Try Scuba Diving (10+)

The Try Scuba at Dive Rutland is pool-based and aimed at anyone aged 10 or over who wants to find out if diving is for them before committing to a full course. At £85 it's positioned as a low-stakes first contact — not a certification, just a proper go in the water with full equipment and an instructor alongside.

The session is taught by SSI-certified instructors mentored in-house by SSI Instructor Trainer Tracey Roberts, so even a one-off experience gets the same standard of supervision as a full course. Reviewers have specifically noted that the pool session was more thorough than they expected.

For anyone buying this as a gift or accompanying a nervous first-timer, it's worth knowing the centre has a stated focus on calm, non-pressured instruction. A 49-year-old first-timer describes being put at ease immediately — so it's not just marketed that way.

If the experience goes well, the progression into SSI Scuba Diver (from £300) or SSI Open Water Diver (from £400) is a natural next step, and the team will talk you through options without pushing.