Every PADI course we sell already runs in small groups with real instructor attention — but "private" means something more specific: you and the instructor, nobody else, for the whole course. Here is when that is worth asking for.

What does "private" actually change?

  • Pace entirely your own. No group average to keep up with or hold back for — you move to the next skill when you are ready, not when the group is.
  • Schedule flexibility. Private arrangements can usually work around your hours rather than a fixed group departure time.
  • Full instructor attention throughout, not shared attention across several students at once, even in an already-small group.
  • Higher price — you are paying for an instructor's full day rather than sharing their time and the trip cost with other students.

Who actually benefits from going private?

  • Nervous first-timers who want to go slowly without feeling like they are holding a group back.
  • Anyone with a physical consideration that benefits from a fully individualised pace.
  • Tight schedules — condensing a course into unusual hours around other holiday plans.
  • Couples or a parent and child who want to train together without a wider group.

Most certified divers do not need it — the standard small-group format already delivers real attention and is the more sociable, and considerably cheaper, way to learn.

Does it change what you learn?

No — the certification standard is identical whether you train privately or in a small group. A private Open Water course and a group Open Water course produce the same card with the same worldwide validity; the only thing that changes is how the days are structured to get you there.

How much more does it cost?

Private instruction is priced per arrangement rather than as a fixed line item on our trip pages, since it depends on the course, the base and the instructor's availability that week. Tell us the course and your dates through the trip request form and we will come back with a real quote rather than a guess.

Which courses can be booked privately?

In principle, any of them — from Discover Scuba Diving through Open Water to the full course list. Availability depends on instructor schedules that week, which is exactly why this is arranged directly rather than booked instantly online like a standard group trip.

Ask about a private course

Send your course, dates and group size (often just one or two people) through the trip request form, and we will tell you honestly whether it is available for your week and what it costs.