The 8 Best Scuba Diving in Crete

1.Scuba Diving Experience for Beginners _Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 549 reviews · 3 - 6 hours · from $81Our pick

Learn basic scuba skills with a certified instructor before entering the clear waters of Mononaftis Beach. You will use full equipment, spend up to 45 minutes underwater with close supervision, and explore shallow rock formations and local fish. Hotel pickup is available from selected Crete resorts.

“Extremely funny and very safe experience: your personal guide follows you in the water, making you feel always safe and protected. I definitely recommend it”

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2.Beginner Scuba Diving Lesson with PADI Instructor

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 355 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $88

Learn scuba basics with Petros and the CRETANDIVERS team, then enter Agia Pelagia Bay for a carefully supervised first sea session. Small groups, multilingual instruction, full equipment, and hotel pickup make this a friendly choice for beginners, including nervous swimmers and children aged 10 and older.

“I can't recommend this experience enough! It is absolutely amazing. We went with our 2 children 10 and 13, and Petros and his colleague were so patient and good with them. I was able to enjoy my time scuba diving as I knew the children were in good hands also. We were so nervous but Petros puts you completely at ease. The area is also beautiful. We wish we could come and do it again!”

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3.Scuba Diving Experience for First-Timers

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 203 reviews · 6 hours · from $82

Spend about 45 minutes learning scuba basics, then up to 45 minutes underwater at Ligaria with a licensed instructor. Small groups, full equipment, multilingual guidance, and optional transfers from Heraklion, Agia Pelagia, and nearby resorts make this a friendly first try.

“Total duration is probably 5 hours. start was 10:00, and then there was a 30 min drive to the beach , got in the water at 12 and out at 1:40pm (dive length depended on how much air you breathed in or how much is left in tank). . There was not a lot in the water by scuba diving means,but there wasnt nothing either,lots of small fish and plants to see, especiall if you go to the full 9 metres, just dont accidentally kick the instructor like we did! The instructor George was very patient with us (both beginners) and explained all the procedures and safety protocols several times.…”

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4.Scuba Diving for Beginners

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 148 reviews · from $112

Meet PADI instructors at Almyrida for a 25-minute lesson, then enter the Aegean from a nearby beach for a supervised 8-meter scuba session. Small groups, close instructor support, hotel pickup, insurance, and free photos make this a friendly first underwater experience.

“Amazing activity with super nice and friendly guides. Very professional and reassuring as well, it was a pleasure to have our first diving with them. The spot was also lovely with many fishes that we could observe!”

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5.Scuba Diving for Beginners

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 103 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $145Top rated

You’ll learn basic scuba skills with a PADI instructor, then spend up to 45 minutes underwater at about 8 meters. Groups are capped at eight, with one instructor for every two people. Hotel pickup in the Chania region, full equipment, insurance, and underwater photos are included.

“This was an excellent excursion! I've never been scuba diving before and the team went over everything I needed to know, answered all of my questions, and got me outfitted in all the gear and made sure it fit well. Once we went on the dive they were there every step of the way, assisting with the dive itself and showing us cool underwater life (we saw three lionfish and got to hold a sea urchin!). This was a fantastic way to experience scuba diving for the first time, and now I want to sign up for a real certification course!”

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6.Experience Scuba Diving in Heraklion Crete

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 80 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $119

Spend about five hours learning scuba skills with Horizon Diving near Heraklion. Yiannis, Chris, Sarah, and the team provide patient instruction, equipment, shallow-water practice, and a guided underwater outing at Mononaftis Beach. Hotel pickup, photos, and small groups make this a smooth first experience.

“Yiannis was fantastic! He was very thoughtful with all the gear, the preparations for diving, his instruction beforehand and during the dive! Amazing experience!”

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7.Chania: Snorkeling & Scuba Dive for Beginners by Boat

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 77 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $181

Join Chania Diving Center for a four-hour boat trip to the Blue Cave and an open-water site. Instructor Basil, Jarrod, Yannis, and others guide beginners to 9 to 10 meters, while nondivers snorkel nearby. Gear, insurance, snacks, and underwater photos are included.

“A wonderful experience! Basil and Jared were wonderful instructors for first timers. They made us feel safe the entire time and it was a once in a lifetime experience!”

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8.Try Scuba Diving For Beginners (1 dive)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · 4 - 5 hours · from $116

At Mononaftis Beach near Heraklion, you learn basic scuba skills in shallow water before making one supervised underwater trip. Horizon Diving provides equipment, snacks, and nearby hotel transport. English, Greek, German, and French support is available, with groups limited to eight.

“Pünktlich am Hotel abgeholt, super Vorbereitung auf den Tauchgang. Für den Schnupperkurs wirklich toll durchgeführt. Sehr zu empfehlen! Tolles Wetter, sehr gute Sicht unter Wasser, ein super Erlebnis!”

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