City of Side: Scuba Diving with Lunch

The Mediterranean looks different from below. This six-hour Side boat trip gives you two 30-minute underwater sessions, full equipment, beginner instruction, and a look at the Undersea Museum for $42. I like the patient instructors and the large boat, which gives you space to sit in the sun or shade between sessions.

I also like the easy hotel pickup and the chance to swim while other people are underwater. The main drawback is that this is a beginner-focused outing, so experienced scuba users may find the underwater time short and the equipment somewhat worn.

If you have always wanted to try scuba but do not want to pay for a full certification course, this is a sensible first step. You should, however, take sinus trouble, ear pressure, seasickness, and general fitness seriously. Several people found that equalizing pressure was the hardest part of the day.

Key points to know before booking

• Two short sea sessions: Each session lasts about 30 minutes, making this manageable for first-timers but brief for experienced scuba users.
• The Undersea Museum: The route includes submerged museum pieces and a small wreck area, adding more interest than a simple fish-viewing trip.
• A patient beginner setup: Instructors stay with first-time participants and provide training before entering the water.
• Large boat with room to relax: You get seating in both shade and sun, plus a deck with loungers.
• Lunch is included: Expect a simple onboard meal, with drinks and snacks available to buy.
• Hotel pickup is useful, but not exact: Collection is normally between 8:30 and 9:30 AM from your hotel’s main gate, and harbor waiting can add frustration.

What the $42 price really covers

At $42 per person, this is one of the more affordable ways to try scuba in Side. The price includes hotel transport, equipment, instruction, two 30-minute sessions, lunch, a guide, and travel insurance. That makes the trip good value if you are starting from zero and would otherwise need to pay separately for equipment and a beginner lesson.

The price also covers several hours on a boat, not just time in the water. You can sit outside, swim when conditions allow, eat lunch, and watch the rest of the group take its turn. For a first experience, that broad package is more useful than paying for a very short pool lesson.

You should keep one extra cost in mind. Underwater photographs and videos are offered for purchase, but the price has been reported as high, around €90. If photographs matter to you, ask about the cost before the boat leaves. You may prefer to bring a suitable action camera, although personal camera use is limited to the second session according to one account.

Food is included, but expectations should stay modest. The meal has been described as chicken fillet, tomato pasta, and salad, while another account found the food bland but edible. Drinks and snacks are available to purchase onboard.

The morning pickup from Side hotels

Pickup takes place from the main gate of your hotel, generally between 8:30 and 9:30 AM. That window is practical for the operator but less convenient for you, since you may not receive an exact time until close to departure.

Keep your phone available and wait near the main gate. One person was collected even though the meeting point was close enough to walk, so the transport team may still send a bus when you are nearby. That is convenient, but communication about pickup can be a little unclear.

The drive is part of the half-day outing, with transport shown as lasting roughly 4.5 hours in the operating schedule. That figure appears to include the full boat transfer period rather than four and a half hours sitting on a bus. In practice, plan for a morning pickup and a return to Side later the same day.

A harbor delay is possible. One participant waited around an hour to an hour and a half before the boat got properly underway. Bring water, sun protection, and a little patience. If you have another fixed appointment that afternoon, leave plenty of room between the expected return and your next plan.

Getting settled on the large boat

The boat is one of the stronger parts of the outing. It has plenty of seating, including shaded areas for people who want a break from the sun and open sections for those who prefer the breeze. A deck with loungers gives you somewhere to rest while the staff prepares the next group.

This matters because the day is not a constant underwater activity. People enter the water in groups, and you may spend a fair amount of time waiting, eating, swimming, or watching other participants. The boat makes that waiting more comfortable than a small, crowded vessel would.

The crew has received especially strong praise for being friendly, patient, and reassuring with beginners. Instructors explain the basic procedure and help participants with their equipment. If you are nervous, this close supervision is more important than having an elaborate route.

The guides speak English, German, Russian, and Turkish. That range is useful on a mixed boat, particularly when instructors need to explain safety steps quickly and clearly.

Your first underwater session near Side

The first session is designed for beginners. You receive training before entering the water, then descend with an instructor rather than attempting to manage the equipment alone. The water around Side is warm and clear, which helps you see fish and underwater features without needing advanced experience.

The most important skill is equalizing the pressure in your ears as you go down. This sounds simple, but it can stop the session if you have sinus congestion, recent hay fever, or another ear and sinus issue. One person could not continue during the second session because of ear pressure, while another couple had to abandon their attempt because blocked sinuses made equalizing too painful.

Do not treat this as a minor inconvenience. If your nose or sinuses are blocked, tell the operator before the boat leaves and do not force your way downward. The activity specifically excludes people with respiratory issues, and the experience is also not suitable for non-swimmers.

The first underwater route may include a small wreck and submerged museum features. One experienced participant described an initial descent to around 23 meters, followed by a shallower section around 12 meters with a wreck and part of the Undersea Museum. Depths can vary by conditions and group, so you should not assume you will reach a particular depth.

For a beginner, the museum gives you something to look for while you learn to breathe calmly and control your body in the water. You may see colorful fish and sections of coral reef around the sites, but this is not a specialist marine-life expedition. The main reward is trying scuba in open Mediterranean water with an instructor close by.

Lunch, swimming, and the pause between sessions

Lunch is served onboard between the two water sessions. The meal is basic rather than gourmet, but it gives you a useful break after the first descent. Expect a simple plate such as chicken, pasta, and salad.

You can buy drinks and snacks if you want something extra. The boat also offers swimming opportunities when it stops, though conditions can affect whether swimming or snorkeling is comfortable. Rough seas prevented snorkeling on one outing, so do not count on calm water every day.

The pause is also a good chance to dry off and decide how your ears and energy feel. Scuba takes more effort than the short session length suggests, particularly when you are concentrating on breathing, hand signals, and pressure control. I would use the break to speak honestly with the instructor rather than feeling obliged to attempt the second session.

There is one poor practice worth noting. Leftover pasta was reportedly thrown overboard and later floated near the underwater group. This is not a reason to reject the entire trip, but it is an environmental detail that the crew should handle better.

The second 30-minute session and the Undersea Museum

The second session gives you another chance to settle into the equipment. If the first attempt went well, you may feel less anxious and have more attention available for fish, wreck remains, and the Undersea Museum.

Experienced participants may be allowed more freedom if the guide decides they are safe. Still, the structure remains beginner-oriented, and the sessions are short. One experienced scuba user found the second route less interesting than the first, with plenty of fish but less variety in the underwater features.

That is a fair expectation to set. You are paying for an accessible introduction, not a long technical route or a series of remote reefs. The underwater museum is an unusual addition and gives the trip a clear focus, but the actual viewing time may feel limited once you account for entering, descending, practicing, and returning to the boat.

The guides deserve credit here. They give participants time to put on equipment, get into the water, and work through nerves. First-timers are accompanied throughout both sessions, and staff continue helping people who decide they are not comfortable going farther.

Equipment, safety, and physical demands

All diving equipment is included, along with beginner training and travel insurance. The setup is convenient because you do not need to bring your own tank, regulator, mask, or suit.

The condition of the equipment may vary. One experienced participant found some items tired and had to sort through the available gear to find something in better shape. This is not unusual on a high-volume beginner boat, but you should inspect your mask, fins, and suit before entering the water and ask for a replacement if something does not fit properly.

The trip is not suitable for children under 16, pregnant women, non-swimmers, people with respiratory problems, people prone to seasickness, or anyone with high blood pressure. It also excludes people over 150 kilograms and those with a low level of fitness.

You do not need to be an athlete, but you should be comfortable in open water and able to manage a boat day. Seasickness deserves special attention because the trip involves several hours at sea, and rough conditions can reduce the enjoyment even when the underwater session goes ahead.

The operator describes Turkey’s underwater safety rules as strict, and the instructors are attentive to beginners. Still, your own health matters most. Recent sinus trouble, ear pain, breathing problems, or uncontrolled blood pressure should be treated as a reason to postpone.

Who will get the most from this Side boat trip

This experience suits you best if you are curious about scuba and want a guided introduction without committing to a certification course. The instructors stay with first-timers, the equipment is supplied, and the water is warm and clear enough to make the first attempt appealing.

It also works for mixed groups. A confident swimmer can enjoy the water and museum sites, while someone who does not want to descend can remain on the boat or swim when conditions allow. The large vessel helps couples and families with different comfort levels spend the day together.

You should choose something else if you already have substantial scuba experience and want long sessions, varied sites, or carefully maintained specialist equipment. The two 30-minute sessions are fairly short, and the route appears built around safety and basic instruction rather than exploration.

This is also a poor fit if you are uncomfortable on boats, prone to seasickness, or dealing with sinus congestion. Do not assume you can simply sit out the first session and enjoy the second. Your ability to equalize pressure may determine how much of the underwater program you can actually use.

What to bring and how to plan the day

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and clothes that can handle a wet boat ride. Since pickup may occur anytime from 8:30 to 9:30 AM, keep breakfast light if you are prone to seasickness and carry water for the waiting period.

Wear practical footwear for boarding and moving around the boat. You may want a small waterproof bag for valuables, though the supplied information does not specify storage arrangements, so avoid bringing anything you would regret getting wet.

If you hope to buy photographs, ask about the price before agreeing. The underwater photo package has been described as expensive, and the final cost can change how good the $42 bargain feels.

The trip offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, with a full refund, and you can reserve without paying immediately. Those terms help if your plans around Side are still shifting, but you should still check the available start time and pickup details before committing.

Should you book this experience?

Book it if you want an affordable, carefully supervised first scuba experience in Side. The patient instructors, spacious boat, included equipment, lunch, and hotel transport make the package practical, and the Undersea Museum gives the underwater route a memorable purpose.

Do not book it expecting a long day of advanced scuba or polished restaurant food. The sessions are short, the harbor may involve waiting, the equipment can feel used, and photo prices are high. Most important, book only if you are healthy enough for open-water scuba and free of current sinus or breathing problems.

At $42, I see this as a good-value introduction for beginners who set realistic expectations. For experienced scuba users, it is better viewed as a relaxed boat outing with a couple of simple underwater visits rather than a serious exploration day.

FAQ

How long does the Side scuba experience last?

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

How many underwater sessions are included?

Two sessions are included, each lasting 30 minutes.

Is beginner training provided?

Yes. Training for beginners is included, and first-time participants are accompanied by instructors during the underwater sessions.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included. You should meet the driver at your hotel’s main gate between 8:30 and 9:30 AM.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is served onboard. Drinks and snacks are available to purchase separately.

Who cannot take part?

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