You have two ways to start. An SDI Scuba Discovery dive takes one morning: you practise in the pool at Novotel, then dive at Grande Island with an SDI-certified instructor next to you the whole time. There is no swim test.
A course takes 2 to 4 days and gives you a diving card for life. With the Open Water card you can dive anywhere in the world.
No card and no swim test. Every SDI Scuba Discovery dive includes a 1:1 SDI-certified instructor, pool practice, full equipment, the boat from Candolim, snacks, HD photos and video, and ₹10 Lakh insurance.
Your first 20 minutes underwater. Pool practice at Novotel first, then a guided dive at Grande Island.
Twice the time underwater: reef, tropical fish and the shipwreck. Your dive is registered with SDI.
Two 20-minute dives in one morning, with a rest on the boat in between. Good for nervous first-timers.
Two 40-minute dives, the wreck and a coral reef. Buffet dinner at Novotel and a free FlyingFish T-shirt.
Build one booking: some of you try scuba, some dive twice, some snorkel. From ₹2,970 per diver.
A course gives you a diving licence: a card that never expires. You start from zero. Your instructor teaches you in the pool first, then in the sea at Grande Island.
Scuba Diver takes 2 days and lets you dive to 12 m with a professional. Open Water takes 3 to 4 days and lets you dive to 18 m with a buddy, without a guide.
Both cards are accepted at dive centres around the world, and both let you dive to the same depth. With us, the SSI course costs less.
For a course, you should be comfortable in water. If you are not sure, start with an SDI Scuba Discovery dive, or message us and ask.
The full diving licence. Dive to 18 m with a buddy at any dive centre in the world. 5 pool sessions and 4 ocean dives. Free FlyingFish T-shirt.
A real SSI card in 2 days. Dive to 12 m with a dive professional. Upgrade to Open Water later, and your dives carry over.
Do the theory and pool training at an SSI centre near home. Then come to Goa for your 4 Open Water ocean dives.
The same Open Water level with a PADI card: eLearning, 5 pool sessions and 4 ocean dives at Grande Island. Free FlyingFish T-shirt.
Each bundle starts with Open Water, so you can book it with no experience. Adding a second course costs less than booking it on its own. Every bundle comes with a free FlyingFish T-shirt.
| Bundle | What you get | Price per person | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Water + Nitrox | 2 SSI certifications | Book | |
| Open Water + Perfect Buoyancy | 2 SSI certifications | Book | |
| Open Water + Perfect Buoyancy + Nitrox | 3 SSI certifications | Book | |
| Open Water + Advanced Open Water | 2 SSI certifications, 9 dives | Book | |
| Open Water + Nitrox + Advanced Open Water | 3 SSI certifications | Book | |
| PADI Open Water + Nitrox | 2 PADI certifications | Book | |
| PADI Open Water + Advanced | 2 PADI certifications | Book |
All prices + GST. Specialty and advanced courses are on the full price list.
Snorkelling at Grande Island: same boat, same reef, from the surface. ₹1,980 + GST per person.
Compare the four ways to start. Every option is open to people who have never dived.
| Compare | SDI Scuba DiscoverySee 4 options | SSI Scuba DiverSee course | Open Water courseSSI or PADI | SnorkellingFor non-divers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time needed | One morning, or a full day for two dives | 2 days | 3 to 4 days | Half a day |
| How deep | Up to 9 m, with your instructor | Up to 12 m, with a dive professional | Up to 18 m, with a buddy | At the surface |
| Do I get a card? | No licence. Your dive is registered with SDI | Yes, an SSI Scuba Diver card | Yes, a card that never expires | No |
| Swimming | No swim test | Be comfortable in water | Be comfortable in water | Not needed |
| Best for | Trying scuba once on holiday | Getting a real card when you are short on time | Diving again on future trips, in Goa or abroad | Family or friends who don't want to dive |
| Price per person | From ₹2,970 | ₹17,820 | ₹1,980 |
All prices + GST. Full list on our scuba diving price list for Goa.
All food and drinks are provided by Novotel Resort & Spa, Candolim. Times can move by about 15 minutes.
Park inside the resort and come to the hotel lobby. Fill out forms and meet your dive instructor.
Learn about the dive plan, equipment, and essential underwater safety signals.
Learn breathing techniques, buoyancy control, and underwater communication in the pool.
Refreshments at Novotel Resort & Spa. Settle final payments.
A boat ride out with snacks and juices, and you'll often spot dolphins on the way.
Explore a 1940s British-era wreck that starts at about 5 m, within the 9 m limit. Spot angelfish, parrotfish, pufferfish, snappers, and butterflyfish.
Enjoy snorkeling and stand-up paddleboarding from the boat.
Discover colorful coral reefs with nudibranchs, eels, rays, and occasionally turtles. (40+40 package only)
Relax on the scenic boat ride back to the mainland.
Receive your HD underwater photos and videos via shareable link. For half-day packages (Scuba 20 & Scuba 40), photos are typically delivered within 3 hours of your return. For the full-day Scuba 40+40, delivery is by 6 PM.
Doing a course? Course days follow their own plan over 2 to 4 days. See the SSI Open Water course page for how it works.
One dedicated instructor just for you throughout the entire dive.
You don't need to be a strong swimmer. Your instructor checks you're comfortable in the pool first, then handles everything.
Pool training & snacks at Novotel Resort, Candolim. (Buffet dinner included in the 40+40 package.)
HD underwater photos and video included with every SDI Scuba Discovery dive, taken by our underwater photographer.
Wear it underneath your clothes. All diving equipment is provided by us.
Valid government-issued photo ID is required for all participants.
Bring a towel and change of clothes. Changing rooms available at Novotel.
Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a cap for the boat ride.
We have masks with prescription options. Mention this when booking.
No loose jewellery. Leave valuables at your hotel.
Here's what our guests have written on Google and TripAdvisor.
Book an SDI Scuba Discovery dive for this trip, or start your Open Water course. We leave daily from Novotel, Candolim, and our team confirms your booking soon after you book.
