What age can my child start scuba diving at OkayDive?

The Bubblemaker Program for Kids is for children from 8, depending on how comfortable they are in the water and with a signed parental agreement. Try A Dive starts at 10 and the Open Water Diving Course at 12.

Does my child need to be able to swim?

The Try A Dive page says no swimming skills are required, and the Bubblemaker needs no diving experience. For the Bubblemaker, the centre takes the child's comfort in the water into account, so ask the provider about your child.

Where do the kids' dives take place?

The Bubblemaker runs in a pool or confined water typically less than 6 feet deep, and transport from the dive centre at 431 Jumeirah St, Jumeirah 3 to the dive location is included. Ask the provider which pool or site your child's session uses.

What should we bring?

Swimwear, a towel, sunscreen and any personal items. The centre supplies wetsuits, masks, fins and tanks.

What if we need to cancel?

Cancellations made at least 24 hours before the activity get a full refund; later cancellations are non-refundable. If OkayDive cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or can reschedule.

OkayDive: scuba and freediving in Jumeirah, with a Bubblemaker programme for kids

Q: How much is the Bubblemaker programme?

The course page shows AED 800 (USD 218), reduced from AED 1,200, and AED 40 tax is added at checkout (AED 840 in all). It includes all equipment, underwater photos and videos, transport from the dive centre to the dive location, refreshments and PADI e-learning. Check the current price when you book.

Water SportsScuba Diving

Checked Sept 2026Details checked September 2026

Al Satwa

Trial class

Ages8+years and up
PriceAED 800a course, lowest price
OpenAskNot published yet
WhereAl SatwaOkaydive (PADI Scuba, Freediving & E-Foil)Open in Maps

Book online

OkayDive is a scuba and freediving centre at 431 Jumeirah Street in Jumeirah 3. It teaches PADI courses, runs dive trips to Fujairah and also offers kayaking and e-foiling. For families, the starting point is the Bubblemaker Program for Kids: a one-day introduction for children from 8, in a pool or confined water typically less than 6 feet deep, with certified instructors. The centre says children get to breathe underwater, learn how masks, fins and buoyancy jackets work, and go home with a Bubblemaker certification card. From 10, children can join Try A Dive, a 2 to 2.5 hour session with shallow water practice and at least 60 minutes underwater; the page says no swimming skills are required. From 12, teenagers can take the PADI Open Water Diving Course, 3 to 4 days with e-learning and dives to a maximum of 18 metres. Equipment, underwater photos and videos, and soft drinks are included in the course packages. It is rated 4.9 on Google from 257 reviews.

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The activity

Scuba Diving, explained

Scuba diving means breathing underwater from a tank of air, using a mask, fins, a regulator and a buoyancy jacket that lets you float, sink or hover. A child's first taste is usually in a pool or calm, shallow water with an instructor right beside them: they practise breathing through the regulator, clearing water from the mask and staying level before swimming around. It builds water confidence, calm breathing, listening skills and a real curiosity about sea life. The PADI Bubblemaker programme is the usual first step for children aged 8 and up, and full certification courses follow once a child meets the course's minimum age.

Who it's for

Children from 8 for the Bubblemaker Program for Kids (the same page also describes it as designed for 8 to 10-year-olds); it depends on how comfortable the child is in the water and needs a signed parental agreement. Try A Dive from 10. Open Water, Advanced Open Water and Rescue Dive courses from 12. The Freediving Course from 15. No diving experience is needed for the Bubblemaker, Try A Dive or the Open Water course.

What to expect

A Bubblemaker day mixes games and simple lessons on diving basics and safety with getting to know the kit (mask, snorkel, fins, buoyancy jacket) and diving in shallow water guided by certified instructors. All equipment, underwater photos and videos, transport from the dive centre to the dive location, soft drinks and PADI e-learning are included. The centre asks you to bring swimwear, a towel and sunscreen, and to tell them about any medical conditions beforehand. Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund. You book a date online and pick a time slot: 9AM-12PM, 12PM-3PM or 3PM-6PM, with an extra 6AM-9AM slot for Try A Dive.

Highlights

PADI Bubblemaker Program for Kids from age 8, one day, in water typically less than 6 feet deep (okaydive.com)
Try A Dive from age 10: 2 to 2.5 hours, at least 60 minutes underwater, no swimming skills required (okaydive.com)
PADI Open Water Diving Course from age 12: 3-4 days, maximum depth 18 metres (okaydive.com)
All equipment plus underwater photos and videos included in course packages (okaydive.com)
Full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the activity (okaydive.com)
Listed as a PADI 5 Star Dive Center (travel.padi.com)

Why parents rate it

What parents say on Google

OkayDive is rated 4.9 on Google from 257 reviews. 248 of those reviews give five stars, 5 give four stars and 4 give one star.

The facts

Ages: Bubblemaker Program for Kids: 8 and up (also described on the page as for 8 to 10-year-olds); Try A Dive: minimum 10; Open Water, Advanced Open Water and Rescue Dive: minimum 12; Freediving Course: minimum 15
Prices: Bubblemaker Program for Kids: AED 800USD 218 shownreduced from AED 1,200plus AED 40 tax at checkout (AED 840)
Try A Dive (DSD): AED 249USD 67 shownreduced from AED 400plus AED 12 tax
Open Water Diving Course: AED 1,499USD 408 shownreduced from AED 1,600plus AED 75 tax
Prices as shown on okaydive.com in October 2026, before 5% tax; confirm current when booking
Schedule: Book a date online and pick a time slot: 9AM-12PM, 12PM-3PM or 3PM-6PM (Try A Dive also 6AM-9AM) (okaydive.com booking page)
Trial: Try A Dive (DSD) from age 10: 2 to 2.5 hours, AED 249 shown (reduced from AED 400) plus AED 12 tax at checkout
Where: 431 Jumeirah St, Jumeirah 3, Dubai (OkayDive dive centre)
How to book: okaydive.com/booking · +971 50 406 4005 · +971 4 832 0045 · [email protected] · wa.me/971504064005
Opening hours: Every day9am–7pm

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Questions parents ask

Good to know

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen and any personal items; wetsuits, masks, fins and tanks are supplied (okaydive.com)
Tell the team about any medical conditions or physical limitations before the dive (okaydive.com)
Pays by credit card, debit card, NFC mobile payment or cheque (Google listing)
If a session is cancelled for weather or safety, you get a full refund or can reschedule (okaydive.com)
The centre's listed hours are 9AM-7PM daily; dives run in the booking time slots (Google listing)