BSAC Discovery Diver · Learn to Dive · Hurghada
BSAC Discovery Diver Course in Hurghada
The shortest route to a real BSAC qualification. Three theory modules, three pool sessions and at least two open water dives on the sheltered reefs around Hurghada, from age ten, qualifying you to 12 meters with a dive guide, for €250. Moreover, it upgrades to Ocean Diver with only a few more modules.
What is the BSAC Discovery Diver course?
The BSAC Discovery Diver course is the British Sub-Aqua Club’s shortest entry-level qualification, a subset of the Ocean Diver course for people short on time or too young for the full grade. It covers three theory modules, three pool or sheltered-water sessions and at least two open water dives, and it is open from age ten to anyone who can swim 200 meters. A qualified Discovery Diver can dive to 12 meters in controlled conditions under the direct supervision of a Dive Leader or higher, and can upgrade to Ocean Diver with only a few more modules. In Hurghada it costs €250 per person for the training, with BSAC registration, eLearning, membership and certification fees charged separately, and Red Sea Diving runs it as a BSAC training center.
Moreover, the €250 covers what happens here: the instruction, the pool sessions, the open water dives, the boat, the tanks and the transfers within Hurghada. Therefore we explain in writing any BSAC fee that applies before you confirm. The program follows the standards published by the British Sub-Aqua Club for this qualification.
BSAC Discovery Diver in Hurghada at a glance
| Course | BSAC Discovery Diver, a subset of the Ocean Diver course |
|---|---|
| Price | €250 per person, training only |
| BSAC fees | Registration, eLearning, membership and certification, charged separately where they apply |
| Level | Beginner, no previous diving experience needed |
| Minimum age | 10 years |
| Qualification depth | 12 meters, in controlled conditions, supervised by a Dive Leader or higher |
| Theory | 3 modules, by BSAC eLearning before arrival |
| Pool or sheltered water | 3 sessions |
| Open water | At least 2 training dives on the sheltered reefs around Hurghada |
| Swim test | 200 meters, at any pace |
| Nitrox | Qualification includes mixes up to 36 percent oxygen |
| Upgrade | To Ocean Diver with a few more modules, no repetition |
| Location | Hurghada, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt |
| Booking | Written confirmation of inclusions and BSAC fees before payment |
| Operator | Red Sea Diving, a BSAC training center in Hurghada, diving since 2000 |
How does the BSAC Discovery Diver course differ from Ocean Diver?
Discovery Diver is Ocean Diver cut to the essentials. By contrast, Ocean Diver has six theory modules, five sheltered sessions and four open water dives, opens from age twelve and qualifies you to 20 meters diving with a buddy. Consequently Discovery Diver suits three kinds of people: divers who will mostly dive with a guide, ten- and eleven-year-olds who are not yet old enough for Ocean Diver, and anyone whose holiday is too short for the full course.
Furthermore, nothing goes to waste. The modules you complete count toward Ocean Diver, so the upgrade is a few extra sessions rather than a new course.
In short, it is the BSAC answer to the PADI Scuba Diver: the same 12-meter guided qualification, the same upgrade path, and both are taught here.
What does the BSAC Discovery Diver course teach?
Equipment
Mask, snorkel, regulator, jacket and cylinder: what each part does and how to check it, so nothing about the kit is a mystery by the first dive.
Breathing underwater
The first breaths in the pool, then relaxed, steady breathing at depth. Above all, the moment most people remember for the rest of their lives.
Buoyancy and movement
Controlling where you are in the water and moving without effort, which is the skill that makes every dive comfortable.
Mask and regulator skills
Clearing water from the mask and recovering the regulator, until both become automatic rather than alarming.
Time, depth and gas
Why the three matter, how to read them and what the 12-meter limit protects, because safe diving starts with the numbers.
Communication
Hand signals and buddy checks, so you and your guide understand each other before anything needs saying.
Nitrox basics
Likewise, an introduction to enriched air up to 36 percent, which BSAC teaches from the very first course.
Planning and managing
In addition, how a guided dive is planned and run, so you understand what your Dive Leader is doing and why.
Open water dives
Finally, at least two real dives on a sheltered Red Sea reef, applying everything from the pool with an instructor beside you.
However, the aim is not simply to complete exercises. In other words, we want you to finish feeling comfortable and confident, so that Ocean Diver feels like the obvious next step.
How is the BSAC Discovery Diver course scheduled?
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Theory, before you arrive
First of all, the three BSAC eLearning modules at home, so your holiday time goes into the water rather than a classroom.
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Pool, session 1
Next, the equipment, the first breaths underwater and the basics of buoyancy in the pool or the sheltered shallows.
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Pool, sessions 2 and 3
Then mask and regulator skills, communication and a full run-through of the dive before it moves into the sea.
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Open water, dive 1
Afterward, the first real dive on a sheltered reef, repeating the skills in real conditions with your instructor alongside.
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Open water, dive 2 and qualification
Finally, a second dive toward the 12-meter limit, the practical assessment and your Discovery Diver qualification.
However, the exact schedule bends around your progress, the weather and sea conditions. Consequently we confirm the day-by-day plan once we know your dates.
Who can join the BSAC Discovery Diver course?
- At least ten years old
- Also, no previous scuba diving experience needed
- Likewise, able to swim 200 meters at any pace
- In addition, the BSAC medical declaration completed before training
- Furthermore, medically fit to dive, with a physician’s clearance where the declaration requires it
- Above all, families with children under twelve, since Ocean Diver only opens at twelve
Not sure yet? Try a single day first with Discover Scuba Diving, since it involves no commitment. Moreover, children from eight can start with the PADI Bubblemaker before they are old enough for this course.
What does the €250 price include?
Included
- Professional instruction from a BSAC instructor
- Also, three pool or sheltered-water sessions
- At least two open water training dives
- In addition, 12-liter air cylinders and weights
- The dive boat when the program requires it
- Likewise, lunch and soft drinks on boat-diving days
- Furthermore, hotel transfer within central Hurghada on diving days
Possible extras
- BSAC registration and membership where they apply
- Also, BSAC eLearning and training materials
- BSAC certification fees where they apply
- In addition, full personal equipment rental unless included in your booking
- The Ocean Diver upgrade modules, if you decide to continue
- Likewise, accommodation, flights, visa and insurance
- Transfers from El Gouna, Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh or Soma Bay
Therefore your written quotation shows the training price and each applicable BSAC fee as separate lines. In fact, that is the whole point of quoting it this way.
Why learn to dive in Hurghada?
Hurghada gives a first-time diver exactly what a first dive needs: warm water for most of the year, sheltered reefs within minutes of the marina and visibility that turns a nervous first descent into a memorable one. Moreover, the reef fish, moray eels and turtles show up on a 12-meter training dive as readily as on any other.
Furthermore, the season runs all year, so the course fits around a family holiday rather than the other way round. Our daily diving continues after you qualify, and our procedures sit on the diving safety page.
Equally, the pace is set by the student, which matters most with the youngest divers. Good skills matter more than finishing exercises quickly.
Gallery
First dives in pictures
What comes after BSAC Discovery Diver?
Ocean Diver
The full entry-level grade, from age twelve. A few more modules and two more dives take you from 12 meters with a guide to 20 meters with a buddy.
Guided diving
By contrast, you can simply keep diving as a Discovery Diver: any of our shallow reef trips, accompanied by a Dive Leader or higher, within the 12-meter limit.
Then the ladder
Afterward, Advanced Ocean Diver at fourteen, Sports Diver and Dive Leader, each one building on the last without repetition.
Overall, the BSAC route runs: Discovery Diver → Ocean Diver → Advanced Ocean Diver → Sports Diver → Dive Leader. Meanwhile, the PADI ladder accepts your card too, so Open Water Diver is an equally natural next step.
Why us
Why train with Red Sea Diving
Safety first
Above all, training decisions follow the student’s ability and actual sea conditions, with full emergency equipment on every boat.
Since 2000
Indeed, more than two decades of diving and liveaboard operations out of Hurghada, on every Egyptian route.
Patient with beginners
Furthermore, we introduce skills one at a time and practice them until they feel comfortable, which matters most with the youngest students.
Sheltered reefs
Moreover, the open water dives run on calm, shallow sites from our own boats, chosen for a first dive rather than for a photograph.
Transparent pricing
In addition, we explain the €250 training price and every applicable BSAC fee in writing before you confirm.
Easy upgrade
Likewise, the Ocean Diver modules can follow in the same stay or on the next holiday, with nothing repeated.
Questions
BSAC Discovery Diver questions and answers
Price and booking
How much does the BSAC Discovery Diver course cost in Hurghada?
The Red Sea Diving price is €250 per person for the local training package. However, applicable BSAC registration, eLearning, membership and certification fees are separate.
Are BSAC fees included in the €250 price?
No. The €250 covers the Red Sea Diving training package in Hurghada. Therefore we charge any applicable BSAC fees separately and explain them before you confirm.
Is diving equipment included?
We include tanks and weights. Nevertheless, we confirm the exact equipment package with your booking, so tell us if you need full rental equipment and we arrange the correct sizes.
Can I complete the course during my holiday in Hurghada?
Yes. In fact, that is what it is for: a short program that fits inside a holiday, provided that the eLearning is finished before you arrive.
Requirements
Do I need previous diving experience?
No. BSAC Discovery Diver is an entry-level course, so it starts from the very beginning.
What is the minimum age for BSAC Discovery Diver?
Ten years, which makes it the BSAC course for children too young for Ocean Diver. Younger children can start with the PADI programs we run from age eight.
Do I need a medical certificate or a swim test?
Everyone completes the BSAC medical declaration, and the answers may call for a physician’s clearance. In addition, you need to be able to swim 200 meters at any pace.
What happens if the weather is unsuitable?
Safety comes first. Consequently, training locations, dive schedules or activities may change because of wind, sea conditions or other safety considerations.
The course and after
How deep can a BSAC Discovery Diver dive?
To 12 meters in controlled conditions, under the direct supervision of a Dive Leader or higher-grade diver. Moreover, this grade does not permit any dive with decompression stops.
How many open water dives are included?
At least two. However, we add an extra dive whenever a skill needs more time.
Can I upgrade to BSAC Ocean Diver later?
Yes. Discovery Diver is a subset of Ocean Diver, so the upgrade is only a few more modules and dives, with nothing repeated.
Does the qualification include Nitrox?
Yes. As with every BSAC entry-level grade, a Discovery Diver is qualified to use enriched air up to 36 percent oxygen.
Book your BSAC Discovery Diver course
Send us your name, your age, your arrival and departure dates, your hotel in Hurghada, whether you can swim 200 meters, your equipment requirements and any medical information relevant to safe participation. Then we confirm availability, your course schedule and the applicable BSAC fees in writing before booking. For liveaboard diving in Egypt see also redsealiveaboard.net, and read the current fitness guidance from Divers Alert Network.
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Prefer to talk? Message us on WhatsApp or call +20 105 005 6542. In fact, we answer 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Red Sea Diving, Madares Street, Hurghada 1, Hurghada 84511, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt. Diving and training here since 2000.
This page was last reviewed by the Red Sea Diving instructor team in September 2026.
