PADI Courses in Greece: Our 8 Best

1.Heraklion: Beginner Scuba Diving Lesson with PADI Instructor

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

Spend 2.5 hours learning scuba basics with Petros and the CRETANDIVERS team in Agia Pelagia. After a calm, multilingual lesson and safety practice, you’ll make a supervised open-water session in clear bay waters, reaching no more than six meters. Small groups, full equipment, and hotel pickup make this a friendly first step.

“It was great and safe, the instructors were great and helped to defeat ure fears. Definitely going to come back!”

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2.Try Scuba in Crete – Free Certification & Photos (Beginners)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 51 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $144Top rated

Start with a clear beginner briefing, then enter calm Cretan waters with a certified instructor beside you. You will practice basic skills, reach about 10 meters, receive free underwater photos and an SSI Try Scuba recognition card, and return after roughly three hours. Pickup is available in the Chania area.

“Great experience. Picked up from our airbnb rental (slightly late but that didn't matter to us, we were contacted to say pick up would be late, that was the main thing). Kitted out properly. Very clear instructions during briefing from Dimitri. Driven to the beach, tanks on & off we went. My 2 sons & I had never done this before so it was a brand new & amazing experience for all of us. I'd say the half hour was just about right, for a taster session. You don't need to be a good swimmer at all (which I'm not), just comfortable in water. Overall I'd strongly recommend this to…”

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3.Padi Discover Scuba Diving

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $93

Spend about three and a half hours learning scuba skills in a quiet Halkidiki bay. A PADI-certified instructor teaches you in a group of no more than four, with equipment, water, hotel transfers, and a guided underwater session included. Emilios is among the instructors praised for calm, patient teaching.

“Calm instructions and very serious about safety ! Nice little Bay where it was easy to train. Not last time we try this”

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4.Chania:Try Scuba Diving 2shore dives(Receive Certification)

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 24 reviews · 5 hours · from $200

Meet Salty Descents in Kalyves or use shared pickup from Chania, Souda, Platanias, Kalyves, or Georgioupoli. In a group of no more than six, you’ll learn basic scuba skills, practice from shore, and make two supervised descents to 12 meters. Ioanna, George, and Younis are among the instructors praised for calm, clear teaching. Photos, video, equipment, transfers, and SSI Basic Diver Certification are included.

“Absolutely loved this! The tour guides were amazing and everything was really well organised. The actual diving was such a relaxing experience, I really didn’t want to return to land. Plenty of fish to see and we even saw an octopus. Don’t worry about not feeling safe, as long as you know how to breathe, swim and listen, you’ll be fine! 10/10 would recommend”

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5.PADI Discover Scuba Diving for Beginners at Ouranoupoli|Chalkidiki|Greece

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $108

At Athos Scuba Diving Center near Ouranoupoli, you’ll learn basic scuba equipment and safety, then spend about 45 minutes in shallow sea water. The session lasts around two hours, takes up to six people, and includes all equipment. Instructor Niki has a gift for helping nervous beginners feel at ease.

“This was one of the best experiences I have ever had. Having just learnt to swim in a pool, I did worry about my ability to cope under water especially in an open sea. But enjoyed every moment of it. Niki, the instructor, instilled so much confidence in me so much so that all my self doubts disappeared after I immersed my head under water and was able to see the beautiful floor of the sea.. with its fantastic creatures and plants. At 56 I never thought I will see these things directly with my naked eyes. I can’t wait to do more of it.”

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6.Chania Scuba Diving 2 Shore Dives(Receive Certification)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $204

Meet your instructor at Salty Descents in Kalyves or arrange pickup across the Chania region. After a safety lesson and gear fitting, you’ll make two guided 45-minute shore descents, with fruit and water between them. The small group, capped at six, includes SSI digital materials, insurance, transport, and Basic Diver certification.

“Was a great experience!! Great weather, nice spots and very good diving and snorkeling teachers! They are very motivated and they really like what they do. As well this school/company really takes their work and their responsibility very serious. So you can be sure that they teach you every important information. If you want to learn how to dive in Crete, Go there!!”

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7.Scuba Diving for Beginners with a PADI Instructor near Heraklion

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $84Best value

Spend six hours with CRETANDIVERS near Heraklion learning scuba basics, practicing in Agia Pelagia, and making a first underwater descent to six meters. A PADI instructor stays with you throughout, with equipment, transfers, water, and an optional HD photo-video session available.

“Amazing experience for our first time diving! Perfect conditions! Petro the instructor was amazing, spoke very good english and other languages! Explained everything clearly and was easy to understand! All equipment provided, good facilities and provided water while waiting! A very personalised experience in a small group of 4. Photos and videos taken which can be directly transferred to your phone. Pick up and drop off provided if requested! Petro was very kind to us! A experience we thoroughly enjoyed! Thank you!”

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8.PADI Scuba Diving Program for Beginners in Peloponesse

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $117

Meet Scuba Turtles in Marathopoli for a private 2.5-hour PADI beginner session. Your instructor explains the equipment, coaches you through safety skills in shallow water, then guides you underwater to about 9 meters when ready. Virginie and an Italian trainee have led small sessions, with English, Spanish, and Greek support.

“Activité au top pour une découverte ! De très bonnes explications et surtout beaucoup de professionnalisme de la part de Virginie qui a su encadrer un groupe de 3 personnes et sa super stagiaire Italienne d’une main de fer. Retour sur expérience : très bien ;)”

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