Scuba Diving Albufeira-Double Dive Trip

The best part of this Albufeira outing is simple: you reach two coastal sites by boat, rather than hauling gear along the shore. After a check-in, equipment setup, and safety briefing, you get two guided sessions, each limited by time or tank pressure. Fernando and Matias have worked with both experienced and newly certified participants, and Captain João runs the boat.

I like the small maximum group of 10 and the practical finish: hot showers, bottled water, and help filling in your logbook. I also like that you can bring your own equipment to save time and avoid the €20 rental charge. The main caution is the marine setting itself. Visibility, water temperature, and sea conditions can vary, and one account found the water around 15°C with visibility near 5 meters.

Key points before you book

• Two boat-based sessions from Albufeira Marina: You visit a first site, return to the boat, then continue to a second location.
• For certified participants only: You need at least Open Water certification, swimming ability, and a completed health questionnaire.
• Two generous time limits: The first session lasts up to 55 minutes or until 60 bar, while the second lasts up to 50 minutes or 60 bar.
• Rental gear costs €20 extra: Tanks and weights are included, but the suit, regulator, mask, gloves, boots, and fins are not.
• A compact group of no more than 10: That gives the guide a better chance to keep an eye on different experience levels.
• Hot showers and logbook support afterward: The trip ends where it starts, at Easydivers Portugal in the marina.

Two coastal sites in one four-hour morning

This is a half-day boat trip built around two underwater sessions, not a sightseeing cruise with a quick swim tacked on. You meet at Easydivers Portugal at Albufeira Marina at 8:30 a.m., complete the paperwork, prepare your kit, and then head out with the crew.

The total time is about four hours. That includes check-in, equipment preparation, the boat ride, two sessions, briefings between them, and the return to the marina. You should keep the rest of your morning fairly open, since the exact timing will depend on sea conditions and the pace of the group.

The boat is the useful part of the plan. It gives you access to sites away from the marina and makes the transfer easier for anyone carrying a full set of gear. After the first session, you stay with the boat while the crew explains the next location and reviews the previous one. You do not need to return to shore between sessions.

Check-in at Easydivers Portugal

At the start, you present your diver certificate and complete an RTCW form and medical questionnaire. This is routine international procedure, but do not treat it as a formality to rush through. Some health conditions, including asthma and heart problems, may prevent you from taking part, so consult a doctor before booking if you have any concern.

You also need to know how to swim. The activity is not for children under 10 or under 1.40 meters in height, and pregnant participants cannot take part for safety reasons. The minimum certification level is Open Water.

Once the paperwork is done, the staff assign equipment and help you prepare it. If you bring your own kit, this stage should be quicker. If you rent, allow for the extra €20 charge at check-in. That fee covers the suit, regulator, mask, gloves, boots, and fins. Tanks and weights are already included in the advertised price.

The operation appears geared toward practical help rather than a rushed handoff. The shop staff assist with the forms, equipment, and later logbook details. This matters if you are certified but have not been underwater for a while, or if you are still getting used to a new computer.

What happens on the boat and at the first site

You head out from the marina with the professional crew and receive a site briefing before entering the water. The briefing should cover the plan, conditions, descent and return procedures, and how the group will stay together. You should listen closely, especially if you are unfamiliar with local conditions.

The first session can last up to 55 minutes or until your tank reaches 60 bar, whichever comes first. That is a useful limit because it gives you enough time to settle in and look around without turning the morning into a long single outing.

The marine life described from one session included octopus, conger eels, moray eels, cuttlefish, crabs, and a ray, all at a maximum depth of 12 meters. That is an encouraging range of sightings, but you should keep expectations sensible. Other accounts describe the fish life as pleasant rather than especially varied, and the reef may feel modest compared with famous warm-water sites.

Conditions are a real part of the equation. One report noted water at about 15°C and visibility around 5 meters. That can still make for an enjoyable session, especially when a guide points out smaller creatures, but it is not tropical water. Pack your expectations around Portugal’s coast, not a coral reef holiday.

The second session keeps the morning worthwhile

After returning to the boat, the crew holds a debrief about the first session and explains the second site. This pause gives you a chance to discuss anything that felt unfamiliar, adjust equipment, and think through your air use before going back in.

The second session has a maximum of 50 minutes or 60 bar. The slightly shorter limit is still ample for a second look at the coast, and the change of location adds variety to a morning that could otherwise feel repetitive.

I especially like the built-in review between the two sessions. An experienced participant may use it to discuss a computer setting or refine buoyancy. Someone newly certified can ask questions while the details are fresh. Guides Fernando and Matias have been noted for offering individual tips and helping less confident people feel at ease in open water.

That said, the guide cannot control what you see. The sites, visibility, and fish activity change with weather and sea conditions. You may see an octopus or ray, but the trip should not be booked on the promise of a particular animal.

Guides, boat crew, and the feel of the operation

The human side is one of the strongest reasons to consider this outing. Fernando and Matias are named as guides, and Captain João handles the boat. The crew’s duties are clear: the guides focus on safety and the underwater route, while the captain manages the boat and transfers.

The group limit of 10 is also meaningful. Ten is not a private charter, but it is small enough for the guides to monitor experience levels more easily than they could in a large group. This is particularly helpful when certified participants arrive with different amounts of recent practice.

If you are an infrequent participant, say so during check-in. One person received help using a new computer, and another appreciated advice from the instructors despite having plenty of previous experience. This is the sort of small support that can make a morning more comfortable without turning it into a formal refresher course.

You should still be self-reliant. This is for certified participants, not a beginner lesson. The crew provides guidance and safety support, but you are responsible for meeting the certification, swimming, and medical requirements.

Equipment costs and the real value of $101.59

The listed price is $101.59 per person. For that amount, you receive the boat trip, two guided sessions, tanks, weights, bottled water, taxes, and handling charges. The price also includes access to the center’s post-trip facilities, including hot showers.

The important catch is the equipment fee. A rented suit, regulator, mask, gloves, boots, and fins cost an additional €20 per person, paid at check-in. Food, drinks beyond the bottled water, and souvenir photos are not included.

For a certified participant with a full personal kit, the price is easier to assess. You are paying for the boat, site access, professional guidance, tanks, weights, and a four-hour morning. If you need the full rental package, the total cost rises, but you avoid packing and transporting bulky equipment.

I see good value here if you want two sessions rather than one short coastal outing. The price is less compelling if you are mainly looking for a broad sightseeing trip or a first taste of scuba. You must already be certified, and the underwater scenery can be more restrained than the price might suggest if visibility is poor.

Photos are available to purchase, but they are not part of the base rate. If photos matter to you, ask about them at the center before setting out so you know what to expect.

Returning to the marina and filling your logbook

After the second session, the boat returns to Albufeira Marina. Back at the center, hot showers are available. This is a small but valuable detail, particularly after spending the morning in cooler water or wearing a rented suit.

The final step is the logbook. The staff provide details of your sessions so you can record them properly. That makes the trip more useful for anyone building a recent record of activity, and it saves you from trying to remember depths, times, or site information later.

The activity ends back at the same meeting point. There is no separate return transfer to arrange, and the marina is near public transportation.

Who will get the most from this outing

This suits certified Open Water participants who want a straightforward morning on the Algarve coast. It is especially useful for:

• Infrequent certified participants: You can get practical guidance without signing up for a full course.
• Mixed-experience pairs or small groups: The guides can give different levels of attention within a group capped at 10.
• People with their own equipment: You can skip the rental step and avoid the extra €20 charge.
• Visitors based in Albufeira: The marina meeting point keeps the morning simple and avoids a long land transfer.
• Participants who value a proper logbook record: The staff help document the two sessions afterward.

It is less suitable if you are not certified, cannot swim, have a medical condition that may affect participation, or expect warm water and constant visibility. Children under 10, anyone under 1.40 meters, and pregnant participants are not permitted.

Plan flights carefully. Flying within 48 hours after scuba activity is not recommended, so leave enough time between this outing and your departure.

Booking, weather, and cancellation details

Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. The activity is usually booked around 21 days ahead, so early planning is sensible if your schedule is fixed.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the 8:30 a.m. start. A late cancellation or no-show is not refunded, and changes made within 24 hours are not accepted. If poor weather cancels the trip, you are offered another date or a full refund. The same choice applies if the minimum number of participants is not reached.

Keep the morning flexible. Sea conditions can affect the schedule, site choice, or cancellation decision, and the provider cannot promise particular marine life.

Should you book the Albufeira double-session trip?

I would book this if you are already certified, want two boat-based sessions, and value organized support more than dramatic tropical scenery. The strongest points are the small group, attentive guides, useful briefings, included tanks and weights, and hot showers at the end.

Before paying, add the €20 rental charge if you need the standard equipment set. Also consider the water temperature and visibility reported from the coast. If you are happy with a cooler Atlantic setting and a chance to see smaller marine life, this is a practical, well-run way to spend a morning from Albufeira. If you want guaranteed clear water, dense fish life, or a beginner lesson, choose a different type of outing.

FAQ

Is this activity suitable for beginners?

No. It is for certified scuba participants only, with a minimum Open Water certification.

What time and where does the activity start?

It starts at 8:30 a.m. at Easydivers Portugal, Marina de Albufeira, Passeio dos Oceanos, Lote 4, Loja 5, 8200-371 Albufeira, Portugal.

How long are the two underwater sessions?

The first session lasts up to 55 minutes or until 60 bar. The second lasts up to 50 minutes or until 60 bar.

Is scuba equipment included in the price?

Tanks and weights are included. The suit, regulator, mask, gloves, boots, and fins cost an additional €20 per person at check-in. You may also bring your own equipment.

What health and age rules apply?

All participants complete a health questionnaire. You must know how to swim. Children under 10, anyone under 1.40 meters, and pregnant participants cannot take part.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted, and missed activities are not refunded.