Nervous about your first scuba dive? Here is exactly what happens on a Try Dive in Koh Lipe — briefing, gear, shallow-water practice and your first breaths on the reef.
24 July 2026 · updated 7 September 2026 · by La Bombona Diving Koh Lipe
Key takeaway. On your first scuba dive with La Bombona Diving in Koh Lipe, you’ll start with a short theory briefing, gear up with equipment sized and checked by your instructor, practise a few basic skills in shallow, calm water, then head out to an easy beginner-friendly reef for your first breaths underwater. No certification or prior experience is required. This is called a Try Dive, and it’s the standard first step for anyone trying scuba diving for the first time.
If you’ve never been underwater before, it’s completely normal to have questions. Will it be scary? Do you need to be a strong swimmer? What if your ears hurt or your mask floods? This guide walks through exactly what happens on your first dive in Koh Lipe, what beginner divers usually feel, and how La Bombona Diving’s small-group approach makes that first breath underwater feel calm instead of overwhelming.
A first dive is slower and more guided than most people expect. You are never handed a tank and asked to figure everything out on your own. Here’s how it usually goes:
Most first-time divers say the hardest part is trusting that it is safe to breathe underwater. Once they take a few breaths, that feeling usually disappears within a few minutes.
No. If this is your first time diving with a scuba tank, you do not need any certification or previous diving experience. A Try Dive is designed for complete beginners. Your instructor will guide you throughout the experience, either one-on-one or in a group of no more than two.
If you already know you want to become a certified diver, you can join an Open Water course instead. The course includes more detailed training and ends with a certification that lets you dive anywhere in the world.
Preparing for your first dive is easier than most beginners think. A few simple steps can make your experience more comfortable:
If you’re wondering how to learn scuba diving properly instead of trying it just once, your first dive is where the learning begins. You’ll practise real scuba skills such as clearing your mask, breathing calmly, and equalising your ears. The instructor teaches everything at a beginner-friendly pace.
You do not need to buy or bring any scuba gear for your first dive. The dive centre provides everything you need, including a mask, fins, wetsuit, BCD, tank, and regulator.
Pack the following:
Also, let your instructor know about any medication you’re currently taking and any medical conditions or concerns they should be aware of before your dive.
Before your first dive, your instructor explains the basics in simple language. You do not need to worry about complicated diving terms. The briefing usually covers:
Before you enter open water, you’ll practise these skills in shallow, calm water. In most cases, you can stand or kneel on the bottom while you practise. This gives you a chance to try each skill before the actual dive. By the time you head to the reef, you’ll already know what to do and feel much more confident.
For a Try Dive, the maximum depth is 12 metres (40 feet). Your instructor decides how deep you’ll go based on the water conditions and how comfortable you feel. You do not have to dive to the maximum depth.
Many first dives stay much shallower. Koh Lipe has several beginner-friendly dive sites where you can see colourful reef fish and soft corals even close to the surface.
Scuba diving is an adventure activity, but it is very safe when you follow the instructions and dive with a trained instructor. For beginners, a safe first dive depends on a few simple things:
Koh Lipe is one of the best places in Thailand for beginner divers. The water is warm, the sea is usually calm, and visibility is often very good. At La Bombona Diving, first-time divers are taught in groups of no more than two per instructor. This allows instructors to give each person more attention and support throughout the dive.
La Bombona Diving teaches scuba courses through RAID (Rebreather Association of International Divers). RAID is an internationally recognised scuba training agency, just like PADI and SSI.
Here are the main differences that beginners usually ask about:
For your first scuba experience, the training agency is not the most important factor. What matters most is having a skilled instructor who gives you personal attention and helps you feel comfortable throughout the dive.
You do not need to be a strong swimmer to try scuba diving. What matters most is feeling comfortable in the water. You should be able to float, stay calm, and follow your instructor’s instructions. Scuba diving is slow and relaxed. You are not swimming laps. You move gently through the water.
If you are a weak swimmer, cannot swim, or feel nervous in the water, tell the dive centre when you book your dive. Your instructor can spend more time helping you feel comfortable in shallow water before going to the dive site. You will only enter open water when you are ready. We cover this in detail in Can Non-Swimmers Scuba Dive?
Feeling nervous before your first scuba dive is completely normal. Most beginners feel both excited and a little anxious. Many worry about breathing underwater, using unfamiliar equipment, or not knowing what to expect.
These simple tips can help:
Most first-time divers say their fear disappears within the first few minutes underwater. Once they realise they can breathe comfortably, they start to relax and enjoy the experience.
Koh Lipe sits inside the Tarutao National Marine Park. The beginner-friendly dive sites here are full of colourful marine life. You may see soft corals in shades of pink and purple, reef fish, seahorses, nudibranchs, and sometimes even turtles or rays.
No dive centre can guarantee sightings of specific animals. That is true at every dive destination. Even without seeing a turtle or ray, most first-time divers are amazed by the colourful coral reefs and the variety of fish.
Two things have the biggest impact on your first scuba diving experience. The first is calm water. The second is a small group size.
Koh Lipe has many shallow and calm dive sites. These conditions are ideal for beginners and anyone who feels nervous about their first dive.
Small dive groups allow your instructor to spend more time with you. You get more guidance and support throughout the dive.
At La Bombona Diving, beginner groups are kept to two people per instructor. This gives every first-time diver more personal attention and enough time to learn at a comfortable pace.
Keep these simple tips in mind during your first dive:
If you enjoy your first dive, the next step is to take an Open Water certification course. The course includes:
After you earn your certification, you can scuba dive with a certified buddy anywhere in the world. You can also continue your training with the Advanced course and specialities such as deep diving or night diving. Around Koh Lipe, experienced divers can also explore advanced dive sites like Stonehenge and 8 Mile Rock.
Your first scuba dive should be exciting and enjoyable. With experienced instructors, small group sizes, and beginner-friendly dive sites, La Bombona Diving makes it easy to feel comfortable in the water.
If you have never tried scuba diving before, a Try Dive is the perfect place to start. It lets you experience breathing underwater in a safe and supportive environment. If you enjoy it, you can take the next step and earn your scuba certification.
Yes. A first dive is slow, shallow, and fully supervised by an instructor. Most beginners can enjoy it even if they have never tried a water sport before.
No. La Bombona Diving’s Try Dive is designed for beginners. You can try scuba diving with an instructor without having any certification.
A first dive goes to a maximum depth of 12 metres (40 feet). Your instructor decides the depth based on the conditions and your comfort level.
Yes. You do not need to be a strong swimmer. You should feel comfortable in the water and be able to follow your instructor’s instructions. If you have limited swimming ability, tell the dive centre before your dive.
RAID and PADI are both internationally recognised scuba training agencies. Both certifications are accepted around the world. The quality of your instructor is usually more important than the name of the training agency.
A Try Dive is a full-day experience, running from around 9:30 am to 4:45 pm, including the briefing, lunch, and the boat trip out to the dive site. An Open Water certification course takes three days.
Panic is uncommon during a beginner dive. If you feel uncomfortable, stop, keep breathing, and signal your instructor. They are trained to help you stay calm and solve the problem.
Yes. Children from age 10 can join a Try Dive and can start the Junior Open Water Diver course from the same age, with parental consent for anyone under 18. Safety is the priority, and programmes are tailored to different age groups.
Bring swimwear, a towel, a change of dry clothes, reef-safe sunscreen, and a water bottle. The dive centre provides all of the scuba equipment you need.
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