PADI Discover Scuba Diving
No certification needed! Learn basic scuba skills in shallow water before enjoying two safe, guided dives in Tayrona with experienced PADI professionals.
Price range: $ 340.000 through $ 425.000
Indicated price only applies to cash payments.
Important
Indicated price is our promotion price which only applies when paying in cash. For card payments, original price applies. To be eligible for the cash discount:
- Reserve your spot with a deposit online
- Upon arriving, pay with cash at the counter
VAT: Colombian residents +19% (not included in price). Foreign tourists are exempt. Cash discount available.
PADI 5 ★ IDC Resort
Professional teaching for all levels
6 languages
English, Spanish, German, Dutch, Italian & French
Small Groups
Personalised teaching with individual focus
Secure credit card payments with Bancolombia's Wompi
DISCOVER SCUBA DIVING AT A GLANCE
| Duration | Half day | Experience | No previous diving experience required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certification | No certification required | Minimum age | 10 years |
| Prerequisite | Basic swimming skills and good health | Maximum depth | 12 m / 40 ft |
| Ideal for | Beginners who want to try scuba diving for the first time | Dives | 2 open water dives |
| Location | Taganga & Tayrona National Park in Santa Marta, Colombia | Equipment | Full scuba equipment included |
| Price | Check current price when booking |
Overview
No prior diving experience or license required! Breathe underwater for the first time with our official PADI Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) program. You’ll complete digital PADI e-Learning theory before arrival, practice basic safety skills in shallow water, and head out on two real boat dives to explore the coral reefs of Tayrona National Park under direct, close-up supervision by a certified PADI Instructor in small groups.
Trip Itinerary & Schedule
Pre-Arrival:Complete your PADI e-Learning modules and registration forms on your phone or laptop before arriving, so you’re ready to dive straight into the fun!
7:15 AM – Morning Welcome (Optional):Start your day early at our beachfront shop with complimentary fresh Colombian coffee, tea, or local fruit juice. Meet your instructor and get settled.
7:30 AM – Mandatory Briefing & Skill Prep (Mandatory):Equipment fitting, safety orientation, and briefing on basic scuba concepts, equalization, and hand signals.
8:30 AM – Boat Departure:Boat safety briefing and scenic 20–30 minute boat ride along Tayrona’s coastline.
Shallow Water Practice:Practice a few simple safety skills in calm, shallow water until you feel 100% comfortable.
Two Ocean Dives at Different Sites:Complete 2 guided boat dives (max depth 12 meters / 40 feet) at two distinct Tayrona reef locations, with a 60-minute fruit/water boat break in between.
12:30 PM – Return, Debrief & Local Dining:Cruise 20–30 minutes back to Taganga. Receive your official PADI DSD participant record, debrief your experience while eating fresh seasonal fruits, and celebrate your first dives at one of the several amazing restaurants right around our shop!
(Limited spots—check with us for availability!)
Requirements
Prerequisites: No prior scuba experience required! Must be at least 10 years old and comfortable in open water.
Medical Form: All participants must complete the standard PADI Medical Questionnaire prior to in-water training. [Click here to review the PADI Medical Form (PDF)]. If you answer “YES” to any medical condition, a quick doctor’s clearance signature is required before diving.
What’s Included
- PADI e-Learning access code (complete basic dive theory digitally before you arrive).
- All standard scuba gear (mask, fins, wetsuit, BCD, regulator system).
- Standard scuba tanks (12L / 80 cu ft), weights, and air fills.
- Diving insurance
- Full PADI Discover Scuba Diving briefing and shallow-water skill training.
- 2 ocean boat dives at two different Tayrona Park sites (max depth 12m/40ft).
- Direct supervision with a certified PADI Instructor.
- Boat transportation to and from Tayrona Park (20–30 min ride each way), no additional park entry fee.
- 7:15 AM optional morning coffee, tea, and juice welcome.
- Fresh seasonal fruit and cold drinking water served on board and during debrief.
- Complimentary Souvenir Media: Our staff will take some casual underwater photo/video shots during your trip as a fun souvenir to take home (delivered via Google Drive link).
- Official PADI DSD registration (counts as credit toward your PADI Open Water Course!).
Add-ons & Extras
Professional Photographer Upgrade: While casual souvenir shots are included in your package, hiring our professional underwater photographer guarantees high-resolution, professionally edited photos and a fully edited video production capturing your entire experience from start to finish ($110.000 COP per person — group discounts available).
Flying & Altitude After Diving
For your safety, you must allow sufficient time for your body to off-gas excess nitrogen before ascending to altitude. Wait at least 12 hours after a single dive, or at least 18 hours after multiple dives, before flying in an aircraft or traveling to high elevations (including mountain driving, hiking, or visiting places like Minca/Sierra Nevada). Please plan your flights and land travel accordingly to enjoy your trip risk-free!
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Online Deposit: Reserve your spot with a small online deposit; pay your balance at check-in.
Standard Cancellations: Free deposit refund for cancellations made at least 48 hours before departure.
Full Refund or Free Reschedule: Granted if Ocean Lovers cancels due to official port closures or dangerous weather.
Non-Refundable: Cancellations under 48 hours, late arrivals/no-shows, voluntary stops during a trip, or canceling because a dive takes place outside Tayrona Park (e.g., during #RespiraTayrona closures).
Health & Fitness to Dive: If you feel unwell and cannot join the trip, inform us immediately. While last-minute health cancellations make deposits non-refundable, we will gladly reschedule your dive and apply your paid deposit to another date during your stay whenever possible.
Regular Environmental Park Closures (“Respira Tayrona”)
Three times a year, Tayrona National Park temporarily closes to tourism for the #RespiraTayrona conservation initiative. Agreed upon between National Parks authorities and the local indigenous communities of the Sierra Nevada (Arhuaco, Kogui, Wiwa, and Kankuamo), these 15-day pauses give the ecosystem time to rest, regenerate, and allow indigenous spiritual ceremonies to take place:
- February 1 – February 15 (Kugkui Shikasa season)
- June 1 – June 15 (Saka Juso season)
- October 19 – November 2 (Nabbatashi season)
Where do we dive during park closures?
Diving in Taganga never stops! During these dates, our boat trips head to exceptional dive sites located around Taganga Bay, Santa Marta, and the marine borders just outside the park boundaries. These coastal areas share the same contiguous reef system, underwater topography, granite rock structures, and rich marine biodiversity as the park itself; you will enjoy the identical coral gardens, tropical fish, and macro life without missing out on any underwater magic.
Why Book With Ocean Lovers Taganga?
Turn Your Try Dive into a Worldwide PADI Certification
After completing the Discover Scuba Diving experience, you have the option to continue directly with the PADI Open Water Diver course and obtain your international certification. By adding only two additional days of training, you can complete the full course and pay solely the difference between the Discover Scuba Diving experience and the total Open Water course price. This is an excellent opportunity to continue your training seamlessly and become a certified diver.
| Package Options | 2 Dives, 2 Dives + 1-Night Stay, 1 Dive + 1 Snorkel, 1 Dive + 1 Snorkel + 1-Night Stay |
|---|
RELATED PRODUCTS
Digital Underwater Photography & Peak Performance Buoyancy Combo
Master buoyancy and underwater photography to capture marine life with better control, comfort, and creativity during every dive adventure.
- For:
- Certified divers
- Duration:
- 2 days
- Level:
- Open Water Certified
Price range: $ 340.000 through $ 425.000
PADI Discover Scuba Diving
No certification needed! Learn basic scuba skills in shallow water before enjoying two safe, guided dives in Tayrona with experienced PADI professionals.
- For:
- Beginners
- Duration:
- half day
- Level:
- No experience needed
$ 9.000.000
PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC)
Become a PADI Instructor in Taganga and inspire future divers worldwide. Build professional teaching skills while starting an exciting dive career abroad!
Note: PADI Instructor Examination and application fees are not included and are paid directly to PADI.
- For:
- Experienced Divemasters
- Duration:
- from 20 to 55 days
- Level:
- Divemaster (or equivalent) & 60+ dives
$ 3.950.000
PADI Divemaster Course
Turn your passion into a dive career in Taganga. Build leadership skills, assist instructors, and learn to safely guide divers as a PADI Divemaster. This 2- to 3-week program is suited for already more experienced divers who have at least 40 logged dives.
- For:
- Aspiring Dive Pro's
- Duration:
- 2-3 weeks
- Level:
- Rescue Diver Certified / 40 dives
$ 6.825.000
PADI Divemaster Advanced
Turn your passion into a dive career in Taganga while building tech-adjacent skills. Build leadership skills, assist instructors, and learn to safely guide divers as a PADI Divemaster. Ideal for divers looking to step up their technical readiness, bottom-time management, and equipment versatility.
- For:
- Aspiring Dive Pro's
- Duration:
- 4 weeks
- Level:
- Rescue Diver Certified / 40 dives
$ 6.825.000
PADI Divemaster Conservation
Turn your passion into a dive career in Taganga while conserving the environment. Build leadership skills, assist instructors, and learn to safely guide divers as a PADI Divemaster while protecting the marine ecosystems. With the marine conservation focus, you can combine professional leadership with active marine preservation alongside the area’s leader in conservation.
- For:
- Eco-conscious divers
- Duration:
- 4 weeks
- Level:
- Rescue Diver Certified / 40 dives