Try Scuba in Zambia: A First Underwater Experience
By Zambian Outdoor Adventure Company · Updated · 6 min read
Try Scuba is a guided first taste of breathing underwater, open to anyone aged 6 and over. With the Zambian Outdoor Adventure Company, Try Scuba costs K1,500 per person and takes 3–4 hours in a Lusaka pool at Millennium Village, GOGO Fitness and the Radisson Blu Hotel, or in a customer's own pool. The session includes all equipment and a safety briefing, needs no swimming ability, and runs in groups of no more than 4 people, each led by a PADI-certified instructor.
Key takeaways
- K1,500 per person, from age 6
- 3–4 hours, equipment included
- No swimming ability or experience needed
- Ideal for families, younger children and nervous first-timers
What is Try Scuba?
Try Scuba is an easy, guided introduction to breathing underwater, designed for complete beginners and children. At the Zambian Outdoor Adventure Company, a Try Scuba session begins with a safety briefing on dry land, where a PADI-certified instructor explains the equipment, hand signals and the rule to breathe continuously. The instructor then fits each diver's equipment.
Next, divers spend time in shallow water with the instructor beside them, taking their first breaths through the regulator at their own pace. Try Scuba focuses on the experience of breathing underwater rather than on learning skills, which makes the session ideal for younger children and nervous first-timers. Each session costs K1,500 per person and lasts 3–4 hours. For example, a parent unsure whether a child will enjoy scuba can book Try Scuba as a low-pressure first step. In practice, Try Scuba is the quickest way to find out whether diving is for you.
Who is Try Scuba for?
Try Scuba suits four kinds of beginner in Zambia. First, children aged 6 to 9, who are too young for Discover Scuba Diving, which starts at age 10. Second, families who want to share a first underwater experience together. Third, adults who feel nervous about the water and want a gentle start in shallow water.
Finally, non-swimmers, because swimming ability is not required. Every Try Scuba session with the Zambian Outdoor Adventure Company runs in a pool with a PADI-certified instructor and a maximum of 4 people per group. For example, a family of four with children aged 6 and 9 fits into a single Try Scuba group. Anyone with a medical condition should tell the instructor before the session, because some conditions need a doctor's approval before diving. In practice, Try Scuba works best for people who are curious about diving but not yet sure whether they want to learn skills.
What is included in a Try Scuba session?
A Try Scuba session with the Zambian Outdoor Adventure Company includes everything a first-time diver needs. The K1,500 price covers all scuba equipment, including the mask, regulator, cylinder and buoyancy jacket, so nobody needs to buy or rent anything. The session also includes a safety briefing on dry land and a guided shallow-water experience with a PADI-certified instructor.
Divers only need to bring swimwear and a towel. The session lasts 3–4 hours from briefing to finish, which leaves plenty of time for nervous beginners to settle in. Groups have a maximum of 4 people. Try Scuba does not include a certificate of participation; that comes with Discover Scuba Diving, which also introduces basic scuba skills. For example, a child who loves Try Scuba at age 7 can move on to Discover Scuba Diving at age 10. In practice, the equipment fitting is part of the experience.
Should you choose Try Scuba or Discover Scuba Diving?
Try Scuba and Discover Scuba Diving are the two beginner experiences offered by the Zambian Outdoor Adventure Company in Lusaka. Both last 3–4 hours, need no swimming ability and have a maximum of 4 people per group. Try Scuba costs K1,500, starts at age 6 and focuses on a guided first taste of breathing underwater.
Discover Scuba Diving costs K2,200, starts at age 10 and adds an introduction to basic scuba skills plus a digital certificate of participation. For example, a child aged 8 can only join Try Scuba, while a 15-year-old who wants to learn real skills would get more from Discover Scuba Diving. Nervous adults often start with Try Scuba and move on later. In practice, the right choice depends on age and on whether the diver wants an experience or the first steps toward skills.
| Try Scuba | Discover Scuba Diving | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | K1,500 per person | K2,200 per person |
| Minimum age | 6 | 10 |
| Duration | 3–4 hours | 3–4 hours |
| Swimming needed | No | No |
| Group size | Max 4 | Max 4 |
| Includes | Equipment included, Safety briefing, Guided shallow-water experience | Professional scuba equipment, Safety briefing, Pool training session, Introduction to basic scuba skills, Digital certificate of participation |
Where can you Try Scuba in Zambia?
Try Scuba sessions with the Zambian Outdoor Adventure Company run at three venues in Lusaka: Millennium Village, GOGO Fitness and the Radisson Blu Hotel. Families with a private pool can also book Try Scuba at home, because the PADI-certified instructors bring all the scuba equipment to the pool. Every venue offers the same K1,500 price, 3–4 hours session and maximum group size of 4 people.
After Try Scuba, divers in Zambia can progress in several ways. From age 10, Discover Scuba Diving adds basic skills for K2,200. Pond Scuba offers a full day of supervised scuba for K2,500. Beyond Lusaka, the company also dives at Chisamba, Mulungushi Dam, Tiffany's Canyon and Lake Tanganyika. For example, a family could start with Try Scuba at home, then book Pond Scuba for a full day once everyone is confident.