St Julians: Discover Scuba Diving Experience

The most memorable part of this St Julians experience is the moment you start breathing underwater and see Malta from a completely different angle. You learn the basics with a certified instructor, practise in calm, shallow water, then head below the surface to look for Mediterranean marine life and reefs.

I like the patient teaching and the careful approach to safety. I also like that the session works for both total beginners and people returning to scuba after several years. Instructors such as Jackson, Iona, Nico, Mike, and Mark are praised for explaining each step clearly and allowing people to move at their own pace.

The main consideration is that scuba requires good physical and mental health. If you answer yes to any medical question, you may need written approval from a doctor, and you must leave at least 12 hours between the session and a flight.

Key points before you book

• A real beginner lesson: You learn equipment, hand signals, breathing, and basic safety before entering open water.
• About one hour underwater: The main session takes place in St Julians after shallow-water practice.
• Patient, individual support: Instructors are expected to stay close, repeat skills, and let you stop or surface when needed.
• A Malta meeting point: You start and finish at Divewise, located at the Westin Dragonara Resort.
• A useful first step: You can ask about future training, including progressing toward an open-water qualification.
• Plan around your flight: You must not fly within 12 hours after scuba activity.

Your first underwater experience in St Julians

This is a compact introduction to scuba rather than a full certification course. In roughly two and a half hours, you receive an orientation, put on the equipment, practise essential skills, and spend about an hour exploring underwater with direct instructor support.

That format suits you if the idea of scuba sounds exciting but you are not ready to commit to several days of training. You get enough instruction to understand the basics, but the session stays focused on comfort and discovery rather than technical theory.

The setting also helps. St Julians is one of Malta’s easiest places for visitors to reach, and Divewise operates from the Westin Dragonara Resort. One person described reaching the site in about 10 minutes by taxi from the cruise port, though you should arrange your own transport unless your booking specifically says otherwise.

The cost is $106 per person. That is not a bargain-basement activity, but it includes the instructor, equipment, safety lesson, shallow-water training, and guided underwater exploration. For a first scuba experience in Malta, the value is strongest if you want a properly supervised introduction rather than simply hiring equipment or joining a large, rushed outing.

The 30-minute safety briefing at Divewise

Your session begins with a briefing at Divewise. This is where the instructor explains how the equipment works, how to communicate underwater, and what to do if you feel uncomfortable.

Expect to cover the mask, fins, tank, and breathing equipment. You will also learn hand signals, since normal conversation is impossible below the surface. Basic procedures include clearing water from your mask and recovering or managing the regulator, the mouthpiece that supplies air.

This opening lesson matters more than it may sound. New scuba users often worry about breathing through the equipment, controlling their movement, or dealing with a mask that fills with water. Practising those actions before heading farther out gives you something familiar to fall back on.

The instructors appear to take this part seriously. Jackson helped one returning participant rebuild confidence after nine years away from scuba, while Iona was praised for making the practical exercises simple and clear. Mike was especially careful with a nervous first-timer who needed to surface several times.

That kind of patience is a major strength. You are not expected to perform like an experienced scuba user after a short briefing. If you need a slower pace, say so. The supplied information makes clear that your instructor remains with you throughout the underwater portion.

Shallow-water practice before the main session

After the briefing, you put on a wetsuit, fins, mask, and tank. The skills practice takes place in a pool or a calm, shallow part of the sea, depending on the conditions and the day’s plan.

This is the most important part for nervous beginners. You can get used to breathing underwater while your feet are still close to the bottom. You practise moving with the fins, adjusting to the weight of the equipment, and handling simple problems with the mask and regulator.

Buoyancy can take a little time to understand. The tank and wetsuit change how your body floats, and small movements can make you rise or sink. One first-time participant needed extra time to work out weights and buoyancy, and the instructor did not rush the process.

I like that the training is practical rather than overloaded with classroom detail. You learn the actions you are most likely to need during this session. You also get a chance to decide how comfortable you feel before going farther.

If you panic, feel unwell, or simply do not want to continue, tell the instructor. The experience is designed around controlled progress, not pressure. That is particularly useful for children and teenagers old enough to participate, although anyone under 18 needs parent permission.

About one hour exploring Malta below the surface

Once you feel ready, you move on to the main underwater session, which lasts about an hour. Your instructor stays close, helps with navigation, and watches your comfort and breathing.

The exact underwater route can vary. The experience description refers to Mediterranean marine life and scenic reefs, while one participant had the chance to see a World War II shipwreck off a Maltese canal. You should treat the wreck as a possible highlight, not a guaranteed feature of every session.

The underwater scenery is the main reason to book. Malta is well known for clear sea conditions and accessible coastal sites, and this activity gives you a guided look at marine life rather than keeping you at the water’s edge. You might see fish, reef formations, and other features of the local seabed, depending on the location and visibility.

The session is not presented as an advanced wreck or reef expedition. You are there to learn, practise, and enjoy being underwater. That makes it a better match for a first attempt than for an experienced scuba user seeking a challenging route or a specific species.

One particularly useful detail is that instructors allow you to surface when needed. Mike supported a beginner who came up several times and continued only when the participant felt ready. That is exactly the sort of support you want when your breathing and senses are adjusting to a new environment.

Instructors who focus on comfort

The strongest pattern in this experience is the quality of instruction. Different sessions may have different guides, but several names appear in the feedback: Jackson, Henry, Iona, Nico, Mike, Mark, Sam, Yarik, and Craig.

You should not assume a particular instructor will lead your session. Still, the repeated emphasis on clear explanations, patience, and close supervision gives you a useful picture of the teaching style.

Nico was praised for waiting until everyone felt completely comfortable before moving ahead. Mark added local context during the journey to the water, including information about Malta and the wreck site. Craig was described as both funny and encouraging, which can make technical instruction feel less formal.

This is especially valuable because scuba confidence is personal. One person may be ready to descend quickly, while another may need several attempts to clear a mask or settle into the breathing rhythm. A good instructor adapts to that difference instead of treating the group like a class moving on a strict timetable.

The language choice is another practical advantage. Instruction is available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Afrikaans, and Polish. You should select the language you understand best, since safety instructions need to be completely clear.

Who will get the most from this session

This activity is aimed at beginners aged 10 and above, with parent permission required for anyone under 18. It also suits adults returning to scuba after a long break, provided they meet the health requirements.

I would recommend it if you:

• Have never used scuba equipment before
• Want a guided introduction without signing up for a full certification course
• Feel curious about Malta’s marine life and reefs
• Prefer a calm, instructor-led pace
• Want to test your comfort before pursuing further training

It is less suitable if you already hold extensive scuba experience and want a long, deep, technical, or specialist session. The emphasis here is learning the basics and enjoying a controlled underwater outing.

It is also not suitable for people with certain medical conditions. The restrictions include heart, respiratory, back, or blood pressure problems, epilepsy, recent surgery, a cold, and other pre-existing conditions. If you have any concern, review the medical questionnaire before booking and ask your doctor when required.

Do not treat a cold as a minor inconvenience. Ear and sinus problems can make pressure changes painful or unsafe. If you feel ill on the day, do not go into the water.

What to bring and what the price covers

Bring swimwear, beachwear, and drinks. Meals and personal expenses are not included, so eat and arrange refreshments separately according to your schedule.

Divewise supplies the scuba equipment, including the wetsuit, fins, mask, and tank. The price also includes the orientation, safety briefing, shallow-water practice, and guided underwater exploration with a certified instructor.

At $106, the cost makes most sense when you value instruction and supervision. You are paying for more than time in the water. You are also paying for equipment fitting, safety preparation, skills practice, and an instructor who stays involved throughout the session.

The activity lasts 2.5 hours, but only about 30 minutes is assigned to the formal safety briefing and about one hour to the main scuba session. The remaining time allows for changing, equipment preparation, moving to the water, and returning to Divewise. Do not schedule another tightly timed activity immediately afterward.

The booking terms are helpful for holiday planning. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately. Availability and start times vary, so check the schedule before building the session into your day.

Flight timing and other safety details

The 12-hour no-fly rule is easy to overlook. You must allow at least 12 hours between the scuba session and your flight, so this is not a good choice on the last morning of a holiday if you are heading straight to the airport.

You should also avoid alcohol and drugs before the activity. The restriction is sensible, since clear judgment, balance, and communication matter underwater.

The medical rules may require more planning than the short duration suggests. If you answer yes to any of the listed health questions, you may need medical sign-off from a doctor. The concerns include previous problems with the lungs, breathing, heart, blood, eyes, ears, sinuses, neurological health, or mental health, along with recent surgery.

These rules are not a reason to dismiss the activity. They are a reminder that even a beginner session involves pressure changes, breathing equipment, and physical exertion. Read the medical questions honestly before paying.

Is this St Julians scuba session worth booking?

I would book this if you want a friendly, carefully supervised first step into scuba and you can spare half a day around the session. The teaching approach, language choices, equipment, and patient support make the $106 fee reasonable for a beginner experience in Malta.

The best reason to choose it is the instructor attention. Beginners are allowed to repeat skills, surface, ask questions, and proceed only when ready. The possible sight of a reef, marine life, or even a World War II wreck adds real interest, though the exact underwater sights can change.

I would skip it if you have a medical issue that has not been cleared, a cold, a flight within 12 hours, or a strong preference for a specialist or advanced scuba outing. For everyone else, this is a practical way to find out if breathing underwater feels thrilling or simply not for you.

FAQ

Where does the scuba session start?

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

How long does the experience last?

The full activity lasts about 2.5 hours. The safety briefing takes about 30 minutes, and the main scuba session lasts about one hour.

Is this suitable for someone who has never tried scuba?

Yes. The session is beginner-friendly and includes an introduction to equipment, hand signals, safety procedures, and basic skills practice in shallow water before the underwater exploration.

What 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 in the activity price.

Can I fly after the session?

You must wait at least 12 hours after scuba activity before flying. Plan your booking around that requirement.