SSI Try Scuba Diving (Introductory Dive)

The introductory dive at Duikcentrum van de Ven runs from their base in Jan Thiel, with two main site options: Tugboat and Caracasbaai. Both are shore dives, no boat involved, which keeps the logistics simple and the experience calmer for first-timers. You walk in from the beach, descend with your instructor, and spend the dive exploring the reef or wreck structure at a pace that suits you.

The Classic version puts you in a group of up to four people per instructor and costs around €80 per person. The VIP version — priced at approximately €89 — gives you a private instructor for your group only, which makes a real difference when one person needs more time to equalize or wants to linger over a particular section of reef. For a first dive, the VIP option tends to be worth the small premium.

The center has been running these introductory dives since 2009 and the format is well-established. Briefing happens at the school, gear is provided, and the instructor stays with you throughout. No prior experience is needed. A medical declaration is required before diving, and the center's website has the relevant form.

Multiple reviews specifically mention how quickly nervous energy dissipates once the briefing starts. The instructors — Angelique, Monique, Gerard, and Johan are the named team members — are described consistently as calm and patient. For guests who have never breathed underwater, that framing matters more than the dive site itself.

Add-on: a photo and video reportage package is available during introductory dives (temporarily suspended May 11 – July 2, 2026). Guests bring their own USB stick to receive the original files.