REVIEW · MALLORCA
Mallorca PRIVATE Reservation*Scuba dive + photo/video
Book on Viator →Operated by IKIGAI SCUBA · Bookable on Viator
First-time scuba can feel calm. In Palma with IKIGAI SCUBA, you get private 1-to-2 coaching from Alex or Jose, and GoPro Hero 10 photos and videos as you learn the basics. The only catch I’d flag up front: your booking price is just the start, and there’s an extra per-person on-the-day fee for rental equipment and media.
What I like most is how hands-on and reassurance-first the teaching is. You start from shore, you’ll get a short theory session, and the instructor stays close the whole time so you can focus on breathing and buoyancy—not performing. One possible drawback is that the provided fee info is a little confusing on paper, so you’ll want to confirm the exact split before you go.
You’ll also get a real chunk of time underwater—45–50 minutes of being under (around 1 hour in the water). And if the weather cooperates, you might spot octopus, cuttlefish, moray eel, and several small reef fish near the group.
In This Review
- Key Highlights You’ll Actually Care About
- A Private Starter Session in Palma (With Alex or Jose)
- Price Reality: What the Low Booking Price Doesn’t Tell You
- Where You Meet and How the Timing Works
- Step-by-Step: Theory, Gear Practice, and Your First Breathing Patterns
- The short theory phase
- Gear adaptation in the water (starting easy)
- Safety support that’s more “hands-on” than you might expect
- Your Underwater Time: 45–50 Minutes at Around 5–6 Meters
- What You Might See: Octopus, Cuttlefish, and Nearby Reef Fish
- Photos and Video With GoPro Hero 10: Worth It for First-Timers
- Who This Suits Best (and Who Might Reconsider)
- Palma Base, Easy Access, and a Calm Pace
- Quick FAQ: Depth, Swimming, and What’s Covered
- FAQ
- How deep do I go?
- Is this private?
- Do I need to know how to swim?
- What happens before we enter the water?
- How long will I be underwater?
- What extra fees should I expect?
- Should You Book This Scuba Starter Session?
Key Highlights You’ll Actually Care About
This is a great match if:
- You’re trying scuba for the first time and you want extra reassurance
- You’re nervous and want a calmer format with close instructor support
- You care about getting underwater media without managing a camera yourself
- You want shallow exploration around 1 to 5–6 meters with clear, simple guidance
You might reconsider if:
- You don’t want to deal with extra on-the-day fees for rental equipment and media, especially given the slightly unclear 100€ vs 110€ detail.
- You have tight travel timing around flying, since you’re advised against flying 12 hours after scuba-related timing.
Language-wise, English is offered, and there are options for French and other languages for theory. If you’re comfortable in English or you can use the theory translation option, you’re set.
Palma Base, Easy Access, and a Calm Pace
You meet in the Bendinat area near a transit-friendly point, and the water location is about 15 minutes by car from Palma city. That’s an easy base for people staying in Palma.
The schedule is also humane. You’re not spending half a day on logistics. The full experience is roughly 2 hours, with the underwater time built in.
And the private format affects more than comfort. It also affects learning speed. When your instructor is fully focused on you (and just you and one partner, max), you get quicker corrections and fewer seconds of uncertainty. That reduces the risk that nerves snowball into a real problem.
Quick FAQ: Depth, Swimming, and What’s Covered
FAQ
How deep do I go?
The plan is described as an instructor-led experience up to 5 meters, with 6 meters maximum stated in the session details.
Is this private?
Yes. It’s described as private, with 1 instructor for up to 2 people, and only your group participates.
Do I need to know how to swim?
No. You don’t need to know how to swim, and the instructor supports you during the session.
What happens before we enter the water?
You do about 10 minutes of theory in very simple English (with a French option noted as online theory by phone).
How long will I be underwater?
You should plan for 45–50 minutes underwater (about 1 hour in the water).
What extra fees should I expect?
The details you have say there’s an on-the-day per-person fee connected to rental equipment (and also the photo/video package), listed as 110€ per person, and an additional note mentions 100€ per person for insurance and rental of equipment. Confirm the exact amount and what it covers when you book.
Should You Book This Scuba Starter Session?
Yes—if you’re first-timer level and you want a calm, guided start with close support, this is the kind of experience that actually makes people want to do it again. The most praised ingredients are consistent: patient instructors Alex and Jose, a safety-focused approach (holding you and helping with equipment), no swimming required, and GoPro Hero 10 photos and video that capture the whole story.
Just do one homework step: confirm the exact on-the-day per-person cost breakdown for rental equipment, insurance (if included), and the photo/video package. Once that’s clear, you can focus on what matters—learning to breathe underwater and seeing creatures like octopus and cuttlefish close enough to feel real.
