Hurghada, Professionals Diving in Open Water Tour with Lunch

The main draw here is simple: two guided scuba sessions at Red Sea sites, with bright coral and colorful fish below you, followed by lunch on the boat. If you are new to scuba, an instructor stays close and helps you get comfortable. If you already know your way around the water, you may be given more room to manage yourself.

I like the two separate underwater sessions because the second site gives you another chance to enjoy the sea instead of packing everything into one short stop. I also like the hotel pickup, lunch, water, and soft drinks, since you can spend the day on the water without sorting out transport or food.

The main caution is consistency. The advertised group limit is 10, yet one poor experience reported more than 20 people aboard, along with short sessions and limited oxygen. Equipment and staff conduct also need your attention, so confirm the day’s arrangements before you leave your hotel.

Key points to know before booking

• Two guided scuba sessions: One lasts about 35 minutes and the second about 30 minutes, with an instructor leading the underwater portions.
• A full Red Sea day: Expect about eight hours in all, including a 40-minute boat ride each way, lunch, and snorkeling time.
• Bright coral and fish: The underwater scenery is the star, with reports of colorful reefs and plenty to look at.
• Hotel pickup in Hurghada: Round-trip transport comes in an air-conditioned vehicle, and you should send your room number in advance.
• Small-group promise: The advertised limit is 10 people, but confirm this directly because one poor account described a much larger boat group.
• Extra cash required: Instructor fees are not included and are listed as €4 cash.

What this Hurghada boat day is really like

This is not a quick shore activity. You leave your hotel in Hurghada, ride to the boat, spend roughly 40 minutes sailing out, complete two separate scuba sessions, eat lunch on board, snorkel, and return in the late afternoon.

That shape works well for someone who wants a full day around the Red Sea rather than a short lesson at a resort pool. You get time to settle into the boat, look at the coast from the water, and enjoy the sea even if you finish your scuba sessions early.

The experience is offered for beginners and experienced scuba participants. That sounds broad, but it matters. A first-time participant needs patient instruction and close supervision. An experienced person usually wants sensible planning, a proper amount of time underwater, and equipment that matches the booking. The best fit is someone who wants guided access rather than a private technical session.

The underwater sites appear to be the strongest part of the day. One account describes colorful coral and fish, while another praises the reef setting and care both on the boat and underwater. These are the moments that make the price worthwhile.

Hotel pickup and the ride to the Red Sea

Pickup is included from your Hurghada hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle. Send your room number ahead of time so the guide can identify you and arrange the meeting properly.

That sounds like a small detail, but it can save you from standing around a hotel lobby wondering if the vehicle has arrived. The transport is described as comfortable and new, which is useful after an early start and before a long day at sea.

Bring comfortable shoes and a sun hat. The hat is especially useful during the boat ride and lunch, when you may be out in full sun with little shade. Pets are not allowed.

The boat ride takes about 40 minutes. Use this time to look out at the water and coast, but also to pay attention to the day’s plan. You should know which session is for beginners, how long each underwater period should last, and what happens if weather or equipment causes a change.

The first scuba session, about 35 minutes

The first underwater session is scheduled for about 35 minutes. Before entering the water, the instructor explains the site and the basic procedures, then guides you through the session.

For a beginner, the first few minutes are often the hardest part. Breathing through the equipment, clearing your ears, and staying calm can take attention away from the fish and coral. Close instructor support is a real advantage here. One positive account describes the staff as especially good with first-time participants.

Another account describes an instructor holding a beginner’s arm throughout the first session, then allowing more independence after seeing that the pair already had experience. That is a sensible approach in principle. Good supervision should match your ability, not force every participant into the same routine.

If you have scuba experience, make your level clear before entering the water. Experienced participants should not need the same constant physical guidance as a beginner, but you still need to follow the guide’s instructions and the boat’s safety rules.

The reef scenery is the reason to book this rather than simply spend the day swimming. You might see colorful fish and coral around the site, though the exact marine life and visibility can change. The provided information does not promise a particular species or guaranteed conditions, so book for the Red Sea setting rather than a specific animal encounter.

Lunch on board and a change of pace

After the first session, you get about 45 minutes for lunch. Food, mineral water, and soft drinks are included.

This break does useful work. Scuba takes concentration, and a meal gives you time to warm up, rest, and talk with the guide before the next session. You are not being rushed from one underwater stop straight into another.

The lunch is practical rather than a reason to book the trip on its own. The information does not give a menu, so bring any special food you need only if the operator confirms it can be accommodated. The same applies to dietary restrictions.

Refreshments are included, but a sun hat remains important. You may want to spend lunch looking at the sea instead of staying below deck, and the Red Sea sun can be strong. Comfortable shoes also make the boat day easier between stops.

The second session, about 30 minutes

The second scuba session lasts about 30 minutes and takes place at a new site. This change is valuable because you are not seeing the same patch of reef twice. It also gives beginners a second chance to use what they learned during the first session.

The shorter time is worth noting. Experienced participants may find 30 minutes modest, especially if the first session is also shortened by checks, instructions, or equipment issues. One very unhappy account described a first session limited to about 30 minutes and a second lasting only about 20 minutes, with a complaint about low oxygen supply.

That report is not proof that every outing runs this way, but it is a fair reason to ask questions. Before departure, confirm the expected underwater time, the equipment available, and how the operator handles a tank or supply problem.

Do not treat the advertised duration as guaranteed time underwater. The eight-hour figure includes transport, sailing, lunch, surface breaks, and snorkeling. That is normal for a boat day, but it helps you judge the offer fairly.

Snorkeling after the scuba sessions

The schedule allows about 45 minutes for snorkeling after the two guided sessions. This is a good option if you want to stay in the water without repeating the full scuba routine.

It also suits anyone in your group who prefers surface swimming. The main experience is aimed at scuba participants, but the snorkeling stop gives the day a wider appeal. You can use it to look at the reef from above, swim, or simply stay on the boat and rest if you have had enough sun and water.

The exact snorkeling equipment is not listed among the inclusions, so confirm what is supplied before booking if you need gear. Tank and weights are included for the scuba portions. Lunch, mineral water, and soft drinks are also included.

Group size, staff, and the serious caution

The advertised group type is small, with a limit of 10 participants. That is a strong point if it is honored. A smaller group should mean less waiting, clearer instructions, and a better chance of getting help when you need it.

But you should not ignore the conflicting account of more than 20 people on the boat. That person described a crowded operation, repeated sessions, poor organization, insufficient oxygen, and much shorter underwater time. Those are not minor complaints. They touch safety, comfort, and value.

There is also one account from a woman who had asked about a women’s small wetsuit, was told one was available, and received an unsuitable short child-sized suit instead. She also described unwanted physical contact from the guide underwater. I cannot treat that as a general description of every staff member, but it is serious enough to make your boundaries clear before entering the water.

Ask for the instructor’s name, check that the wetsuit fits, and speak up immediately if equipment or contact feels wrong. You should feel able to stop the session and return to the boat. A guide’s job is to assist you, not make you uncomfortable.

The positive side is also clear. One first-time participant found the support excellent, and another account praised the care on the boat and during the underwater sessions. The experience can be very good when staffing, equipment, and group size are handled properly.

Languages and communication

Guiding is listed in English, French, German, and Russian. That gives the tour useful reach, especially for beginners who need clear safety instructions.

Still, language availability may depend on the staff member assigned that day. One French-speaking beginner found it difficult when a French guide was not available and the explanations were given in English. If you are not comfortable with English, confirm the language before paying, not just the languages shown in the general tour information.

This is especially important for scuba. You need to understand hand signals, equipment instructions, breathing guidance, and what to do if you feel uncomfortable underwater. A language match is not a luxury here.

Is $72 a fair price?

At $72 per person, the package includes a lot for a full day: hotel pickup and return, air-conditioned transport, boat travel, two guided scuba sessions, tanks and weights, lunch, mineral water, and soft drinks.

That is good value if the advertised structure is delivered. You are paying for a complete day rather than a short underwater activity, and the second site adds variety. The included transport also saves you from arranging a separate taxi to the marina.

The price is less attractive if your actual underwater time is much shorter than expected or if the boat is overcrowded. The separate €4 cash instructor fee is small, but it should be added to your budget. It is not included in the listed price.

I would judge the value by three questions:

• Is the group really limited to 10?
• Are two sessions planned for roughly 35 and 30 minutes?
• Is the equipment clean, fitted, and ready for your size?

If the answer to all three is yes, the package makes sense for a first Red Sea scuba experience. If not, the included lunch and transport cannot make up for a poor session in the water.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend it most strongly to beginners who want a structured introduction with an instructor nearby. The first session helps you get used to the equipment, while the second gives you a chance to enjoy the reef with more confidence.

It also suits an experienced scuba participant who wants an easy day from Hurghada and does not need a private guide or a technical itinerary. Be clear about your experience and expectations, since the schedule is designed to serve mixed abilities.

It may not suit someone who wants long underwater sessions, a private boat, specialist scuba support, or guaranteed individual attention. It is also not suitable for pregnant women or wheelchair users.

The day requires comfort with a boat, sun, swimming, and standard scuba equipment. If you are unsure about the clothing or equipment available, ask before pickup. That is particularly important for wetsuit sizes.

Booking advice and cancellation terms

You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible. Check the available start times because the trip lasts about eight hours.

I would send your hotel room number, preferred guide language, experience level, and wetsuit size before the morning of the trip. I would also ask the operator to confirm the group size and the €4 cash instructor fee.

The activity lists a separate entrance arrangement, but the practical benefit is less important than clear pickup and boat details. For this kind of outing, the key questions concern the sea schedule, equipment, and staffing.

Should you book the Hurghada scuba boat tour?

Book it if you want a reasonably priced full day on the Red Sea, two guided underwater sessions, lunch, and easy hotel transport. The colorful coral and fish, the second site, and the support for first-time participants give this experience real appeal.

I would book only after confirming three things directly: the group will stay near the stated limit of 10, your wetsuit and equipment are available in the correct size, and the two sessions will run close to their planned lengths.

The overall score of 4.3 from 80 ratings reflects that the experience is often enjoyable, but the serious complaints cannot be brushed aside. If the operator answers your questions clearly, this can be a strong first taste of Red Sea scuba. If the answers are vague, choose a provider that gives firmer details about staffing, equipment, and group size.

FAQ

How long does the Hurghada scuba tour last?

The experience lasts about eight hours, including pickup, boat travel, two scuba sessions, lunch, snorkeling, and the return to Hurghada.

How many scuba sessions are included?

Two separate guided scuba sessions are included. The first is scheduled for about 35 minutes, and the second for about 30 minutes.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch, mineral water, and soft drinks are included and served on board.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Round-trip pickup and return from hotels in Hurghada are included in an air-conditioned vehicle. You should send your room number so the guide can identify you.

Are tanks and weights included?

Yes. Tanks and weights are included.

Is the instructor fee included in the price?

No. An instructor fee of €4 cash is listed separately.

What languages are available?

Guiding is listed in English, French, German, and Russian. Confirm your preferred language before the trip because availability may depend on the guide assigned that day.

Who cannot join this activity?

The activity is not suitable for pregnant women or wheelchair users. Pets are also not allowed.