Try scuba diving on Ibiza: the PADI Discover boat trip for beginners
Updated October 18, 2026 · 6 min read
If you have never dived and want to try, the PADI Discover Scuba Diving and snorkelling boat trip is the one to look at: 3.5 hours, €150 per person, 4.6 stars from 160 reviews. It is the only try-dive in our list. If you only want to look at fish, a snorkelling trip at less than half the price does that without the equipment and the briefing.
What the listing says
The summary says you learn to dive “safely and easily” in the clear water off western Ibiza, with PADI-certified instructors, and that it suits first-time divers from 10 years old. The title adds a boat trip and snorkelling. It does not say how long you spend underwater, how deep you go, how many people are in the group or what the ratio of instructors to divers is. The booking page is where those answers are, and you should read it before paying €150.
What a Discover dive is
A Discover Scuba Diving experience is an introduction, not a course and not a certification. You get a briefing on land or on board, you practise the basic skills in shallow water, and then you swim with an instructor close by. Under PADI’s own rules the programme is limited to a shallow depth. It does not qualify you to dive on your own afterwards. For many people it is enough: a first look at a world you otherwise only see through a mask.
Questions to ask before you book
- Health: divers fill in a medical questionnaire. If you have asthma, ear or sinus trouble, heart conditions or are pregnant, ask the operator, or your doctor, before you go. This article cannot judge it.
- Flying: ask the operator how long to wait between diving and a flight home, and plan the day accordingly.
- Children: the listing says “from 10 years old”. Ask what is expected of a 10-year-old and whether a parent can be on the boat.
- Swimming: you should feel comfortable in the water. Ask whether a swimming test is part of the day.
- What is included: equipment, the boat, snorkelling gear, drinks and photos differ between operators. The listing mentions the instructors and the boat, nothing more.
- Cancellation: diving depends on the sea. Ask what happens if the boat cannot go out.
The alternative: snorkel without diving
Ibiza has a lot of shallow, clear water along its coast, and many boat trips stop in coves where you can snorkel. Four good ones from our list:
| Trip | Duration | From | Rating | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snorkelling and SUP, beach and cave tour | 3 hours | €60 | 4.7 ★ · 1,440 | two coves, the island’s largest sea cave, drinks |
| Snorkelling, sunset beach and cave boat trip | 3 hours | €70 | 4.7 ★ · 538 | from Sant Antoni, two coves, sunset |
| Sea caves and snorkelling cruise with tapas | 3 hours | €56 | 4.6 ★ · 41 | hidden coves, sea caves, drinks and tapas |
| Kayak and snorkel, north-east | 3 hours | €50 | 4.7 ★ · 436 | caves by kayak, snorkelling, snacks |
Check dates for the PADI Discover boat trip
The snorkelling category has 61 offers starting at €30, collected on the snorkelling and sea caves page, and the kayak tours are covered on the kayak and paddle board page.
What you see on the west coast
Ibiza’s coast has meadows of Posidonia seagrass, a protected plant that is part of the reason the water is so clear. Do not touch it. The listing promises clear water and marine life but names no dive site, so expect fish and rock rather than a famous wreck, and do not book this for big animals. Visibility and fish change with the weather and the day.
Who it is for, and who it is not for
- For: curious adults and teenagers from 10 who can swim, want to try, and are fine with a briefing.
- Not for: anyone anxious in water, people who dislike a mask on their face, and anyone who wants to keep the budget low.
- Better to snorkel: families with younger children, since the listing gives 10 as its starting age.
Our choice
Book the Discover dive if you are curious and can afford €150, and read the booking page for the group size and the depth. If you only want to see what is under the surface, take the Snorkelling and SUP trip at €60, which has the most reviews of any trip on this page.
