TRY SCUBA DIVING with a Dedicated Instructor

Your first breath underwater can change a holiday. In Las Galletas, Tenerife, this three-hour beginner session gives you a private instructor, a careful briefing, and a boat trip to a nearby dive site. I like the one-to-one attention and the fact that full equipment, insurance, photos, drinks, and a hot shower are included.

I also like the relaxed setup at the 140-square-meter diving center. You do not need to arrive with specialist gear or experience. The main consideration is the price, about $145.12 per person, which is fair for a private session with a boat ride, but higher than a basic group introduction.

Key points at a glance

• Private instruction: Your group has a dedicated instructor underwater, useful if you are nervous or trying scuba for the first time.
• A proper boat outing: The session includes transport by boat from the center to the dive site, not just a shallow shore exercise.
• Everything is supplied: Full equipment rental, insurance, drinks, hot shower, and underwater photos are part of the package.
• A spacious base: The 140-square-meter center gives you room to prepare and get comfortable before and after the session.
• A strong safety focus: The briefing comes first, and the instructor stays with you during your first underwater experience.
• Family-friendly support: One five-star account praises Julie, Ludo, and Martin for keeping children engaged while adults completed their session.

Starting at LJ Diving Tenerife in Las Galletas

You meet at LJ Diving Tenerife, at Calle Consuelo Alfonso Diaz-Flores, 16, in Las Galletas. The center is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and the activity finishes back at this same location.

Las Galletas is a practical base for a water activity. You are not asked to find a separate marina, arrange equipment pickup, or sort out transport to the coast. That simplicity matters when you are already thinking about masks, wetsuits, breathing, and whether you will manage the first few minutes underwater.

The center itself is unusually spacious for a short introductory session, with 140 square meters available before and after the activity. I see this as more than a comfort detail. New scuba participants often need time to ask basic questions, adjust equipment, and settle their nerves. A roomy base makes the start feel less rushed.

The meeting point is near public transportation. You should still check the exact route and arrival time before setting out, since the supplied details do not specify a particular bus line or parking arrangement. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability, so do not leave the reservation until the last moment if your holiday schedule is tight.

The briefing that makes the first session easier

The activity begins with an introduction at the center. This is where you learn how the equipment works, what to expect underwater, and how to communicate with your instructor. For a first session, this part is essential, not filler.

You will be handling unfamiliar items and breathing in a new way. A clear briefing gives you a chance to ask questions before you are on the boat or in the water. It also sets the pace for the session. The provider describes the goal as a meaningful first underwater experience, with no stress or hurry.

That promise is important, though you should keep your expectations realistic. A try session is not a certification course, and it is not designed to turn you into an independent scuba participant in one morning. It is a supervised introduction that lets you discover how comfortable you feel below the surface.

The private format helps here. Instead of being one person in a large beginner group, your group receives a dedicated instructor. This should make it easier to pause, ask for help, or take things slowly. It also gives the instructor a better chance to notice when you need a moment to adjust.

Getting ready with full equipment included

You do not need to bring your own scuba equipment. Full gear rental is included, which removes one of the biggest practical barriers for a first attempt.

The supplied information does not list every individual item, so I would not assume that you need to pack anything beyond normal personal essentials. The center handles the specialist equipment. Your job is mainly to arrive on time, listen carefully, and be ready for a water activity.

Insurance is also included. That does not remove the need to follow the instructor’s directions, but it is reassuring when you are paying for a first-time session rather than using your own equipment and experience.

The center includes drinks and a hot shower. These details are especially welcome after time on the water. The shower means you can warm up and change without rushing back to your accommodation, while the drinks provide a simple comfort before or after the session.

Taking the boat to the dive site

After the briefing and preparation, you travel by boat to the dive site. This adds a proper sea outing to the experience instead of limiting the session to a basic practice area beside the center.

The exact site is not named, and the schedule does not provide a fixed travel time. That means the route can depend on conditions and the day’s operating plan. You should think of the boat trip as part of the package, not as a guarantee of a particular named reef or marine attraction.

I like this format for a first attempt because it gives the session a sense of occasion. You are not simply trying equipment for a few minutes. You are heading out with an instructor, reaching the water by boat, and then making your first underwater descent under direct supervision.

The weather policy matters here. This activity requires good weather, and poor conditions can lead to a date change or a full refund. That is sensible for a boat-based outing, but it means you should keep a little flexibility in your Tenerife plans.

Your first underwater session with a dedicated instructor

The most important feature is the instructor’s presence during the underwater portion. You are accompanied throughout your first underwater experience, with the aim of keeping the session calm and controlled.

The phrase without stress or hurry tells you what this activity is trying to provide. You are not being pushed to perform quickly or keep up with a large group. If you need time to settle your breathing or understand a signal, the private format should make that easier.

The instructor also makes this a good choice for couples, families, or friends who want to try scuba together while still receiving close attention. Only your group takes part in this private activity. That does not mean every person receives a separate instructor, but it does mean you are not mixed into a large public group.

Julie, Ludo, and Martin are specifically praised for patience and for making a first session feel positive. One account describes them helping keep children engaged while the adults completed the underwater part. That is useful information for families, but I would still confirm the arrangements for children directly before booking. The supplied details do not state a minimum age or promise supervised childcare.

A German-language account also describes the staff as friendly and experienced, with a strong recommendation to book again. You should not read that as a guarantee that every session will feel exactly the same, but it supports the picture of a patient, welcoming team.

Photos that preserve the moment

Photos are included, and the instructor takes them during the session. This is a valuable addition for a first underwater experience because you may be too busy concentrating on breathing and hand signals to take pictures yourself.

The photos also give you something tangible from an activity that can otherwise be difficult to explain. You can remember the equipment, the setting, and the moment you managed to move underwater under instruction.

The listing does not specify how many photographs you receive, their quality, or how they are delivered. If the images are a major reason for booking, ask the center for those details when you confirm. I would treat the photos as a welcome extra rather than the main reason to choose this session.

What the $145.12 price really covers

At about $145.12 per person, this is not a budget beach activity. The value comes from the number of separate costs bundled into one booking: a dedicated instructor, insurance, full equipment rental, boat transport, photos, drinks, and a hot shower.

A cheaper introduction might offer basic instruction and equipment in a larger group. This session asks you to pay more for privacy and personal support. If you feel nervous about breathing underwater, that can be money well spent. A private instructor may help you enjoy the experience instead of spending the whole time worrying about slowing down a group.

The three-hour duration also gives the session room to include preparation, travel, and the underwater activity without making everything feel crammed into a short appointment. The precise amount of time underwater is not stated, so do not interpret three hours as three hours below the surface.

For an experienced scuba participant, the price may not make sense because the activity is designed for beginners. For someone who wants to try scuba once while on holiday, the all-in format is easier to compare with other activities. You do not have to add a separate equipment fee, boat fee, or photo purchase afterward.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend this experience to:

• First-time scuba participants who want close personal supervision
• Couples or friends looking for a shared challenge
• Families who want a private activity rather than a large public group
• Visitors who prefer an organized boat outing with equipment supplied
• Nervous beginners who value patience more than a fast schedule
• People who want photos of their first underwater session

It may be less suitable if you want a long, independent scuba outing, a named marine site, or a certification course. Those expectations go beyond what is described here.

The private format is also worth considering if your group contains people with different confidence levels. A dedicated instructor can make the session more adaptable, though the exact arrangement depends on the group and the center’s plan for that day.

Booking, weather, and cancellation advice

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off uses Tenerife local time.

Because weather affects the boat trip, keep your schedule flexible. If poor weather forces a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. I would place this activity early enough in your holiday that a rescheduled session is still possible.

The experience is booked, on average, 15 days ahead. That does not mean you must reserve exactly two weeks early, but it is a useful planning signal. Private activities have less spare capacity than large group outings, so advance booking is sensible during a busy Tenerife stay.

Should you book this Tenerife underwater experience?

Book it if you want a gentle, well-supported introduction to scuba and like the idea of having an instructor dedicated to your group. The included equipment, boat ride, insurance, photos, drinks, and hot shower make the $145.12 price easier to justify, especially for a first attempt.

Skip it if you are already a certified scuba participant seeking a challenging site or a longer underwater session. Also think twice if your schedule cannot handle a possible weather change.

For a beginner who wants the first experience to feel personal rather than hurried, LJ Diving Tenerife offers a sensible package. Julie, Ludo, and Martin receive especially warm praise for patience, and that quality matters more than flashy extras when you are learning to breathe underwater for the first time.

FAQ

Where does the scuba experience begin?

It begins at LJ Diving Tenerife, Calle Consuelo Alfonso Diaz-Flores, 16, 38631 Las Galletas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.

How long does the activity last?

The experience lasts approximately three hours, including the briefing, preparation, boat trip, and underwater session.

Is this activity suitable for beginners?

Yes. It is specifically designed as a first underwater experience and begins with a briefing at the diving center.

Is equipment rental included?

Yes. Full gear rental is included in the price, along with insurance, a boat trip, photos, drinks, and a hot shower.

Is this a private activity?

Yes. Only your group participates, and a dedicated instructor accompanies your group.

What happens if bad weather cancels the activity?

You are offered a different date or a full refund if poor weather causes the experience to be canceled.