St Julians: Discover Scuba Diving Experience

The Mediterranean looks different from below.

This beginner-friendly scuba session gives you a careful introduction to underwater breathing, equipment, and basic skills before taking you into the sea. I especially like the patient instruction, praised by guests who worked with guides including Jackson, Nico, Mike, Iona, and Mark. I also like the practical format: a 30-minute safety briefing followed by about an hour in the water.

The main consideration is that scuba requires good physical and mental health. If you have a medical condition, recent surgery, a cold, or concerns involving your heart, lungs, ears, or sinuses, you may need medical approval before booking. You also need at least 12 hours between the session and your flight.

Key points to know before booking

• The meeting point is Divewise at the Westin Dragonara Resort, in St Julians.
• You get 30 minutes of instruction before entering the water, including equipment, hand signals, and safety procedures.
• The underwater portion lasts about one hour, with a certified instructor beside you.
• The session suits first-timers, and instructors are prepared to move at your pace rather than push you deeper.
• The cost is $106 per person, including equipment, instruction, and guided underwater exploration.
• English, Spanish, French, Italian, Afrikaans, and Polish are available.

What the $106 price really covers

At $106 per person, this is not simply an hour of swimming with a tank. You are paying for equipment, a safety lesson, supervised practice, and an instructor-led underwater outing. For a first scuba experience in Malta, that makes the price reasonable, particularly if you want to try the activity without committing to a full certification course.

The equipment included is the practical lot you need: wetsuit, fins, mask, and tank. You do not need to arrange separate rental gear, and the instructor remains with you through the session. Meals, drinks, and personal expenses are not included, so bring your own water and plan for a snack afterward if needed.

The value depends on what you want. If you already hold a certification and regularly scuba, this will probably feel introductory. If you are curious but unsure about breathing underwater, the controlled teaching and one-hour sea session give you a useful first test without the cost or time of a full course.

The experience has a rating of 4.8 from 93 reviews, and the strongest pattern is not simply excitement about seeing fish. It is confidence in the instructors. That matters here. Good equipment does little for a nervous beginner if the person beside you rushes the process.

Starting at Divewise in St Julians

You begin at Divewise, located at the Westin Dragonara Resort. The session is scheduled for 2.5 hours, although the listed activity includes about 30 minutes of safety instruction and one hour in the water. The remaining time allows for getting equipped, moving to the entry point, returning, and discussing the experience afterward.

The resort meeting point is useful if you are staying in or around St Julians. It also works well for cruise passengers based on one account, which noted a taxi ride of roughly 10 minutes from the cruise port. That timing can vary with traffic, so treat it as a helpful guide rather than a guarantee.

Arrive ready to change into swimwear and beachwear. Bring drinks, since refreshments are not supplied. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed, which is an obvious but important rule for any activity involving breathing equipment and open water.

You may be paired with other beginners, but the exact group size is not provided. Some sessions have felt almost private. One person described being the only participant with the instructor, while another family had two instructors supporting young participants. That suggests the level of personal attention can vary, but the teaching style is built around close supervision.

The first 30 minutes: safety before scenery

The safety briefing is the most important part of the experience, not a formality to hurry through. Your certified instructor explains how the equipment works, how to communicate underwater with hand signals, and what to do if water enters the mask or you need to clear the regulator.

You will learn the basic parts of the setup and practice simple procedures in shallow water or a pool-like calm area. Mask clearing and regulator procedures are specifically part of the practical work. These skills can feel awkward at first, but learning them before heading farther below the surface makes the later session much less stressful.

This is where the instructors receive their strongest praise. Jackson took time to help a returning scuba participant rebuild confidence after nine years away. Nico was praised for waiting until a first-time pair felt comfortable before moving on. Mike allowed a nervous beginner to surface several times and never pushed beyond that person’s comfort level.

That approach is exactly what you want. Scuba is not a test of courage. You need to control your breathing, understand the signals, and feel able to pause when something feels wrong. A calm instructor can make the difference between a memorable first session and a rushed one.

The briefing also gives you a chance to ask questions. If you have never worn fins or breathed from a regulator, speak up early. You are not expected to arrive knowing anything, and the session is designed for beginners.

Getting comfortable in shallow water

After the explanation, you put on the wetsuit, fins, mask, and tank. The first water work takes place in a shallow or calm setting, where the instructor can watch your technique closely.

Your immediate challenge is usually breathing through the regulator while wearing the mask. It may feel strange, especially when your body expects to breathe through your nose. The instructor helps you settle into the rhythm and adjust your position, weights, and buoyancy.

The practice is not just technical. It also lets you decide how comfortable you feel underwater. One first-time participant needed several attempts to adjust to the equipment and depth. The instructor continued patiently until the participant was ready. That is a useful reminder that your session does not need to look like someone else’s.

You may practice clearing a flooded mask, recovering the regulator, and using hand signals. The supplied information does not promise a particular number of skills or a fixed depth, so do not book this expecting a formal certification lesson. Think of it as a supervised introduction, with enough practical work to help you handle common beginner concerns.

The shallow-water stage is also the best time to mention any discomfort. A leaking mask, tight strap, loose fin, or uncomfortable tank can distract you later. Tell the instructor before continuing.

About one hour beneath the surface

Once you feel ready, the group moves below the surface for a guided underwater outing. The precise site and depth can vary, so the description of Mediterranean marine life and scenic reefs is more reliable than expecting one named attraction on every session.

The highlight is simply seeing Malta from below. You might find fish, reef scenery, and clear Mediterranean water, though the exact marine life is never guaranteed. The instructor leads the route and stays close, helping you manage your equipment and move through the underwater setting.

One particularly memorable session included a World War II shipwreck off a Maltese canal. Mark explained some local history during the journey, then guided the participant through mask and regulator practice before reaching the wreck. That sounds like an exceptional version of the outing, so treat it as a possible site rather than a standard promise.

For a first session, the underwater hour is generous. It gives you time to settle in instead of surfacing just as you begin to feel comfortable. Still, your actual time below can depend on your confidence, air use, comfort, and instructor decisions. You should not expect to remain underwater for the entire hour if you need breaks.

The instructors’ role is safety first. Mike brought one nervous participant back to the surface whenever needed, while Nico and others were praised for checking comfort before continuing. This is the right balance: you get a real underwater experience, but you are not pressured to prove anything.

What makes this a good first scuba session

The strongest feature is the human side of the teaching. I would choose this experience over a cheaper option with rushed instruction, especially if you are nervous. Names such as Iona, Nico, Jackson, Mike, Mark, Henry, and Craig appear in particularly positive accounts, but instructor assignments can change.

The multilingual staff are another practical advantage. Instruction is available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Afrikaans, and Polish. Clear communication matters when learning safety procedures, so choose the language in which you can understand instructions most easily.

The session also works for people returning to scuba after a long break. It is not only for someone who has never used a tank. Jackson’s careful refresher with a participant who had not been underwater for nine years shows that the basic lesson can help you rebuild skills without embarrassment.

Families should read the age and medical rules closely. Children under 10 cannot take part. Anyone under 18 needs parental permission, and one family successfully brought teenagers aged 12 and 14. That does not mean every young participant will react the same way, so a parent should consider comfort in water and the medical requirements before booking.

Health rules and flight timing

Scuba is not suitable for everyone. The activity requires good physical and mental health, and you should not attend if you feel ill or have a cold.

You may need a doctor’s sign-off if you answer yes to any of the medical questions. These include past or current issues involving the lungs, breathing, heart, blood, eyes, ears, sinuses, neurological health, or psychological treatment. Recent surgery, high blood pressure, epilepsy, back problems, and respiratory conditions are also listed as reasons the activity may not suit you.

Review the medical questionnaire before paying. If you need approval, arrange it before your holiday schedule becomes tight. Do not assume that feeling generally fit is enough to ignore a medical concern.

The flight rule is simple: allow at least 12 hours out of the water before flying. If this is a day trip during a short Malta visit, schedule the session well before your departure. This is one activity that should not be squeezed into the final morning before a flight.

Small practical details that improve the day

Wear swimwear under your clothing and bring beachwear for afterward. Pack water, since drinks are not included. A towel is not specifically listed, so ask Divewise before arrival if you want to confirm whether one is supplied.

I would leave spare time after the session rather than planning a tight lunch reservation. The scheduled duration is 2.5 hours, but changing, equipment handling, and the post-session discussion all take time.

After returning to Divewise, you can ask questions and talk through future scuba training. One participant received help logging the session in the PADI app and planned to continue toward open-water certification. That follow-up is useful if this experience leaves you wanting more, but the session itself is not presented as a certification.

Cancellation is flexible: you can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your weather or Malta plans are still shifting. Starting times vary, so check availability for your chosen date.

Should you book this St Julians scuba session?

Book it if you want a well-supervised first taste of scuba, especially if you are nervous, returning after a long break, or curious about Malta’s underwater world without taking a full certification course.

I would be less enthusiastic if you already have extensive scuba experience and want a demanding route, a guaranteed wreck, or a specific depth. The exact underwater site is not fixed in the information provided, and the session is built around beginners rather than advanced exploration.

For most suitable participants, the strongest reason to book is the careful pace. You get equipment, basic training, shallow-water practice, and a guided hour below the surface for $106. Check the medical requirements, leave 12 hours before your flight, and tell the instructor the moment you feel uncomfortable. Do that, and this looks like a sensible, friendly way to meet Malta from a completely different angle.

FAQ

Where does the scuba experience start?

It starts at Divewise at the Westin Dragonara Resort in St Julians, Malta.

How long does the activity last?

The scheduled duration is 2.5 hours. This includes a 30-minute safety briefing and about one hour of scuba activity, with time for equipment and the return to Divewise.

Is this suitable for complete beginners?

Yes. The session is beginner-friendly and includes an orientation, safety briefing, shallow-water practice, and guided underwater exploration with an instructor.

What equipment is included?

Scuba equipment is included, including a wetsuit, fins, mask, and tank.

Which languages are available?

Instruction is available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Afrikaans, and Polish.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, beachwear, and drinks. Meals, drinks, and personal expenses are not included.

How old must participants be?

Children under 10 cannot take part. Anyone under 18 needs permission from a parent to enroll.

Can I fly after the session?

You must allow at least 12 hours out of the water before flying.

Do I need medical approval?

If you answer yes to any of the listed medical questions, you may need a doctor’s sign-off before taking part. The activity requires good physical and mental health.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve the activity and pay later.