Fun underwater discovering Scuba with Blue Planet Dive Center | Dubrovnik Croatia
Come under the sea. The Adriatic Sea with my family and me as we discover Scuba Diving for the first time, all five of us together. What a perfect first experience for our two youngest. My husband and I have been certified for many years, it was kind of a requisite entry card to be part of my family at the time. My parents liked diving and took us many wonderful places in our young adulthood. I have wanted to share the mystery and amazement of the underwater world with my children for awhile. As lovers of snorkelling, they were ready and eager.
Two years ago, our eldest was certified in Roatán, in the Bay Islands of Honduras. Our middle son has been dying to try since we moved abroad. And he really wanted to dive in Croatia. Specifically. We’d seen pictures, read stories and investigated options. But visiting Croatia in October is a little late in the season for diving as we found many operators close up shop at the end of September when water seeking adventurers start tapering off.
Lucky for us, Blue Planet Dive Center down south in Dubrovnik was still going strong. Their PADI sanctioned facility sits right on the water at the beautiful Hotel Dubrovnik Palace. We were not guests of the hotel and were not staying in this part of town. No worries – Blue Planet will pick you up free of charge. We were scooped up from our apartment in the big Blue Planet van by Marko who would be diving with us later that day.
DISCOVER SCUBA DIVING COURSE
Discover Scuba Diving is a PADI course aimed at teaching through experiencing. After about an hour of lessons on air pressure, buoyancy at different depths and safety underwater – the best way to learn diving is to do it. Your first dive will only be to a maximum of 6 meters. That’s 20 feet deep. This isn’t so deep. A perfect depth in fact to ensure everyone is comfortable with their equipment and able to maintain a buoyancy that will allow them to move smoothly through the water and not damage the fragile underwater ecosystem. This is especially important with slightly squirrely younger divers.
Included with your course is all the necessary equipment. We had our own masks, snorkels and fins, but ended up using Blue Planet’s as it was in better condition than ours. Full wetsuits with hoods and booties were recommended as the water temperatures were about 21 degrees Celsius. 71 degrees Fahrenheit. While this is warm enough for us Scandi conditioned swimmers to take a dip, it can be cold for diving any length of time.
We suited up and got an overview of our gear. Josko Bobanovic, our friendly and patient dive master showed the kids how to set up our BCD’s (buoyancy compensating devices), regulators and tanks. As beginners, this was done for the children. Safety checks secure, we’re ready to go. Above water, once geared, we felt heavy and cumbersome toddling to the stairs where we would step into the sea.
One by one – we make our way in, and feel the cool water fill up our suits. It doesn’t stay cold for long as the neoprene creates a nice barrier and our body heat warms the small layer of water to keep us insulated. Slowly and carefully, the dive masters instruct us to descend, right there near the shore. They make sure everyone’s equipment feels fine and that we can all easily dip beneath the surface.
We give the OK signal and we’re ready to really try this thing. Together. All of us! We head down and slowly follow our dive masters. Josko takes the two youngest rookies and keeps them close and safe. Marko, our morning escort, stays with the three certified divers so the newbies can have some space.
Because we don’t go very deep on the kids’ very first dive – we can stay down for nearly 45 minutes. The Adriatic is not known for is amazing corals or substantive fish life – but there was still so much to see. Little fish in swarms and octopus and sea cucumbers and brilliant fire worms. Don’t touch!
Round one complete. Smiles and high fives all around. We relax and lunch on the patio of the hotel. Delicious and quick with stunning sea views. The kids warm up in the resort hot tub as we process the progress. Soon, a second slightly deeper afternoon dive affords cuttlefish and many more octopus and more memories made.
With two dives under their belt and an official PADI Discover Scuba certification obtained, our youngest divers can now credit these dives towards their Junior Open Water Certification if completed within a year.
I can highly recommend Blue Planet Dive Center for a smooth and safe introduction to the beautiful world of Scuba Diving. Thank you to Josko Bobanovic and Marko Crnjak for their patience and education. All underwater photos and videos courtesy of them!
GOOD TO KNOW:
Blue Planet Dive Center
at the Hotel Dubrovnik Palace
Masarykov put 20, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia
+385 91 899 0973
Discover Scuba Diving Course
2 dives with full equipment included
720 Croatian Kuna per person (95 EUR) in cash.
You must be a minimum of 10 years old to dive.
Book your dives at least 1 – 2 days in advance via email.
Discovery scuba diving is a small one day course which includes two dives, first one to 6 m is performed from 9:30 AM to 12:00 and second done to 12 m from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM. The course is registered in PADI database and credited towards OWD course. Your children can make remaining 7 dives in any PADI center in the world within one year.The course is performed from the shore, on our house reef. We can also offer your free of charge pick up and drop off after the second dive on Dubrovnik area.” – Blue Planet Dive Center
I’d love to try scuba diving, but I’m a little bit afraid I’ll get underwater and freak out. I’m not the best swimmer to begin with, so there is also that. My husband and I considered trying this in Hawaii when we go in February, but ultimately decided against it. We just didn’t think we’d have enough time. Maybe one day though. It looks like a lot of fun if I can get past my fears/worries! 🙂
Have you ever done snorkeling? That is really the best way to get comfortable in the water! Try that first – there are many amazing places to try in Hawaii which has excellent sea life to check out. Which island are you heading to? Did you already tell me?
great experience!:)
We loved it Tanja! Just icing on the cake for our Croatian experience!
Love the photo by the anchor!
That was my son’s fave too! Cheers from much chillier Copenhagen! Erin
Wow! Never been scuba diving before and to be honest a little terrified to. However, this sounds kind of fun. 🙂 Maybe one day I’ll muster up the courage to go. Thanks for sharing! #weekendwanderlust
A discover Scuba course is a perfect way to try. Make sure it is a small group and the dive master is aware of your anxiety – they are used to it and can help make it a safe and enjoyable experience!
Thats so awesome! My husband and I talk about learning to scuba dive one day. I love how its a requisite in your family and now you’ve passed it on to your kids! #WeekendWanderlust
What a brilliant gift to your children! It was my husband who gifted me my certification and what a wonderful investment to our relationship it has been to be able to witness the underwater world. We’re making the most of living in Fiji and exploring as much of the underwater world here as possible while we have the chance. Still so many other places we hope to explore in our future! #weekendwanderlust
Bucket list to scuba dive in Fiji! We will work towards everyone being certified hopefully soon! Cheers from Copenhagen, Erin
Just did this ourselves… Fiji Siren… AMAZING experience!!!! Can’t recommend it enough!!!
Ah my kids would love to do this, they did try a little diving on a Mark Warner Holiday years ago and haven’t stopped talking about it since. #mondayescapes
It was a lovely environment for beginners. I felt like my children were safe, educated and inspired. Cheers from Copenhagen – thanks for stopping by – Erin
This looks great. I grew up diving and actually worked as a dive guide for a PADI school in Thailand during my year out travelling after uni but, I’m afraid to say, I’ve sort of lost touch with the sport. Shame really and I’ve no idea why other than other things took over. You’ve definitely given me impetus to do some on my next trip abroad.
#mondayescapes
Must have been such an amazing experience! I would be terrified.. maybe I will do it someday!
Hi Krista! Have you ever been snorkeling? Do you like that? I would say that is a great way to get comfortable in the water before scuba diving. And you can take resort diving courses where you try on the equipment in the pool to start with until you are comfortable. It is an amazing experience! Cheers from Copenhagen and Happy New Year!
I have been snorkelling! It was in the middle of the Caribbean where we just hopped off the boat and there was no land. The water was probably 30-50 ft deep! It was incredible! I’ll definitely have to take a course and get comfortable before scuba diving, it would be an incredible experience!
Wow! That sounds amazing! If you can do that – it’s just one more step to Scuba Diving! Cheers to 2017 and new adventures! Erin
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Very cool! I learnt to dive in Cairns on the Great Barrier Reef and then went on a live aboard dive boat trip which I highly recommend. I love diving BUT I prefer to dive in tropical waters..hee hee how pathetic but I just cant bear being cold. Awesome skill to give your kids Erin
amazing! #farawayfiles
It is often the way that families tend to do many of the same sports and share the same interests as each other. It’s only natural I think, and it probably explains why it has never really featured on my radar as something to give a go. I don’t have anyone I know closely that does scuba diving, but you have piqued my interest. Thank you for sharing the story of your family’s involvement in the activity. #FarawayFiles
This is so cool! Croatia and scuba diving are two things on my wish list of experiences to have. Maybe I’ll experience them both together. 😉 #farawayfiles
I love snorkelling, but I have never considered to try diving. I don’t know why, really. I think I should attend such diving course as you did. This one you’ve mentioned sounds like a great one. Thanks for sharing! #FarawayFiles
What a great experience for your kids, Erin! Mine are really keen too but I want to get them more comfortable with snorkelling first. #FarawayFiles
Definitely snorkelling is the perfect place to get kids comfortable in the water – when you’re all ready – the Discover Scuba Diving course is a great place to start. Most PADI dive centers should offer them!
Such an amazing experience! I’ve always been really bad at diving in school swimming lessons though so I’m not sure I’d be good at it but I’d love to give it a try one day 🙂
Van – you don’t have to be an olympic swimmer (or diver) to be able to Scuba Dive. You do need to be comfortable in the water and there are ways to work up to Scuba Diving. Snorkelling is a great way to start!
I’ve never scuba dived before. Frankly I’m quite terrified of the whole idea. What an amazing way to explore the underwater world though. I’ll have to stick to aquariums until I overcome my fear. :p #FarawayFiles
Everyone has their own comfort zones! And even though we’ve seen lots of fish snokelling and now scuba diving, we still love a good aquarium. I’m sure your corner of the world has wonderful ones! Cheers, Erin
Much as I would love to see the fishes, I’m afraid that my fear of getting stuck is so great that I would need serious therapy before donning a wetsuit!
I will admit, I didn’t love the wetsuit either and am used to diving places where you don’t really need one – my dive record is pretty cushy and tropical. Do you like snorkelling? That is a perfect way to get water comfort up and see amazing wildlife!
How fun that your entire family is interested in the same activity! I’m not too sure about scuba as i’m a bit claustrophobic and it has always sounded scary, but your explanation makes me think I might be able to try this sometime! Never say never, right?! #farawayfiles
Never say never exactly! Do you guys go snorkelling at all out there in Cali? My kids learned in Hawaii (too cold to swim in ocean in Oregon!) It is a great way to get comfortable in the water and enjoy the underwater world. Cheers from Copenhagen, Erin
So far zero Snorkeling, but maybe I’ll look into it…
Whoaaa! What a great experience to share as a family! I like when kids are exposed to such neat experiences since a young age. I think that would help them to be more adventurous in general. I am a bit afraid of open water, so, I will be happy if I can learn to snorkel (at least that). #farawayfiles
Yes Ruth – start simple. Find a good beach with nice warm clear water and a sandy bottom – best way to learn snorkelling!
Looks like fun – I wish it is something I could do but unfortunately I hate fish – like really hate fish ? ? so this would terrify the life out of me!!
Isn’t Croatia wonderful!
Yes – probably not a good activity for you then! Believe it or not – they are more afraid of you! We absolutely loved Croatia.
Scuba diving in Croatia sounds absolutely amazing! Being able to share that with your family must have been great as well – I wish I had done cool things like that when I was a kid! #farawayfiles
Croatia is so lovely. The people, the food, the landscape, the water. It was truly a very special thing to have done with our whole family. Thanks for joining in #FarawayFiles – cheers from Copenhagen, Erin
Wow, I never knew that diving is available for kids. Had always thought that you have to be minimum 18 years of age to go diving. It must have been a wonderful family trip and is fantastic to have every member enjoying diving – a common interest – great for future family-bonding trips. Btw, your daughter looks like you 🙂 #farawayfiles.
The children will only be able to receive Jr. Open Water Diving certificates at first – which they can upgrade when they are old enough. It limits how deep they can dive. They have only recently in the past 5 years lowered the age to 10, some shops won’t take children under 12. It depends on the kid. Cheers from Copenhagen, Erin
That’s a wonderful family experience to have, Erin! As someone who has been struggling to overcome my fear of drowning and trying to learn to swim, I enjoyed reading about your family’s enjoyment of the diving adventure.
Are you taking swim lessons to feel more comfortable in the water Ahila? Overcoming fears can be a great challenge. Mine usually has to do with heights! I keep putting myself up there though, although my kids laugh at me when I get nervous every time! Oh well. Cheers, Erin
I started swimming lessons several times but stopped them after a couple of lessons because the swimming instructor(s) didn’t seem to understand my phobia. I did find a great instructor while I was studying in London, but that was towards the end of my year there so only managed to go for a few lessons. I do know that I can overcome my fear if I continue swimming lessons with a similar understanding instructor but haven’t come across one here yet. And, I also have a fear of heights, Erin, but I always end up climbing hills and high lookout points, when I travel, as I generally tend to push myself to face/ address my fears.
This looks amazing! I didn’t know scuba diving was a thing you could do in Croatia! I’ve always anted to try but never been somewhere that offers it at the time I am there (seasoned off season traveller here) Great post! looks like you and the family had a great time #farafwayfiles
Have you been to Croatia? We loved it. Can highly recommend travel there – good food, nice people, beautiful landscape! Cheers, Erin
I remember reading this post before and thought I had commented on it but don’t see it – so if this is a duplicate it’s for the sake of #farawayfiles ! What a great, adventurous experience to have with the whole fam. I’m a little nervous about scuba diving as I’m claustrophobic (after this and my skiing post you must think I’m a total baby!) but am going to get past it as my girls have expressed interest in it. We’ll see!
How do you feel when you go snorkeling? That is a good place to start! Then maybe Snuba? Only 20′ max and no heavy equipment!
Grrrr… I’ve never tried this. One good thing about having kids is that you usually get the chance to experience things missed out on during your own youth. So hopefully it won’t be too long before Child #1 gets the scuba diving idea and we can give it a go together. Great post – thanks! #FarawayFiles
Snorkelling is a great way to get kids interested in the underwater world. Probably not a ton of opportunities near Luxembourg, but maybe something to seek out when travelling! Cheers, Erin
Wow! When I was a kid, we just went tidepooling! I love that video of the octopus. I don’t know if I would like diving myself, but it does look like fun, and the pictures are beautiful. What a cool activity to do as a family! #FarawayFiles
We grew up tidepooling as well – a very popular activity on the Oregon Coast. The interest in sea life started early – snorkeling is a great start to gain a comfort level in the water! Cheers from Copenhagen, Erin
My hometown in California has a big aquarium, so I loved learning about the sea and all the creatures when I was younger (I was really into sea monsters for awhile, haha.) But somehow I’ve never liked swimming! Maybe I need to try snorkeling in warmer waters…
Snorkeling in crystal clear warm blue waters with lots of colorful fish and maybe a sea turtle or two is a great way to start – especially when you are able to start pointing out all those sea creatures you saw growing up! Cheers, Erin
Looks like a truly fantastic maiden voyage for your fresh scuba diver kids! It must have bee a really special and proud moment to enjoy this together as a family. I bet you’re all already planning your next trip together! #FarawayFiles
Believe it or not Ali – we don’t have any dive trips planned yet for 2017! But they need to get a few more in to be able to take advantage of the accumulated hours we did in Croatia to turn those Discover Scuba courses into actual certifications! Cheers from Copenhagen, Erin
I’ve always wanted to try scuba diving but can’t because of my ears. It looks like a fab place to learn #fearlessfamtrav
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