City of Side: Scuba Diving with Lunch

Side’s best surprise is below the surface. This six-hour scuba excursion combines two 30-minute underwater sessions with a look at Side’s Submarine Museum, colorful fish, and Mediterranean reefs. I like the attentive instructors, especially for first-timers, and the simple $42 price includes equipment, lunch, transport, insurance, and hotel pickup. The main catch is that harbor delays can stretch the day, and experienced divers may find the sessions short.

You’ll leave your hotel in the morning, usually between 8:30 and 9:30, then spend much of the day on a spacious boat. I also like that non-diving time is not wasted: you can swim from the boat when conditions allow, sit in the shade, or stretch out on the deck. Just know that sinus trouble, rough water, or poor fitness can make the underwater part difficult.

Key points before you book

• Two 30-minute scuba sessions: Beginners receive instruction and stay with an instructor underwater.
• Side’s Submarine Museum: The underwater exhibits add an unusual feature beyond fish and reef.
• Large boat with shade and loungers: You have room to sit in the sun or get out of it between sessions.
• Lunch is included: Expect a straightforward meal, generally chicken, tomato pasta, and salad.
• Morning hotel pickup: Meet the driver at your hotel’s main gate between 8:30 and 9:30 AM.
• Best for healthy beginners: Sinus, breathing, blood pressure, seasickness, and swimming issues matter here.

Why Side makes a good first scuba trip

Side is a practical place to try scuba for the first time. The Mediterranean water is described as warm and clear, and the tour is built around instruction rather than independent underwater exploration. You get fitted with full equipment, receive beginner training, and complete two guided sessions of about 30 minutes each.

I like this setup for someone who wants to try scuba without committing to a certification course. You get a real taste of breathing underwater, controlling your equipment, and descending below the surface, but you are not expected to manage the whole process alone.

The underwater sights are a mix of natural and artificial attractions. You might see colorful fish around reef areas, along with sections of the Submarine Museum. One experienced participant described a small wreck, an underwater museum area, and plenty of fish, though the exact route can vary with conditions and the group.

The museum is the tour’s unusual selling point. It gives you something to look for besides marine life, particularly if this is your first time below the water. Do not expect a large land-based museum transferred intact to the seabed. Think of it as an underwater viewing area with submerged displays included in the route.

The morning pickup from Side hotels

Pickup takes place at the main gate of your hotel between 8:30 and 9:30 AM. That broad window is useful for the operator, but it means you should be ready early and allow some waiting time. The transfer is included, and the return to Side is also part of the price.

Transport appears to be by bus or coach. One useful detail is that a pickup may still happen even if your hotel is close enough to walk from the meeting point, so do not assume you need to arrange your own way to the harbor.

Communication about the pickup can be a little uneven. The service may contact you the day before, and one booking account described that confirmation as polite and helpful. Still, if your hotel has several gates, ask for the exact meeting point and keep your phone available that morning.

The trip is advertised as six hours, but the boat portion can feel longer if loading and harbor preparations are slow. One person waited around an hour to an hour and a half at the harbor before the boat got properly underway. That is the sort of delay that can test your patience, especially if you expected a tightly timed morning.

On board a spacious boat

The boat is one of the stronger parts of the outing. It is described as large and spacious, with seating in both sunny and shaded areas, plus a deck with loungers. That matters because the day includes waiting, equipment preparation, meals, and time between the two underwater sessions.

If you are not going underwater, the boat still gives you ways to enjoy the day. Swimming is available when the boat stops, and snorkeling may be offered if the sea is calm enough. Rough water can cancel the snorkeling option, so do not book this expecting guaranteed calm-water swimming.

The crew receives especially strong praise for patience and kindness. That is important here, since first-time scuba groups often move at different speeds. The instructors take time to explain the equipment and help people who feel uncertain in the water.

The atmosphere can also be busy. A large boat may carry many beginners, and the staff must prepare several people at once. One experienced participant said the crew allowed time to get ready and complete the first session before releasing the larger beginner group, which suggests that the staff can manage mixed ability levels reasonably well.

What the beginner training involves

Before entering the water, you receive training on the equipment and basic underwater procedures. The tour provides all diving equipment, an instructor, and guidance in English, German, Russian, or Turkish.

For a first experience, the instructor support is the most valuable part of the package. You are not simply handed a tank and sent over the side. The staff stays with beginners underwater, helping them manage their breathing, pressure changes, and general comfort.

That said, scuba requires some physical control. Several people found that equalizing pressure in their ears was the main challenge, especially during the second session. Sinus congestion from hay fever or a recent cold can make equalizing painful or impossible.

If you have any sinus issue, respiratory condition, high blood pressure, or low fitness level, take the restrictions seriously. The tour does not suit non-swimmers, pregnant women, children under 16, people prone to seasickness, or anyone over 150 kilograms. If a medical problem appears at the last minute, you may not be able to enter the water even if you have already boarded.

The description presents Turkey’s underwater safety rules as strict and the instructors as attentive. That is reassuring, but it does not remove the need to answer health questions honestly. Scuba is not a good activity for pushing through ear pain or breathing trouble.

The first 30-minute underwater session

The first session is likely to be the most exciting because everything is new. You learn how the equipment feels, get used to breathing through the regulator, and begin to understand how your body responds underwater.

The route may include fish, reef, a small wreck, and part of the underwater museum. The water is described as clear, warm, and clean, which helps beginners see what is around them without having to cope with cold water at the same time.

Do not measure the session only by depth. For a first attempt, staying calm and equalizing properly are bigger achievements than reaching a particular number. One experienced participant described the first route as reaching about 23 meters before moving to a shallower area around 12 meters, but your depth may differ according to certification, comfort, instructor decisions, and sea conditions.

You may also find the first session shorter in practice than expected because preparation and entry take time. The advertised underwater time is 30 minutes, not 30 minutes of uninterrupted sightseeing from the moment you leave the boat.

Lunch and the long pause between sessions

Lunch is served on board. The meal is generally a basic combination of chicken, tomato pasta, and salad, with drinks and snacks available to purchase separately.

Food quality may be the least consistent part of the day. Some people found lunch perfectly pleasant, while others called it bland but edible. I would treat it as practical fuel rather than a reason to book the trip.

One poor onboard practice was also reported: leftover pasta was thrown into the sea, leaving food floating near the area where people later entered the water. That is not a good look for a marine activity, and it is worth noting when judging the overall environmental standard.

The interval around lunch gives you time to dry off, rest, and watch the crew prepare for the next session. You can sit in the shade, use the sunny deck, or swim if conditions permit. If you suffer from seasickness, this is also when the motion of the boat may become most noticeable.

Bring only what you need, keep valuables secure, and expect the boat to be your base for most of the day. Wi-Fi may be available for a small fee, but you should not count on reliable internet as part of the tour.

The second session and the underwater museum

The second session gives you another chance to settle into the equipment. If you had trouble with your ears during the first descent, tell the instructor before attempting the next one. Pressure problems often become more noticeable as you descend, and one person had to stop during the second session because equalizing became too painful.

For people who complete both sessions, the second route may include more fish and additional museum exhibits. It can feel less exciting than the first because the novelty has worn off, and one experienced participant described it as somewhat dull compared with the earlier route.

That is not necessarily a weakness for beginners. Once you have learned the basic routine, a quieter second session may give you more time to watch fish and enjoy the water without feeling rushed. Experienced divers, however, may find the sites modest and the 30-minute length limiting.

The underwater museum is worth viewing with realistic expectations. It adds character to the route, but the experience is still a short introductory outing rather than a specialist archaeological or wreck trip. You are there for a sampler of Side’s underwater sights, not a full day of technical exploration.

Equipment, instructors, and photographs

The tour supplies the mask, suit, tank, and other required equipment. Most people found the equipment serviceable, and the instructors were often praised for being professional, patient, and attentive.

One experienced participant felt some of the equipment looked tired and required sorting through to find the better pieces. That is a useful warning for regular divers who are particular about gear. If you have your own mask or regulator and the operator permits personal equipment, asking in advance could improve your comfort, but the provided information does not confirm that personal gear is accepted.

Underwater photographs and videos are commonly taken during the sessions. They can be a fun souvenir, especially if this is your first time breathing underwater, but the reported price of around 90 euros was considered very high. Ask for the cost before agreeing to the photo package.

You may be able to bring a GoPro, although one practical note is that it may only be usable on the second session. Confirm the current rule with the crew before relying on it, since handling a camera can distract a beginner from basic skills.

How much value do you get for $42?

At $42 per person, this is a strong value if you complete both underwater sessions. The price includes hotel transport, equipment, instruction, two 30-minute sessions, lunch, an English, German, Russian, or Turkish-speaking guide, and travel insurance.

Buying those parts separately would usually require more planning and could cost more, particularly for someone staying outside central Side. The inclusion of an instructor is especially important for a first scuba experience. You are paying for a managed introduction, not simply boat transport.

The value drops if you cannot enter the water because of sinus trouble, breathing problems, or discomfort with pressure. The information provided does not promise a partial refund for an unused session, so you should check the operator’s terms if your health is uncertain.

You also need to budget for optional drinks, snacks, Wi-Fi, and underwater photographs. The photography is the biggest possible extra expense. At $42, the core trip is inexpensive, but the final bill can rise quickly if you buy every add-on.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful if your plans are still shifting, but they do not replace checking the medical restrictions before you commit.

Who should book this Side excursion?

I would choose this for a healthy adult who has always wanted to try scuba but does not need a certification course. It also suits a mixed group where some people want underwater time and others are happy swimming, sunbathing, or relaxing on the boat.

The multilingual guiding makes the outing easier for international groups. Beginners are accompanied by instructors, and more experienced divers can still take part, though the simple sites and short sessions may feel limited after a while.

I would be cautious if you are a non-swimmer, have blocked sinuses, recently suffered respiratory problems, have high or low blood pressure, or regularly become seasick. The boat may be comfortable, but six hours on the Mediterranean can feel long if you are sensitive to motion.

I would also reconsider if your main goal is advanced scuba. The sites include fish, reef, a small wreck, and museum exhibits, but the program is designed around first-timers. Equipment may be basic, and one session may feel less interesting than the other.

Should you book it?

Book this Side scuba trip if you want a low-cost, guided introduction with hotel pickup and lunch. The best parts are the patient instructors, the spacious boat, the clear Mediterranean water, and the chance to see Side’s underwater museum without arranging a separate course.

Go in with sensible expectations. The harbor may involve a long wait, lunch is simple, the underwater sessions are short, and the photo package can be overpriced. If your health is good and your aim is to try scuba rather than become an expert in one morning, $42 buys a useful and memorable first experience.

FAQ

How long does the Side scuba tour last?

The activity lasts about six hours, including hotel pickup, the boat trip, lunch, two underwater sessions, and the return to Side.

How many scuba sessions are included?

The tour includes two sessions, each advertised as 30 minutes long.

Is beginner training included?

Yes. Beginners receive training and remain with an instructor during the underwater sessions.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included. Meet the driver at the main gate of your hotel between 8:30 and 9:30 AM.

What languages are available?

Guiding is available in English, German, Russian, and Turkish.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included and generally consists of chicken, tomato pasta, and salad. Drinks and snacks may cost extra.

Who cannot take part in this activity?

The tour is not suitable for children under 16, pregnant women, non-swimmers, people with respiratory issues, people prone to seasickness, people over 150 kilograms, people with high blood pressure, or people with a low fitness level.