Intro Diving for Beginners 2 Stops Diving with Lunch – Hurghada

Feel the Red Sea open beneath you. This Hurghada boat trip gives first-time scuba guests a calm introduction to underwater life, with a qualified instructor, two planned sessions, and all core equipment supplied. I like the patient instruction and the fact that hotel pickup, lunch, snorkeling gear, and refreshments are bundled into a low price.

I also like the friendly, social setup. Solo guests can meet people on the boat, while families with older children can enjoy a full day at sea without arranging separate transport or meals. The main consideration is the long day and some itinerary confusion: the tour is sold as two underwater stops, yet the schedule also describes a third site with a shipwreck.

For about $22 per person, this is unusually good value if you want to try scuba without paying for a multi-day course. Just confirm the extra fees and the exact number of underwater sessions before you go.

Key points to know before booking

• Two beginner-friendly underwater sessions: A qualified instructor accompanies you at the main underwater stops.
• Boat time is part of the day: The trip takes about eight hours, including roughly an hour sailing to the first site.
• Coral reefs and colorful fish: Expect underwater scenery, schools of fish, and the possibility of seeing dolphins.
• Lunch is prepared on board: Coffee or tea and other refreshments are included, so you do not need to arrange food separately.
• Pickup covers Hurghada: Transfers from El Gouna, Safaga, Soma Bay, Makadi, and Sahl Hasheesh cost extra and are paid in cash on site.
• Small enough to feel manageable: The maximum group size is 30 people, and the overall rating is 4.9 from 181 ratings, with 99 percent recommending it.

Starting from Hurghada at 8:00 in the morning

Your day begins with hotel pickup at about 8:00 a.m. An air-conditioned vehicle takes you to the pier, where the boat is waiting. The exact transfer length depends on your hotel, but the trip is described as being some distance from central Hurghada, so plan for a full day rather than a quick morning outing.

I like having the ride included. It removes the usual scramble of finding the marina, arranging a taxi, and wondering if you are at the correct dock. The tradeoff is time. You will spend part of the morning in the vehicle and another part on the boat before reaching the first underwater site.

If your hotel is in El Gouna, Safaga, Soma Bay, Makadi, or Sahl Hasheesh, ask about the transfer price before booking. Those pickups are not included in the basic cost and are paid in cash on the spot. This is one of the few places where the advertised price can rise, especially for a couple or family staying outside Hurghada.

Once aboard, the boat sails for around an hour. That cruise is not dead time. It gives you a chance to settle in, enjoy the sea air, and get used to the rhythm of the boat before your first session. If you are new to scuba, use this period to listen closely to the instructor and organize your gear.

The first underwater session is built for beginners

The first stop is the main introduction to the Red Sea below the surface. You spend about an hour at the site, looking over coral formations and schools of colorful fish while staying under the supervision of a professional instructor.

The most important benefit here is the support. First-time scuba guests often need a little time to become comfortable with breathing through the regulator, moving with fins, and managing their equipment. The instructor’s patience was praised strongly, including by a guest who completed both sessions. That matters more than fancy boat extras.

You should not expect a full independent scuba course in one day. This is an introductory outing, not a certification program. The instructor is there to guide you during the sessions, but the available information does not describe formal classroom training or certification. If you want a qualification, treat this as a first taste and arrange a proper course separately.

The supplied gear includes the equipment needed for the activity, along with a life jacket. Snorkeling equipment is also included, which gives you another way to enjoy the water if you prefer to spend part of the day at the surface. Ask the crew for help with fitting anything that feels loose or uncomfortable before leaving the boat.

A second site adds coral, fish, and dolphin possibilities

After the first session, the boat moves to another underwater location. This second stop offers more coral and fish, with the possibility of seeing dolphins nearby. The word possibility is important. Dolphins are a lucky sighting, not a promised part of the trip, so book this for the reef scenery and instruction rather than for a guaranteed animal encounter.

The change of site is useful because it gives you a different view of the Red Sea. Two locations can offer varied coral shapes and fish life, and the move also breaks up the day. You are not stuck at one anchorage from morning to afternoon.

You may also use this part of the trip to snorkel. Since snorkeling gear is included, you can spend time at the surface between sessions or choose it as an alternative if you decide scuba is not for you. The supplied details do not state how long you can snorkel or whether the instructor accompanies snorkelers, so ask the crew for the day’s exact arrangement.

For beginners, the second session may feel easier simply because you have already learned the basic routine. You know how the gear feels, how the boat operates, and what the instructor expects. Still, seasickness, nerves, or fatigue can affect your plans. The crew’s willingness to help is one of the strongest reasons this outing suits first-timers.

Lunch on the boat keeps the schedule simple

After the underwater stops, you can dry off and get ready for lunch prepared aboard the boat. Lunch, coffee or tea, and refreshments are included. That saves you from carrying a packed meal and means the boat does not need to return to shore during the day.

I see this as a practical part of the price, not just a pleasant extra. An eight-hour outing needs food, and buying lunch separately at a marina or arranging a delivery would add both cost and hassle. Eating on board also keeps the schedule moving.

The available information does not list the menu, dietary choices, or drinks beyond coffee, tea, and refreshments. If you have allergies or special food needs, contact the provider before departure rather than assuming the standard meal will suit you. Bring any personal snacks or water only if you need something specific, since the supplied details do not spell out every refreshment provided.

A boat lunch also comes with normal limits. You are eating in a moving outdoor setting, not at a restaurant. If you are prone to motion sickness, sit where the boat feels most stable and take practical precautions before departure. The trip description focuses on good sea weather, but conditions can still affect comfort.

The itinerary includes a third site and a shipwreck

Here is the detail I would clarify before paying. The tour title and included features describe two underwater stops. Yet the day’s schedule continues to a third site after lunch, where you can see more fish and a shipwreck.

That may mean the third location is an additional snorkeling or viewing stop, or it may be a further underwater activity. The supplied information does not explain the distinction. Ask whether the third site involves scuba, snorkeling, or simply a boat stop, and ask if it is included in the advertised price.

The shipwreck is a welcome feature for anyone who enjoys underwater scenery beyond coral. Wrecks can give fish another place to gather and add a sense of discovery to the final part of the day. Still, the details do not identify the wreck, its size, its depth, or whether guests enter it. Do not assume you will swim inside or receive a technical wreck tour.

Even without a wreck entry, a final site can make the return trip feel less abrupt. You have another chance to see fish and use the snorkeling gear before heading back. The schedule describes the boat continuing after lunch, followed by a return to shore and hotel drop-off.

Why the $22 price is strong value

At $22 per person, the package covers a great deal: hotel pickup and return within the stated area, an air-conditioned vehicle, a full-day boat trip, two underwater sessions, a professional instructor, snorkeling equipment, a life jacket, lunch, coffee or tea, and refreshments.

That price is particularly attractive for someone who wants to test scuba without committing to a course. You pay for access to the boat, guidance, food, and equipment in one booking. A solo guest also gets the benefit of a group setting, and one particularly positive account described making friends with people on the boat and crew.

The low price does not mean every cost disappears. National park admission is not included. Pickup from El Gouna, Safaga, Soma Bay, Makadi, and Sahl Hasheesh costs extra and is paid in cash on site. Include those charges in your real budget.

A maximum of 30 people keeps the outing from becoming an enormous boat party, though 30 is still a group rather than a private trip. If you want one-to-one instruction or a quiet charter, this is not the right format. If you prefer an affordable social day with organized transport, the group size should work well.

The score of 4.9 from 181 ratings and a 99 percent recommendation rate support the value, especially when paired with the repeated praise for the staff and instructor. I would still read the inclusions carefully and confirm the third site, because a high rating cannot remove the need to check the details that matter to you.

Who will enjoy this Red Sea outing most

This trip fits first-time scuba guests who want a simple introduction. You do not need to organize gear, find a boat, or plan lunch. The professional instructor and the reported patient approach are especially helpful if you feel nervous about your first underwater session.

It also works for solo visitors. The boat creates a natural group setting, and the friendly atmosphere can make a day at sea more social than a private transfer and private lesson. The maximum of 30 people gives you company without the scale of a huge excursion.

Families can consider it too. One positive account describes a very successful day with an 11-year-old son. However, the supplied details do not state a minimum age, swimming requirement, medical requirement, or child pricing. Ask the provider directly before booking for a child.

This outing is less suitable if you want a quiet luxury cruise, a private instructor, or a guaranteed dolphin encounter. It may also disappoint experienced scuba guests looking for advanced sites, detailed wreck exploration, or a certification course. The focus is introductory, social, and practical.

What to bring and what to clarify

The core equipment, snorkeling gear, and life jacket are supplied, so you do not need to pack a full scuba kit. You should still bring ordinary sun and boat-day essentials, such as suitable swimwear and anything you personally need for a long day outdoors. The supplied details do not specify towels, so confirm whether one is provided or bring your own.

Before departure, check these points:

• Is the third site a scuba stop, a snorkeling stop, or a viewing stop?
• What is the national park admission fee?
• What is the cash transfer charge from your hotel area?
• Is lunch suitable for your dietary needs?
• What child age rules or participation conditions apply?
• Are towels supplied?

The tour confirms bookings at the time of reservation, allows service animals, and says most people can participate. Those broad terms are helpful, but they do not replace a direct question if you have a medical concern or special mobility need.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the 8:00 a.m. start time. Cancellations or changes made later are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off follows local time. That is a sensible policy to remember when arranging flights, hotel changes, or other Hurghada activities.

Should you book this Hurghada scuba trip?

I would book it if you want an affordable, beginner-friendly day on the Red Sea with transport, equipment, instruction, lunch, and two main underwater sessions handled in one package. The patient instructor, friendly staff, and strong overall rating make it a sensible first step for a nervous beginner or a solo guest.

I would pause if the third site matters greatly to you, because the schedule is not perfectly clear about how it fits with the advertised two stops. Confirm that detail, plus the national park fee and any outlying-hotel transfer cost, before booking.

For $22, the value is hard to dismiss. Go for the coral, fish, boat time, and gentle introduction to scuba. Treat dolphins and the shipwreck as welcome possibilities, not guarantees, and you should have a very good day.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

The stated start time is 8:00 a.m.

How long does the experience last?

The full experience lasts approximately eight hours.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for the stated service area around Hurghada, using an air-conditioned vehicle.

Are transfers from El Gouna, Safaga, Soma Bay, Makadi, and Sahl Hasheesh included?

No. Transfers from those locations cost extra and are paid in cash on the spot.

How many underwater stops are included?

The included features describe two underwater stops with a professional instructor. The schedule also describes a third site after lunch, including a shipwreck and additional fish, so you should confirm exactly what activity is offered there.

Is equipment provided?

Yes. Scuba equipment, snorkeling equipment, and a life jacket are included.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch, coffee or tea, and refreshments are included.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 30 people.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded or accepted.