City of Side: Scuba Diving Underwater Museum with Pickup

Clear water, calm guides, and a long day at sea. This Side scuba tour gives you two guided underwater sessions, hotel pickup, equipment, instruction, lunch, and insurance for $47 per person. I especially like the one-on-one help in the water and the chance to see part of Side’s underwater museum, though the actual depth and quality of the second session can vary.

I also like the simple transport plan. A vehicle collects you from your hotel and returns you later, so you avoid arranging a taxi to the port. The main caution is that this is an eight-hour boat outing, not eight hours below the surface. You may spend a lot of time waiting, swimming, or relaxing between the two 20-minute sessions.

Key points to know before you go

• Two underwater sessions of about 20 minutes each: The first is generally the more substantial descent, while the second may be shallower.
• One-on-one support can make beginners comfortable: Instructors explain breathing, equipment, and hand signals before you enter the water.
• Side’s underwater museum is not guaranteed in full: You may see part of it, depending on the location chosen that morning.
• Hotel pickup covers Side: Wait at your hotel’s main security gate 10 minutes early, since the driver waits only five minutes.
• Lunch is included, but drinks are not: The meal includes chicken, pasta, and salad. Carry cash for drinks and optional media.
• The outing suits adults and older teens: Anyone under 15 and pregnant women cannot take part.

What the $47 price really covers

At $47, this is a fairly good-value introduction to scuba activity in Side, especially if you are staying at a hotel outside the town center. The fee includes hotel transport, equipment, instruction, insurance, lunch, and two water sessions. Those inclusions remove several costs that can quickly add up on a boat outing.

I would not judge the price by the number of hours underwater. The two scheduled sessions total about 40 minutes, and the rest of the day includes road transport, safety instruction, moving between locations, lunch, and time on the boat. You are paying for a full organized day at sea, with staff and equipment, rather than a short private lesson.

The value is strongest for a first-time participant who wants to try scuba without committing to a multi-day course. You get a chance to breathe through the equipment, practice basic signals, and enter the water with an instructor nearby. If you already have substantial scuba experience, the short sessions and uncertain depths may feel less impressive for the price.

Bring cash. Drinks are excluded, and one participant was charged for a drink offered with lunch. Photos and videos are also sold separately, with one recent price given as €50 for the media package. A deeper second session was offered to one person for an additional €20, so ask clearly about any extra charge before agreeing.

Morning pickup from your Side hotel

The day begins with hotel pickup in a comfortable vehicle. You need to wait at the main security gate 10 minutes before the scheduled time. This small detail matters at large resort hotels, where finding the correct entrance can take longer than expected.

The driver waits no more than five minutes after the planned pickup time. I would keep your phone handy and avoid sitting deep inside the hotel lobby. The included return ride is useful because the day ends back at the port, and arranging a taxi after a full day in swimwear and wet towels is not ideal.

The exact starting time depends on availability. The full outing lasts about eight hours, so keep the day free rather than trying to fit in another major activity afterward. The listed instructor languages are English and Russian.

Meeting the instructors at the port

At the port, you meet the scuba team and receive the equipment. The briefing covers the main safety rules, how to use the breathing equipment, and the underwater hand signals used to communicate.

This is the part I would take seriously, even if you are excited to get into the water. Ask about equalizing pressure, what to do if your mask fills with water, and how to signal that you want to return to the surface. The instructors demonstrate breathing through the equipment before the boat heads out, giving you a chance to discover how it feels while you are still on deck.

The staff received particularly strong praise for being friendly, patient, and safety-focused. Hashmet was specifically praised for giving a clear briefing. Another useful detail is that some participants were accompanied one-on-one by an instructor in the water, which can make a major difference if you feel nervous.

Do not confuse this with a certification course. You receive an orientation for the day’s activity, not a scuba license. Your comfort and participation depend on following the instructor’s directions.

The first 20-minute underwater session

The boat travels to the first location selected by the instructors that morning. The exact site is not fixed, since conditions and group needs help determine where the boat stops. This means you should expect some variation from one outing to the next.

The first session is usually the more interesting one. A recent participant described reaching about eight meters and seeing part of the underwater museum, along with fish. The clear Mediterranean water can give you good visibility, although the quality of what you see depends on the site, weather, and how the group is managed.

Side is known for its large underwater museum, with submerged sculptures and displays designed to be viewed below the surface. Still, you should set your expectations carefully. You may see only part of the museum, and the specific exhibits are not guaranteed. One person completed the outing without seeing the museum at all, while another saw a section of it at around eight meters.

The first session may also include photographs and video taken by the crew. That can be a nice souvenir, but remember that it is not included in the booking price. Some participants felt the camera work was a major part of the first session, so ask whether the photographer will be near you and what the media costs before entering the water.

The advertised duration is 20 minutes, but actual time in the water can feel shorter. One account described the first water period as about 10 minutes, largely focused on taking pictures. That may reflect how the particular group was handled, but it is a useful warning not to expect a long independent swim.

Lunch, swimming, and waiting on the boat

After the first session, lunch is served aboard. The meal is simple: sautéed chicken, pasta, and salad. It is designed to fill you up after the morning activity, not to be a special culinary event.

The meal was described as hot, tasty, and filling, which is exactly what I would want on a boat day. Drinks cost extra, so ask the price before accepting anything offered with lunch. Carrying cash is sensible for drinks and optional photos.

There is also time to swim around the boat and relax on deck. For some people, this is a pleasant part of the day. You can dry off, enjoy the sea, and watch other members of the group take their turn.

For others, the waiting may be the biggest drawback. One participant spent more than three hours on the boat while the rest of the group completed their sessions. The boat may move to another location for lunch, and the schedule can feel slow if you came mainly for underwater activity.

I would bring a towel, swimwear, and a layer to wear when you are wet and sitting in the breeze. The supplied information specifically recommends swimwear, a towel, and cash. It does not list food restrictions, so ask the provider directly if you have dietary needs.

The second session can be much shallower

The boat then moves to a different location for the second underwater session. The stated plan is another 20 minutes, with the possibility of seeing reefs, wrecks, and fish.

In practice, the second session seems less consistent than the first. One participant reached about three meters and saw fish and part of the underwater setting. Another described the activity as very shallow, without fins, and lasting only about five minutes. That person felt it was more like crawling across the sand in scuba equipment than a full underwater tour.

This does not mean every second session will be disappointing. A participant who paid an extra €20 per person for a deeper option found the additional underwater life worthwhile. The important point is to ask what the standard second session includes, how deep it will be, and whether a deeper alternative is available before you agree to pay more.

The second location can be useful for building confidence. A shallow session lets a nervous beginner practice breathing and movement without the pressure of a deeper descent. If you are looking for serious exploration of wrecks or reefs, however, the standard program may not meet your expectations.

What the underwater museum adds

Side’s underwater museum is the tour’s most distinctive feature. Rather than looking only at natural sea life, you may encounter sculptures and other submerged displays arranged as an underwater attraction. The clear water helps you see the objects, fish, and seabed around them.

The word may matters here. The site is chosen by the instructors on the day, and not every participant reaches the same part of the museum. Another diving company may also be using the area, which can affect where your group goes.

I would book this for the possibility of seeing the museum, not as a guarantee that you will tour the entire collection. If the museum is your main reason for booking, confirm the current route and access with Payless Turizm before paying.

Safety and comfort for first-time participants

The strongest feature of this outing is the staff support. The briefing explains how to breathe, how to use the equipment, and how to communicate underwater with hand signs. Instructors also accompany participants in the water, and the insurance is included.

That structure makes the activity approachable if you have never used scuba equipment. You can ask questions before entering the water, test the breathing system, and signal if you are uncomfortable. The staff were repeatedly described as friendly and helpful, with Hashmet receiving particular praise for the safety explanation.

You still need to be honest about your comfort level. Tell the instructor if you feel anxious, struggle with the equipment, or do not want a deeper session. Do not allow the promise of photographs or the excitement of the group to push you beyond what feels safe.

The activity is prohibited for children under 15. Pregnant women cannot participate. The supplied information does not give a maximum age, medical clearance rule, or accessibility detail, so ask the operator directly if any of those points apply to you.

Photos, videos, and extra costs

The crew takes official photographs and videos during the underwater sessions. You can view them at the port and buy them afterward. These can be valuable if you want proof of the experience, since it is difficult to take your own camera while managing scuba equipment.

The cost is not included. A recent price was €50 for the photos, which is a significant extra against a $47 booking. Decide before the tour whether you actually want the media package, and ask whether the price covers both photos and video.

Drinks are also extra. Since lunch is served on the boat, it is easy to accept a beverage without thinking about the bill. Keep cash available, but ask for the price first.

Who will enjoy this Side boat outing?

I think this suits you best if you meet several of these conditions:

• You are at least 15 years old and want a first taste of scuba.
• You value hotel transport and do not want to arrange a port transfer.
• You are happy with a relaxed boat day between two short water sessions.
• You like the idea of seeing fish and possibly part of the underwater museum.
• You are comfortable paying extra for photos, videos, drinks, or a deeper second session.

I would hesitate if you want a full day of serious scuba activity, long underwater periods, or a guaranteed museum route. The large group format can mean waiting, and the second session may be very shallow.

Booking details and practical preparation

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible. Check the available start times before booking because the tour occupies roughly eight hours.

Wear swimwear and bring a towel. Bring cash for drinks, photos, and any optional deeper session. I would also take a dry change of clothes for the ride back to your hotel.

The tour includes full insurance, equipment, training, lunch, and hotel pickup and drop-off. It does not include drinks or the DVD and media package. The instructor languages are English and Russian.

Should you book this tour?

Book it if you want an affordable, organized introduction to scuba near Side, with supportive instructors and the chance to see fish and part of the underwater museum. The friendly staff, included transport, and clear safety briefing give beginners a solid starting point.

Think twice if the underwater museum is your only goal, or if you expect two substantial underwater sessions. The first session may be rewarding, but the second can be shallow and brief, while the waiting time may take up much of the day.

For most first-timers, I see this as a pleasant sea outing with a real underwater component, not a specialist scuba expedition. At $47, it offers good value if you enjoy the boat time and understand what is included. Ask about the museum route, second-session depth, drink prices, and media costs before you go, and you will have a much clearer idea of the day you are buying.

FAQ

How long does the Side scuba tour last?

The activity lasts about eight hours, including hotel transport, instruction, boat travel, lunch, two underwater sessions, and the return transfer.

How many underwater sessions are included?

Two sessions are included, each advertised at about 20 minutes.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included for hotels in Side. Wait at the main security gate 10 minutes before the scheduled pickup time.

How long will the driver wait?

The driver will wait no longer than five minutes after the scheduled pickup time.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes sautéed chicken, pasta, and salad.

Are drinks included?

No. Drinks are not included, so bring cash if you want to buy one.

Is scuba equipment included?

Yes. The equipment and training service are included in the price.

Are photos and videos included?

No. The crew takes photos and videos, but you can preview and purchase them at the port for an additional cost.

Can children take part?

Children under 15 cannot participate.

Is the activity suitable for pregnant women?

No. Pregnant women are not permitted to take part.