large honeycomb moray were particular highlights. Then welcome back to a lovely cup of tea from the irrepressible hostess. Strongly recommended.

David PFun dives · London, United Kingdom · Feb 2026 ★★★★★ · TripAdvisor

Good to know

Allow at least 18 hours between diving and a flight.
Cancel any time before your activity starts for a full refund. Payment is final once the boat trip starts.
Pay on the day in cash or by card. Card payments have a 3% fee.
Staying further away? Pickup is possible at a cost. Ask us for a price.

From$70per person

Starts: 8:00 am
Duration: About 3 hours
Depth: 5–10 m
Who: Age 10 and up
Where: Moray Point
Pickup: Free within about 5 km and from Mirissa

1 dive$70
2 dives$105

Book this

Free cancellation before the activity starts. Nothing is charged online. Pay on the day in cash or by card (3% card fee).

Try divingBeginners

PADI Discover Scuba Diving

PADI Discover Scuba Diving is the world's best-known first dive. A PADI instructor teaches you the key skills in calm water, then takes you on a real ocean dive at Moray Point.

You finish with a PADI Discover Scuba Diving e-card, and the dive can count toward your PADI Open Water Diver course if you continue with us.

How it goes

30 min
Orientation
How scuba works, safety rules, equalising your ears and underwater signals.
30 min
Confined water
Practise the essential skills in shallow water with your instructor.
35–40 min
Ocean dive
Descend up to 12 m at Moray Point to explore the reef.
15 min
Debrief
Log your dive and receive your PADI recognition e-card.

Included

All scuba equipment
PADI instructor
Confined water session
PADI Discover Scuba registration and e-card
Refreshments
Free tuk-tuk pickup within about 5 km, and from Mirissa

Not included

GoPro rental (ask at the centre)

What to bring

Swimwear and a towel
Reef-safe sunscreen
A hat and sunglasses for the beach

Before you book

Age 10 or older.
No diving or swimming experience needed.
A short PADI medical questionnaire. Some conditions need a doctor's sign-off.

From a guest

Excellent dive centre. Welcoming and enthusiastic staff. Good kit and fun trip out on the dive boat. Diving experience was excellent with a special mention for Rory who was a great lead. An electric ray and a large honeycomb moray were particular highlights. Then welcome back to a lovely cup of tea from the irrepressible hostess. Strongly recommended.

David PFun dives · London, United Kingdom · Feb 2026 ★★★★★ · TripAdvisor

Good to know

Allow at least 18 hours between diving and a flight.
Cancel any time before your activity starts for a full refund. Payment is final once the boat trip starts.
Pay on the day in cash or by card. Card payments have a 3% fee.
Staying further away? Pickup is possible at a cost. Ask us for a price.

From$110per person

Starts: 8:00 am
Duration: Half a day
Depth: Up to 12 m
Who: Age 10 and up
Where: Moray Point
Pickup: Free within about 5 km and from Mirissa

1 dive$110
2 dives$150

Book this

Free cancellation before the activity starts. Nothing is charged online. Pay on the day in cash or by card (3% card fee).

Questions

Your first dive

Do I need to be able to swim?

For the Try Diving Experience, basic comfort in the water is enough. For PADI Discover Scuba Diving, no swimming experience is required. In both, an instructor or divemaster stays next to you.

What is the difference between the two?

Try Diving Experience ($70) is our own beginner dive and is not a PADI programme. PADI Discover Scuba Diving ($110) is the official PADI first dive: it is registered with PADI, gives you a PADI e-card, and counts toward your Open Water Diver course if you continue with us.

How old do I need to be?

Age 10 or older for both.

Is it safe?

You complete a short medical questionnaire, and we teach you the basics in shallow water before you dive. Some medical conditions need a doctor's sign-off, so ask us if you are unsure.

Can I fly after diving?

Allow at least 18 hours between diving and a flight.

Where do we dive?

Both start at 8:00 am and dive Moray Point, off Mirissa, at 5 to 12 m depending on the programme.

Can you pick us up from our hotel?

Yes. Free tuk-tuk pickup from hotels within about 5 km of the centre, and from Mirissa. Staying further away? Pickup is possible at a cost. Ask us for a price.

What if I need to cancel?

Cancel any time before your activity starts for a full refund. Payment is final once the boat trip starts. PADI eLearning is paid to PADI and is not refundable.

Take the plunge

Choose a day and we will do the rest.

Book PADI Discover Scuba Book Try Diving