Your First Dive: Top Tips for Beginners in Hurghada
Taking your first breath underwater is a magical, life-changing moment. It’s the second you leave the familiar world behind and enter a new realm of vibrant colour, silent grace, and incredible life. For a first-time diver, this moment is often a mix of pure excitement and a healthy dose of nervousness. That’s completely normal!
Here at Scubadore Hurghada, guiding beginners on this incredible first step is one of the most rewarding things we do. We believe that with the right guidance, the right environment, and a little bit of knowledge, any apprehension you have will melt away, replaced by pure awe.
If you’re ready to take the plunge, either with a PADI Discover Scuba Diving experience or the full Open Water Diver course, these are our top tips to ensure your first time underwater is as safe, comfortable, and amazing as it can possibly be.
Relax and Breathe Normally (It’s Easier Than You Think!)
The number one rule of scuba diving is simple: never hold your breath. It might feel strange at first, but the regulator in your mouth is designed to deliver air to you more easily than breathing on the surface. Your only job is to breathe in and out, slowly and continuously. Focus on long, deep, relaxed breaths, just like in a yoga or meditation class. This will not only keep you calm but will also help you conserve air and better control your buoyancy. Trust the equipment—it does all the work for you.
Equalize Early and Often (Before You Feel a Thing)
You know that feeling of pressure in your ears when you’re on an airplane? It’s the same principle underwater. As you descend, the water pressure increases, and you need to equalize the pressure in your ears. The key is to do it before you feel any discomfort.
As soon as you start your descent, gently pinch your nose and blow softly, as if you were trying to pop your ears. You should feel a little ‘click’ or ‘pop.’ Do this every meter or so on your way down. If you feel any pressure, ascend slightly until it goes away, then equalize again and continue your descent even more slowly. Never force it!
Listen Carefully to Your Instructor
Your PADI Instructor is your personal guide to the underwater world. They are highly trained professionals whose absolute top priority is your safety and comfort. Before you get in the water, they will give you a clear, simple briefing on the equipment, the basic skills you’ll practice, and the hand signals you’ll use to communicate.
Pay close attention, and know that once you’re in the water, they will be with you every step of the way. This is where the Scubadore small-group philosophy makes all the difference for a beginner. In our intimate groups, your instructor is never more than an arm’s length away, providing constant supervision and reassurance.
There Are No Stupid Questions
Scuba equipment might look complicated, but it’s actually very intuitive. You’ll be wearing a mask, fins, a Buoyancy Control Device (BCD) which is like an adjustable jacket, and a regulator to breathe from. Your instructor will explain everything, but if you’re unsure about anything at all—what a particular strap does, or why a gauge is important—please ask! We love questions. A curious student is a good student, and we want you to feel completely comfortable and knowledgeable about the gear that’s helping you explore.
Go Slow and Keep Your Hands to Yourself
The underwater world is not a swimming pool, and you shouldn’t move through it like you’re in a race. The best divers are slow, deliberate, and graceful. Use slow, relaxed kicks with your fins to propel yourself. Rushing not only uses up your air faster but also means you’ll miss seeing all the incredible, tiny details of the reef.
It’s also crucial to adopt a “hands-off” policy. The beautiful corals are living, fragile animals. Touching them can damage their delicate structure and harm the reef. It can also be dangerous for you, as some marine life is venomous. The best way to dive is with your arms folded or your hands clasped together, simply looking and observing.
Stay Hydrated and Get a Good Night’s Sleep
What you do before your dive is just as important as what you do during it. Arrive for your dive day well-rested and well-hydrated. Dehydration can increase your risk of decompression sickness and can make equalizing your ears more difficult. Drink plenty of water the day before and the morning of your dive. And of course, do not consume alcohol before diving. A healthy, rested body will have a much more comfortable and enjoyable time underwater.
Trust the Process and Have Fun!
Remember, every single certified diver in the world was once a beginner, just like you. The skills of diving are learned, and nobody is expected to be perfect on their first try. The purpose of your first dive is to experience the incredible sensation of breathing underwater and to witness the beauty of the Red Sea. Let your instructor guide you, trust the process, and allow yourself to be completely amazed. The fun is the most important part of the experience.
Why Hurghada is Perfect for Your First Dive
You’ve chosen one of the best places on the planet to learn. The Red Sea offers warm, crystal-clear water with virtually no currents at our training sites. The shallow coral gardens are teeming with colourful fish, meaning your first-ever dive will be in a genuine underwater paradise.
Are you ready to create a memory that will last a lifetime? We’re here to help you take that first, magical step.
