How does it work?

Family or Learn to Dive weeks allow divers and non-divers to spend time together while focusing on the activities they enjoy and developing diving skills.

Many itineraries feature affordable diving certification training, so your travel companions can learn to dive and prepare to join you on diving adventures. As these liveaboard departures are designed to be inclusive, they offer a range of snorkelling and fun dive activities for those who don’t wish to certify.

These holidays are an excellent way for beginner divers to try out a Maldivian liveaboard experience or develop their diving skills by taking courses. Socialising with others who share similar interests is just a bonus.

If you prefer to be resort-based, you can opt for Family Weeks at one of the spectacular Atlantis Resorts in the Philippines and take advantage of their excellent family deals. 

Summer travel options in 2024 & 2025

The Maldives

AMBA

Liveaboard Diving Beginner’s Tour: Family fun between Male and Vaavu Atoll

Take advantage of a variety of affordable courses and family rates on this week-long Beginners Tour itinerary. Having completed diving theory in advance, learners can train under perfect conditions and complete up to four courses including their Open Water certification. Once certified, divers can explore Vaavu Atoll which has the thrilling possibility of shark encounters, along with other highlights. More experienced divers can hop aboard the dhoni (a traditional boat) to access some of the area’s more challenging dive sites, while newer divers can go on their first dive safari with expert supervision from an experienced dive team.

Departs 13 Aug 2024, 7 nights from £1239 (boat only)

MV Keana

Family Week: Perfect for snorkellers, beginners and children

Spend 10 nights in a Maldivian paradise exploring warm turquoise waters for exciting marine life and beautiful corals with a highly experienced diving team at your disposal. Beginning at Hulhumalé Lagoon in the North Malé Atoll, Keana takes you on an ocean adventure around the remote atolls during which you may enjoy encounters with manta rays, sharks, turtles, dolphins and friendly whale sharks. The vessel accommodates up to 18 guests in comfortable upper-deck cabins and features an outdoor bar and dining area, along with a lovely sundeck with spectacular views of the sparkling ocean and the pristine white sand beaches of the tropical islands. Both divers and snorkellers will have opportunities to discover incredible reefs teeming with colourful fish. 

Departs 8 Aug 2024, 10 nights from £1774 (boat only)

Seascape

Family Tour: Child and eco-friendly adventures

Seascape is a trailblazer for responsible diving practices. From its award-winning reef protection measures to its sustainability focus onboard, this is the perfect choice for eco-conscious travellers. The luxurious 41-metre-long vessel can host up to 28 guests in spacious and well-appointed cabins, and it's possible to dive up to three times per day. They operate programmes aimed at children and family groups, focusing on beginner-friendly sites that are also excellent for snorkelling. More experienced divers will be interested to know that Seascape is renowned for thrilling dive safaris.

Departs 28 Jul 2024, 27 Jul & 3 Aug 2025, 7 nights from £1975 (boat only)

The Philippines

Atlantis Puerto Galera & Atlantis Dumaguete: Family Weeks

Atlantis Dive Resorts are offering a range of exceptional deals for family groups this summer. The Family Week special offers include free stays, free meals, and free diving places for kids (one free child per paying adult), plus further discounts for young adults aged 18-30 when travelling with parents. Non-divers can also enjoy a ‘Try Scuba’ session for free!

You and your family can explore the diverse dive sites in the famed Coral Triangle, including UNESCO World Heritage Sites, wrecks, black volcanic sands and critter hotspots. Puerto Galera is a beautiful Man and Biosphere Reserve of UNESCO with accessible diving, diverse coral reefs and exotic marine life. Dumaguete, in the Visayas region, hosts a diverse range of macro species, including ghost pipefish, flamboyant cuttlefish, and various seahorses and octopuses. It also grants easy access to the Dauin Marine Sanctuaries and Apo Island - one of the finest diving destinations in the Philippines. 

Both of the resorts are situated in stunning beach-front locations. Atlantis Puerto Galera is famed for its unique ‘Flintstones’ resort design, while Atlantis Dumaguete has tropical landscaped gardens, thatched-roof bungalows and a stunning waterfront restaurant. 

Atlantis Puerto Galera: 7 nights from £2895 (flight inclusive)

Atlantis Dumaguete: 7 nights from £2995 (flight inclusive)

Family Week deals at the Atlantis Dive Resorts are available on selected dates in July, August, November and December 2024, and July, August & September 2025.

Please contact our dive team for more details about Atlantis resorts, liveaboard adventures in the Maldives or the full range of Family Weeks available.

Choosing the right destination to learn to dive is crucial and there are many factors to consider. The professionalism of the dive centre, safety, access to suitable dive sites for student divers and consistent underwater conditions are just some of the factors to consider.

Here, we give our tips on the top ten diving destinations for beginners.

Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea

Back on the map, Sharm el Sheikh has all the ingredients for the perfect learn to dive holiday. Just 5 hours from the UK and Europe this area boasts a range of sites that are perfect for beginner divers with safe, shallow coral reefs on which to get comfortable with being underwater. Add in professional dive centres, year round sunshine and great marine life and it is not hard to see why Sharm kicks off our list.

Malta & Gozo

Possibly Europe's premier dive destination, the Mediterranean islands of Malta & Gozo feature excellent dive centres and a range of shore diving sites well suited to those looking to learn to scuba dive. Spend your time on one island only, or extend your holiday to combine both. A great choice for those on a tighter budget.

Soma Bay, Red Sea 

Conveniently located less than an hour south of Hurghada and with a range of convenient and cost effective flight options, Soma Bay is another winning option. Boasting an award winning dive resort and excellent facilities, the house reef provides ideal conditions for training dives. As your get your confidence, a range of suitable dive sites are also available a short boat ride away.

Lanzarote

Another excellent value option with many direct flights, Lanzarote arguably offers the best diving in the Canary Islands and is well suited to those looking to take their Open Water course. Based on a family friendly sandy beach, our award-winning partner dive centre is blessed with suitable dive sites starting right from the shore.

Grenada

Dubbed the Spice Island of the Caribbean, Grenada is blessed with year-round sunshine and ideal conditions for learning to dive. Oozing charm, Grenada has extremely professional dive centres and plenty of dive sites suitable for the beginner. More adventurous souls should stay longer to check out Grenada's lesser known twin Carriacou, known as the land of reefs.

North & South Malé Atolls, Maldives

World-famous for its picture perfect atolls and azure blue waters, the Maldives has been a diving mecca for years. Learning to dive here is more expensive than other destinations, but the rewards are plentiful. Well established, professional dive centres offer very high levels of tuition, with excellent shore diving available from the best dive resorts. Providing diving opportunities on a par with many more remote spots in the Maldives, we recommend using the North or South Malé atolls as a base to learn, leaving some of the outer atolls to explore once you are qualified divers.

Jebel Sifah, Oman

Possibly less well known for its diving than some of the other destinations on this list, Oman never-the-less has much to shout about. Year-round sunshine and good flight options combine with excellent diving just a short distance from the country's capital, Muscat. European dive centres provide a high standard of tuition, with a good choice of dive sites available to suit those new to the sport.

The Visayas Islands, Philippines

This group of islands in the central Philippines offers a range of great options, many of which can be combined to make a longer holiday. One could head to the vibrant reefs of Bohol to learn to dive with highly professional European-run dive centres, before exploring the delights of Moalboal, Malapascua or beyond. The choice is yours! Warm, tropical waters, wonderful marine life and a friendly welcome add to the appeal for new divers.

Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

With outstanding Caribbean beaches and fascinating archaeological sites, Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula has plenty to enjoy and inspire topside, but that's not where the appeal ends. The coastline around Puerto Aventuras and the island of Cozumel offer wonderful reefs and great conditions for beginners. You'll be looked after every step of the way by an experienced, professional dive team to get your diving odyssey off to a flying start.

Bunaken National Marine Park, Indonesia

Located just off the coast from Manado and easily reached from the UK and Europe, Bunaken National Marine Park offers everything a beginner diver could possibly wish for. This region boasts a wonderful climate, while the warm tropical waters are famed for their colourful coral corals and marine life. One of Indonesia's most famous diving areas, Bunaken has a range of outstanding dive resorts offering professional instruction and excellent facilities. Oh, and don’t forget to look out for turtles! 

If you are considering learning to dive, get in touch with our friendly team of dive professionals today on 01353 659999. We'll be happy to answer any questions you may have and advise on the best options for you.

With over 30 years' experience, we tailor our holidays to suit your precise needs. Our small, dedicated team offer a personal and attentive service to ensure every detail of your holiday is covered. 

There's no need to fly to far-flung locations to learn how to dive! Press Association writer Nilima Marshall recently visited the Maltese Islands on a Regaldive holiday with her husband to earn her scuba stripes...

"Bruce Willis Ruins All Films," I say to my partner as we get ready to see the glimmering emerald sea in the beautiful Maltese island of Gozo. We're not debating the acting merits of the hunky Hollywood superstar, but rather making vital checks for our final diving adventure at Xlendi Bay. Before taking the plunge, we need to carry out pre-dive safety checks for Buoyancy, Weights, Releases, Air and 'Final okay' - and that's where the mnemonic comes in (sorry Bruce!). It sounds complicated, but it's actually quite a simple task - even for someone like me, who's never even had a swim at the beach, let alone descended 18 metres below the water's surface.

Equipment thoroughly examined, we head off to the bay for the final dive. As we slowly descend, an unseen enchanting world emerges before my eyes. Thousands of colourful fish of all shapes and sizes gently weave through this captivating underwater garden: amberjack, bream, red mullet and parrot fish are some of the many species that form Gozo's incredible marine life population. Hundreds of bream, shimmering in the water with silvery translucent bodies slowly glide past as we gradually move deeper. A spiky sea urchin slightly startles me as it scatters its spores into the ocean; we also sight a sea cucumber, fireworm, cardinals and a bright orange starfish resting on the rocks.

Our instructor Richard Salter spots a tiny octopus tucked away beneath the green seaweed - I can hardly believe my eyes. The entire experience is an amazing technicolour dream come to life - I feel like I've swum into the exotic, magical world of Finding Nemo.
After touching our deepest point at 18.5 metres and negotiating a rocky tunnel, I realise how breathing through a regulator and moving weightlessly has become second nature in only a few days.

We have enrolled to take part in a PADI course with St Andrew's Divers Cove in Xlendi. The programme aims to provide beginners like me with the basic skills for dives to up 18 metres. St Andrew's is a friendly dive centre, and a magnet for divers from around the world. The centre not only has 11 instructors but is just a few steps away from Xlendi Bay, which is perfect for newcomers like us, who are staying at St Patrick's Hotel nearby.

As a first-time diver, I have my apprehensions. Thankfully, Richard immediately puts us at ease, reassuring us that diving is actually one of the safest sports - providing you follow the rulebook, have reliable equipment, and you never dive alone or beyond your experience. "Diving is fun and amazing, but being complacent about your gear could get you into trouble," Richard warns us. With more 6,000 logged dives, he knows a thing or two about what could go wrong. "Diving is not a contest," he tells us in one of our training sessions. "The slower you move, the better diver you are."

During training Richard takes us through the basic theory and science of scuba diving. We learn about the effects underwater pressure has on the lungs and why it's important never to ascend or descend too quickly.. The trick is not to panic, which is easier said than done - especially when we are removing our regulators and masks underwater, simulating real-life scenarios, such as running out of air or losing our masks. The experience feels strange at first, but once we start trusting the equipment, we are hooked. I can't wait to get my PADI Open Water Diver scuba certification.

Seeing the world underwater is a dream for many people, and I consider myself fortunate I did not have to travel very far. A little over three hours away from London by flight, Gozo is pretty much on our doorstep. Home to more than 60 dive sites, Malta and Gozo have been awarded the second best diving destination in the world by Diver magazine last year (Egypt came first), because of their range of exciting wrecks and diversity of marine life.

While Gozo has one of the most incredible underwater environments, there's lots to do on this tiny island if you want to stay on land. Xlendi itself is a popular tourist destination, brimming with restaurants offering local fish and Mediterranean cuisine - and the secluded bay is the ideal place to unwind and catch the sunset. Gelateria Granola in Xlendi, I am told, is one of the best ice cream shops in Europe and the tiramisu flavour I order is absolutely delicious. Further afield is the Azure Window (or Tieqa Zerqa in Maltese) - a limestone arch near Dwejra Bay, popular with scuba divers as well as visitors. The site has featured in many films and television series, including Game Of Thrones. Mgarr Ix-Xini, a breathtaking, peaceful strip of blue water between two cliffs is also worth a visit. At the entrance to the bay are the crumbled remains of a coastal tower built by the Knights of St. John in 1658.

Malta itself is only a short ferry ride away, and we dock at Cirkewwa Harbour for a day of sightseeing. We drive through the island, past the busy beaches and cacti-strewn landscape to the capital Valletta - which was awarded World Heritage Site status by UNESCO in 1980. The Grand Harbour is resplendent with history and character - from Fort Ricasoli, built by the Knights of Malta in 1693, to the beautifully restored 16th century warehouses and the leafy Upper Barrakka Gardens. Fort Ricasoli is occasionally used for filming - Russell Crowe is said to have wielded his sword while filming Gladiator within these fortified walls.

Malta is blessed with natural harbours and has long been a hub of commerce, but its strategic location means the country has been invaded by numerous rampaging forces. "Malta, Gozo and Comino were invaded many, many times - and fought over by the Phoenicians, Romans, French and British," our guide Nicolette Camilleri tells us. As a result, huge fortifications, including Fort St Elmo, had to be built around Valletta to deter the Turks from further invasion. Centuries later, British-ruled Malta was a target of more than 15,000 tonnes of bombs in the Second World War - becoming the most bombed location during the war. Malta was awarded the George Cross in 1942 as official recognition of the country's bravery.

We hop on to a traditional Maltese water taxi, known as 'dghajsa', for a leisurely ride through the harbour to the Vittoriosa Waterfront. Here, al fresco dining spots overlook the marina and private luxury yachts. (Chelsea football tycoon Roman Abramovich is said to have one docked here.) Among other attractions is the majestic St John's Co-Cathedral, hosting a treasure trove of priceless paintings. Built for the Knights of St. John in the 16th century, the building boasts spectacular ornate interiors with roof panels depicting scenes from John the Baptist's life. The island still retains a colonial feel and plenty of British references with old-fashioned red telephone and pillar boxes. The 'Silent City' of M'dina, with its narrow cobbled streets and mix of medieval and baroque architecture, makes it one of the most enchanting places on the island.

We conclude our tour by heading off to Rabat countryside for a quiet lunch at Rogantino's, the perfect place to get away from the crowded seaside. The 500-year-old building, which was refurbished to become a popular dining spot, exudes homely charm and rustic ambience. Rogantino's houses a variety of wines, including port and sherry dating back to the 1920s. The owner, Tony Grech, happened to come across a cache of fortified wines at a warehouse that had been abandoned 65 years ago.

As we relax in the restaurant gardens, unwinding with a glass of local chardonnay and admiring the overlooking lush vineyards, I begin to understand why the Maltese islands draw so many visitors from across the UK. Malta and Gozo may be diminutive islands, but they're priceless little gems floating in the Mediterranean, captivating us with a wealth of amazing, exotic attractions - on land and underwater.

Feature Credit: Nilima Marshall, Press Association

Image Credit: Rob Smith, St. Andrews Diver's Cove

The stunning Meeru Island Resort & Spa is picture postcard Maldives. Lying on a protected beautiful blue lagoon, with a long white sandy beach, the stunning backdrop of lush vegetation creates a tranquil, relaxing atmosphere.

Meeru Island Resort & Spa is the eastern most resort of North Male atoll and provides access to over 50 fantastic dive sites. The island's protected lagoon also offers excellent conditions for learners and snorkellers. Meerufenfushi Island also offers a good range of other land and water sports, including windsurfing, pitch & putt and tennis - meaning that there is plenty on offer for non-diving family and friends!

This award-winning resort has recently won the coveted 2013 Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor. Packages including flights, transfers and 7 nights FB accommodation in a Beach Villa start from just £1629 per person. What are you waiting for?