BSAC Ocean Diver · Learn to Dive · Hurghada
BSAC Ocean Diver Course in Hurghada
Learn to scuba dive in the Red Sea with the British Sub-Aqua Club’s entry-level qualification. Two to three days in the water after six eLearning modules at home: five sheltered-water sessions and at least four open water dives, taught by Red Sea Diving on the reefs around Hurghada. No previous experience is needed, and you qualify to 20 meters.
What is the BSAC Ocean Diver course?
The BSAC Ocean Diver course is the entry-level scuba qualification of the British Sub-Aqua Club, the equivalent of an open water certification. In Hurghada it costs €350 per person for the training, with BSAC registration, eLearning, membership and certification fees charged separately. Candidates must be at least twelve, comfortable in the water and able to swim 200 meters. The course takes two to three days in Hurghada once the six eLearning modules are done at home, covering five sheltered-water sessions and a minimum of four open water dives, and it qualifies you to dive to 20 meters. Red Sea Diving runs it on the reefs around Hurghada as a BSAC training center.
Moreover, the €350 covers exactly what happens here: the instruction, the sheltered-water sessions, the training dives, the boat, the tanks and the transfers within Hurghada. Therefore any BSAC fee that applies is explained in writing before you confirm, and nothing is added at the end. The program follows the standards published for the BSAC Ocean Diver course.
BSAC Ocean Diver in Hurghada at a glance
| Course | BSAC Ocean Diver, the British Sub-Aqua Club entry-level qualification |
|---|---|
| Price | €350 per person, training only |
| BSAC fees | Registration, eLearning, membership and certification, charged separately where they apply |
| Level | Beginner, no previous diving experience needed |
| Duration | 2 to 3 days in Hurghada, with the theory completed online beforehand |
| Minimum age | 12 years |
| Qualification depth | 20 meters |
| Theory | 6 modules, most of them completed through BSAC eLearning before arrival |
| Sheltered water | 5 sessions in the pool or the sheltered shallows |
| Open water | Minimum 4 training dives on the reefs around Hurghada |
| Swim test | 200 meters, at any pace |
| Location | Hurghada, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt |
| Season | Year round, water 22 to 29 °C |
| 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 Ocean Diver course differ from PADI Open Water?
Both are entry-level certifications recognized worldwide, and both are taught here. By contrast, the differences sit in the details. BSAC Ocean Diver qualifies you to 20 meters rather than 18, it opens from age twelve rather than fifteen, and it includes Nitrox up to 36 percent and basic rescue skills from the very first course.
Furthermore, BSAC is a club-based organization, so the qualification comes with a membership and a route into club diving in the UK. Consequently it suits divers who plan to keep diving at home with a club, whereas the PADI Open Water Diver suits those who mostly dive on holiday.
In short, neither is better. Choose the one whose next steps match where you will actually dive, and ask us if you are unsure.
What does the BSAC Ocean Diver course teach?
Equipment
Understanding, preparing and checking basic scuba equipment, so that nothing about the kit is a mystery by the first dive.
Buoyancy and control
Neutral buoyancy, trim and controlled descents and ascents. Above all, the skill that makes every later dive comfortable.
Mask and regulator skills
Clearing, recovering and replacing, until they become automatic rather than alarming.
Communication and buddy diving
Hand signals, buddy checks and the procedures that keep two divers together underwater.
Dive planning
Depth, time, gas and the environment, as well as how pressure affects the body and the equipment.
Problem management
Recognizing and managing common diving problems early, because prevention is simpler than rescue.
Rescue basics
Indeed, BSAC teaches basic rescue skills from the first course rather than saving them for later.
Nitrox
Likewise, Ocean Divers qualify to use enriched air up to 36 percent, which most entry-level courses leave out.
Open water practice
Finally, safe open water diving on real Red Sea reefs, with an instructor beside you throughout.
However, the aim is not simply to complete exercises. In other words, we want you to finish the course feeling comfortable, controlled and confident underwater.
How is the BSAC Ocean Diver course scheduled?
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Theory, before you arrive
First of all, complete the BSAC eLearning modules at home, so your holiday time goes into the water rather than a classroom.
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Sheltered water, sessions 1 to 3
Next, breathing, equipment use, buoyancy and the first mask and regulator skills in the pool or the sheltered shallows.
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Sheltered water, sessions 4 and 5
Then rescue basics, problem management and a full run-through of everything before it moves into the sea.
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Open water, dives 1 and 2
Afterward, the first two training dives on a sheltered reef, repeating the skills in real conditions.
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Open water, dives 3 and 4
Finally, deeper dives toward the 20-meter limit, the practical assessments and your 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 Ocean Diver course?
- At least twelve years old
- Also, no previous scuba diving experience needed
- Likewise, reasonably comfortable in the water
- In addition, able to swim 200 meters at any pace
- Furthermore, the BSAC medical declaration completed before training
- Above all, medically fit to dive, with a physician’s clearance where the declaration requires it
- Willing to complete the eLearning before the first session
Not sure yet? Try a single day first with Discover Scuba Diving, since it involves no commitment. Moreover, if your holiday is short, the two-day PADI Scuba Diver is the quickest route to a certification card.
What does the €350 price include?
Included
- Professional scuba instruction from a BSAC instructor
- Also, five sheltered-water training sessions
- A minimum of four 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 fees 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
- 15-liter cylinders and Nitrox fills
- 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 beginner exactly what a beginner 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, rays and turtles show up on training dives as readily as on any other.
Furthermore, the season runs all year, so the course fits around your 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 training pace is set by you. Every student develops skills at a different speed, and good diving skills matter more than finishing exercises quickly.
Gallery
Learning to dive in pictures
What comes after BSAC Ocean Diver?
Advanced Ocean Diver
The optional next step from age fourteen. It extends your depth to 30 meters, accompanied by a Sports Diver or above.
Sports Diver
By contrast, the full second grade of the BSAC program, with decompression theory, rescue and dive management. In addition, it opens the door to more than thirty skill development courses.
Dive Leader
Afterward, the grade that lets you plan and lead dives and extends your depth to 50 meters with decompression.
Overall, the BSAC route runs: Ocean Diver → Advanced Ocean Diver → Sports Diver → Dive Leader. Meanwhile, your Ocean Diver card also lets you join any of our daily boat trips within its limits, and a liveaboard week is the fastest way to build experience afterward. On the other hand, the PADI ladder accepts your card too, so Advanced Open Water and Emergency First Response both follow naturally.
Why us
Why train with Red Sea Diving
Safety first
Above all, training decisions follow diver 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.
Professional instruction
Furthermore, skills are introduced progressively and practiced until you are comfortable, not merely until the box is ticked.
Real Red Sea experience
Moreover, you complete your open water training on our own boats, on reefs we dive every day.
Transparent pricing
In addition, the €350 training price and every applicable BSAC fee are explained in writing before you confirm.
No unnecessary rush
Likewise, small groups and personal attention, because every student develops skills at a different pace.
Questions
BSAC Ocean Diver questions and answers
Price and booking
How much does the BSAC Ocean Diver course cost in Hurghada?
The Red Sea Diving price is €350 per person for the local training package. However, applicable BSAC registration, eLearning, materials, membership and certification fees are separate.
Are BSAC fees included in the €350 price?
No. The €350 covers the Red Sea Diving training package in Hurghada. Therefore any applicable BSAC fees are charged separately and explained before you confirm.
Is diving equipment included?
Tanks and weights are included. Nevertheless, the exact equipment package is confirmed 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. The in-water training takes two to three days, so it runs as a concentrated program suited to holiday divers, provided that all required training and assessments are completed.
Requirements
Do I need previous diving experience?
No. BSAC Ocean Diver is designed as an entry-level scuba course, so it starts from the very beginning.
What is the minimum age for BSAC Ocean Diver?
Twelve years, subject to BSAC requirements. Younger children can begin 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 a physician’s clearance may be required depending on your answers. 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 Ocean Diver dive?
The qualification trains you to a maximum depth of 20 meters, subject to appropriate training, experience and conditions.
How many open water dives are included?
The BSAC Ocean Diver program includes a minimum of four open water training dives. However, an extra dive is added whenever a skill needs more time.
Where will I do my open water dives?
At suitable sites around Hurghada in the Egyptian Red Sea. Nevertheless, the exact locations depend on weather, sea conditions, training requirements and diver ability.
What course can I take after BSAC Ocean Diver?
Depending on your experience and current BSAC progression requirements, you can continue with Advanced Ocean Diver and then Sports Diver.
Book your BSAC Ocean Diver course
Send us your name, your age, your arrival and departure dates, your hotel in Hurghada, any previous diving experience, your equipment requirements and any medical information relevant to safe participation. Then we confirm availability, your course schedule and the applicable BSAC fees 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.
