What age can my child start scuba diving at Orca Diving Center?

The Dubai Diving Experience try dive is for ages 10 and above, and the site's FAQ gives 10 and above for scuba diving. The PADI Bubblemaker is listed for children at least 8 years old, and Junior Open Water is typically for ages 10-14.

How much do the kids' courses cost?

The website lists the Dubai Diving Experience try dive at AED550 (on sale at AED255 when checked in Sept 2026), PADI Bubblemaker at AED900, PADI Seal Team at AED1,200, Junior Open Water Diver at AED1,500 and Junior Advanced Open Water Diver at AED1,800. Confirm current prices with the centre when booking.

Does my child need to be a strong swimmer?

For the Dubai Diving Experience try dive (ages 10 and above), the centre says no diving experience is required and only limited swimming skills are needed. For swimming ability on the Bubblemaker, Seal Team and junior certification courses, ask the provider.

Where do the kids' courses take place?

The Dubai Diving Experience takes place in Dubai. The website does not say whether the Bubblemaker, Seal Team and junior courses run from the Jumeirah centre or the Fujairah base in Al Ghurfah - ask the provider.

Where is it and is there parking?

The Dubai centre is inside Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa, Jumeirah 1. The centre says free parking is available and the location is wheelchair accessible. Orca also has a base in Al Ghurfah, Fujairah, with its own phone number.

When can we book a session?

The centre lists its hours as Monday to Sunday, 8am-6pm. Course dates and times are not published - message them on +971 56 343 9387.

Orca Diving Center: PADI dive centre in Jumeirah 1 with youth scuba courses

Water SportsScuba Diving

Checked Oct 2026Details checked October 2026

Jumeirah

Ages8+years and up
PriceAED 900a course, lowest price
OpenAskNot published yet
WhereJumeirahOpen in Maps

Orca Diving Center is a PADI dive centre based inside Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa in Jumeirah 1, with a second base in Al Ghurfah, Fujairah. Most of what it runs is for adults - try dives, certification courses, boat trips to Fujairah and Oman - but children can join too. In Dubai, the Dubai Diving Experience is a try dive for ages 10 and above: a briefing, water training and a 45-minute dive, with equipment, photos and video included. The website also lists a PADI Youth range: the Bubblemaker, for children aged 8 and over, keeps first breaths underwater in water shallower than 2 metres; PADI Seal Team adds pool 'AquaMissions' such as navigation and buoyancy; and older children can work towards Junior Open Water and Junior Advanced Open Water certification. The site does not say whether the youth courses run from the Jumeirah centre or the Fujairah base, so ask the provider before you book. The About page says classes have no more than 4 students per instructor - confirm when booking.

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The activity

Scuba Diving, explained

Scuba diving for children starts in shallow, calm water. Kids wear a mask, fins, a small tank and a buoyancy jacket, and learn to breathe through a regulator, clear water from their mask and control their buoyancy under an instructor's supervision. Pool programmes such as PADI Bubblemaker and PADI Seal Team keep it playful, with short 'AquaMissions', before older children move on to junior certification courses that add classroom sessions and open water dives. Along the way it builds water confidence, calm breathing, listening to instructions and respect for marine life. On Orca's site the Bubblemaker starts at 8, and junior certification typically at 10.

Who it's for

Children aged 10 and above for the Dubai Diving Experience try dive, and 10 and above for scuba diving in general per the site's FAQ. PADI Bubblemaker is listed for children at least 8 years old. The Junior Open Water page gives typically 10-14 and Junior Advanced Open Water typically 12-14 (with Junior Open Water completed), as general guidance. No age is stated for PADI Seal Team - ask the provider. Where the youth courses take place (Jumeirah or Fujairah) is not stated - ask the provider. Adults are catered for across the full PADI range.

What to expect

The Dubai Diving Experience, the centre's try dive in Dubai, is for ages 10 and above and needs no diving experience, only limited swimming skills: about 30 minutes of briefing, 30 minutes of water training and a 45-minute underwater dive, with all equipment and underwater photos and video included. It runs daily, including public holidays; once bought, it can be used within three months, and you call the centre to confirm a date. The Bubblemaker keeps children in water under 2 metres, with PADI materials and dive equipment included. PADI Seal Team Part One sessions (AquaMissions 1-5) take about an hour each. For where the youth courses run and their dates, ask the provider.

Highlights

Dubai Diving Experience try dive for ages 10 and above, equipment, photos and video included - AED550 listed, on sale at AED255 when checked in Sept 2026; confirm current (orcadivingcenter.com)
PADI Bubblemaker for children aged 8 and over, in water under 2 metres - AED900 (listed; confirm current) (orcadivingcenter.com)
PADI Seal Team pool programme: AquaMissions 1-5 for Seal Team, 6-15 for Master Seal Team - AED1,200 (listed; confirm current) (orcadivingcenter.com)
Junior Open Water Diver AED1,500 and Junior Advanced Open Water Diver AED1,800 (listed; confirm current) (orcadivingcenter.com)
The centre says classes have no more than 4 students per instructor - confirm when booking (orcadivingcenter.com)
4.5 on Google from 144 reviews (Google listing)

Why parents rate it

What parents say on Google

Orca Diving Center holds 4.5 on Google from 144 reviews. 109 of those are five stars and 18 are four stars, while 12 are one star.

The facts

Ages: Dubai Diving Experience 10+; scuba 10+ per the site FAQ; PADI Bubblemaker 8+; Junior Open Water typically 10-14; Junior Advanced Open Water typically 12-14
Prices: Listed on the website (confirm current)
Dubai Diving Experience: AED550 (on sale at AED255 when checked, Sept 2026)
PADI Bubblemaker: AED900
PADI Seal Team: AED1,200
Junior Open Water Diver: AED1,500
Junior Advanced Open Water Diver: AED1,800
PADI Discover Scuba Diving (2-dive): AED700
Trial: Dubai Diving Experience (try dive in Dubai): ages 10 and above; no diving experience needed, limited swimming skills; about 30 min briefing, 30 min water training and a 45-min dive; equipment, photos and video included; valid daily including public holidays, use within 3 months of purchase; AED550 listed (on sale at AED255 when checked, Sept 2026 - confirm). A 2-dive PADI Discover Scuba Diving is also listed at AED700.
Where: Inside Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa, Jumeirah 1, Dubai (youth course venue not stated - ask the provider)
How to book: orcadivingcenter.com/contact · +971 56 343 9387 · [email protected] · wa.me/971563439387
Opening hours: Every day8am–6pm

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Questions parents ask

Good to know

Based inside Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa, Jumeirah 1 (orcadivingcenter.com)
Free parking; wheelchair-accessible entrance and car park (orcadivingcenter.com, Google listing)
Showers, lockers, changing rooms and Wi-Fi on site (orcadivingcenter.com)
Pay by cash or card (orcadivingcenter.com)
A separate Orca base in Al Ghurfah, Fujairah has its own phone number - use the Dubai number for Jumeirah (orcadivingcenter.com)
After a dive, wait at least 18 hours before flying, the centre advises (orcadivingcenter.com)
The site's FAQ gives 10 as the minimum age for scuba, while the Bubblemaker page says 8 and over - confirm for your child (orcadivingcenter.com)