The Bubblemaker is the easiest introduction to diving there is: a day trip by boat, snorkelling first, then 30 minutes of one-to-one diving with their own instructor — no deeper than two metres, with no test at all. Still, there are a few things you should sort out beforehand so the big day stays completely relaxed.
What the Bubblemaker is — and what it isn’t
The Bubblemaker is an experience programme, not a certification course. At the end your child gets a PADI Bubblemaker certificate, but no diving licence. Afterwards they may not dive independently.
What they get instead: the first breath underwater, the feeling of weightlessness and, as a rule, a very good day on the boat. A real certification, valid worldwide, is available from age 10 with the Junior Open Water Diver.
Age: 8 years, no exceptions
The minimum age of eight is a PADI standard, not a house rule. We make no exceptions — not even for a particularly tall or particularly water-confident seven-year-old.
For younger siblings, snorkelling on the shallow reef is the alternative. Honestly, many six- and seven-year-olds are even more excited about snorkelling than diving — you see more, you’re free, and nobody has anything in their mouth.
Swimming skills: less than you think
For the Bubblemaker your child doesn’t need to be a confident swimmer. The dive takes place at a shallow, sheltered spot — and because it’s one-to-one, the instructor is within arm’s reach for the whole 30 minutes.
What’s needed: your child should feel comfortable in the water and not panic when water splashes in their face. A child who ducks under voluntarily in the pool is ready.
It’s different for the Junior Open Water Diver: 200 metres of swimming and ten minutes of treading water are required there — but with no time limit.
Medical certificate: only sometimes
Before the course you fill in a medical questionnaire. For most families every question is answered with no, and that settles it.
If a question is answered with yes, a clearance from a diving physician is needed. Most often this concerns:
- asthma — even if there hasn’t been an attack for a long time
- recurring middle ear infections
- grommets (as long as they are in place: a clear exclusion criterion)
- epilepsy or a history of seizures
- certain long-term medications
Our urgent advice: sort this out before the trip. Getting clearance at home from your paediatrician or a diving doctor is far more relaxed than organising it in Hurghada on the day of the course. Write to us beforehand about what applies to you — we’ll then tell you exactly what you need.
The day: a whole day on the boat 🌊
This is what a Bubblemaker day looks like:
- 🌅 Pick-up between 7:30 and 8:30 am — we collect you at the hotel and take you to the boat.
- 🤿 Briefing on board — your child learns the secret hand signals of divers and a special sign for each sea creature to say “hello”. Plus: what helps when the ears feel pressure? All playful, nothing to memorise.
- 🐟 Stop 1: snorkelling — discovering the colourful underwater world from above first.
- 🫧 Stop 2: diving — 30 minutes, one instructor for one child, no deeper than two metres. Breaks any time.
- 🍽️ Lunch and soft drinks on board.
- 🏆 Bubblemaker certificate — to show off proudly at home.
One parent comes along for free and experiences the whole day up close. Whether you watch, take photos or get in the water yourself at the snorkelling stop is up to you — snorkelling including snorkel gear is included. Anyone with a diving certification may also dive along, likewise included; only those who need rental diving equipment for it pay €15 extra per day. Diving along must be stated when booking, though.
Cost: €149, and what’s included
The Bubblemaker costs €149 per child. Included are:
- the boat day trip for your child and one parent
- briefing, snorkelling stop and 30 minutes of one-to-one diving with a PADI Instructor
- lunch and soft drinks on board
- complete equipment in children’s sizes
- PADI Bubblemaker certificate
- hotel transfer within Hurghada, there and back
Not included are the transfer surcharge for Makadi Bay, Soma Bay, Sahl Hasheesh and El Gouna (€20 per day per vehicle) and any medical clearance that may be needed.
If a parent does their own course at the same time, it gets cheaper: the Bubblemaker together with the Open Water Diver costs €499 as a family package — around 4% cheaper, made possible by Funny Divers.
Two siblings? Usually easier
Together the adventure is twice the fun — and in our experience it’s more relaxed. The one who hesitates watches the other first — and then is often the first in the water after all. The diving is still one-to-one: each child has their own 30 minutes with the instructor. The double package costs €289 — around 3% cheaper.
With a bigger age gap there’s the combination Bubblemaker plus Junior Open Water Diver — each child gets the course that suits their age.
What you need to bring
Swimwear, towel, sun protection, a hat, a water bottle and your passport for registration. Nothing else — we provide all the equipment.
Please leave masks from the hotel shop in your room. They almost never fit properly, and a leaking mask is the most common reason for a dive being stopped.
And if it doesn’t work out?
Then we stop. No persuading, no discussion, and we charge fairly for what actually took place. Let us know beforehand if you think it’s likely — then we’ll plan the day differently from the start. You still have the rest of the boat trip anyway: snorkelling, sun deck, fish watching.