Ogni principiante a Hurghada deve affrontare la stessa scelta a tre vie, e i nomi da soli non rendono evidente quale sia. Ecco il confronto, fianco a fianco.
I tre punti di partenza
| Scopri le immersioni subacquee | Subacqueo | Open Water Diver (PADI) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cos'è | Un'esperienza di prova una tantum | Una mezza certificazione | La certificazione completa a vita |
| Durata | Mezza giornata | 2-3 gg | 3-4 giorni |
| Limite di profondità dopo | None — not a certification | 12 metres, always with a pro | 18 metres, independently with a buddy |
| Price (from) | EUR 59 | EUR 272 | EUR 326 |
| Upgrades later? | Counts toward Open Water in some programme versions | Upgrades fully to Open Water, nothing repeated | N/A — already the full card |
| Best for | "I want to try it before I commit" | Short on time, want a real certification anyway | Know diving is for you |
Discover Scuba Diving — the trial
Not a certification, and you always dive with an instructor beside you afterward too, on any repeat dive. It exists to answer one question: do you actually enjoy breathing underwater? If you already know the answer is yes, skip it — it is not required before Open Water and does not save you time if you are certain. Full walkthrough of the day in what Discover Scuba actually involves.
Scuba Diver — Open Water, stopped halfway
A genuine PADI certification, not a trial — but capped at 12 metres and always requiring a dive professional present. It exists for people short on days: two to three days instead of three to four, and every bit of it counts if you later decide to finish the full Open Water course. Currently runs in Marsa Alam, from EUR 272.
Open Water Diver — the one most people actually want
Three to four days: theory (finishable online before you fly), confined-water skills, four open-water dives. You come out certified to 18 metres, worldwide, for life — no professional required once you are qualified, just a buddy. Runs in Hurghada from EUR 326, age 10+.
So which one, honestly?
- Genuinely unsure you will like diving: Discover Scuba Diving first.
- Certain you want to dive, but only have two or three days: Scuba Diver, upgradeable later.
- Certain, and have three to four days: go straight to Open Water Diver — it is the same total time as Discover Scuba plus Scuba Diver, for one certification instead of two half-measures.
Book your starting point
Discover Scuba Diving, Scuba Diver, or Open Water Diver — whichever fits your days and your certainty. All three include full equipment and a PADI professional throughout.
Can I upgrade later if I start with the cheaper option?
From Discover Scuba Diving, yes in most programme versions — ask when you book whether your specific dive counts toward Open Water. From Scuba Diver, always — it upgrades to full Open Water Diver with nothing repeated, just the additional skills and dives added on.
