Hey everyone,

I was just curious if there are any places to scuba dive while in Spain? I am sure that there are numerous opportunities along the coast, but are there any mainland areas (perhaps closer to madrid)? Also, does anyone know of particularly good places to dive in Spain?

One final question to those advanced divers out there: I have taken the PADI class and I just need to take my certification dive, do you recommend doing that before I leave the states or is it possible to attain abroad? And my spanish is intermediate at the moment, so will that make it more difficult?

Thanks,
Brian

Hey DizzyDevil, I am no Scuba Diver but I think I can recommend that you take your courses in the U.S., those things tend to be very expensive here.

There is a dive shop/school on Calle Montera just off Puerta del Sol. I am not sure of the street # but they have a big sign up on the 3rd or 4th floor right on your left if you head up the street from Sol towards Gran V�a. May want to check there for diving places and tips.

Also, try www.paginasamarillas.es and do a search on diving ("buceo", "tiendas de buceo", "bucear"), etc... in Madrid. I am sure there are a few. I did a search in Madrid using the word "buceo" and got a load of results

Have fun.

Saludos,
jer...

Hey DizyDevil, I just found this site at www.universitas-subaqua.com after seeing an ad for scuba classes at the Complutense swimming pool today, hope it helps. Seems it is a SCUBA club with courses, activities and such.

Saludos,
jer...

It sounds to me that one of the most famoust places to scuba diving in the sea is El Cabo de Gata because there the water is very clear and quite. But it is a bit far from Madrid, it is in Almeria.

Hi All!

I have my PADI title too, I got it in Miami and I have ask around here, in Madrid and prices are similar... the only differences are that here they give you a total price of the course that includes everything (course, books, equipment, transportation, etc...) in the States price doesn�t includes equipment, clothing or transportation... Big Changes.

I am from Alicante and there we have a lot of places to go scuba diving, in special at Benidorn. It�s only 3 hours away from Madrid and everyone there speak English. Here you have a web-site where you can find different locations:

http://www.acuc.es/

This is the web-site of a friend in Elche, Alicante. They do not speak English, but come on we are in Spain practise your Spanish,ok!

http://www.natural.es/scubaelx/

My favorite place to go scubadiving in Spain is ISLA TABARCA, is in Alcante and It�s the greatest place I�ve ever seen... I also went once to Cabo de Gata in Almeria.... It�s a great place too, but I rather Isla Tabarca.

Have fun scubadiving in Spain!!!

Salu2,

I am going to stay with my friend in Moraira on the Costa Blanca in November, and would love to do some diving while I am there.
Has anyone been diving in that area that can direct me to a shop or at least group of people that would let me come along? (I am halfway through a PADI divemaster course). Is there shore diving there, or is it all boats?

I know there is a dive shop in Madrid on C/ Doctor Esquerdo (head south from Manuel Becerra). The adverts suggest it is PADI and does courses, trips, equipment, etc.

I often spend weekends in Moraira. There are two diving shops as far as I know. Both are on the main road between Moraira and Calpe.

The one that has been there the longest is about 1km from Moraira just before the Gemisant Restaurant. It is just back from the road in a row of shops including a Farmacia and Fish & Chip shop. You will find the second shop first if you start from Moraira town (I know that sounds Irish ). It is just behind the main beach before you reach the Saxo Disco.

Both appear to be PADI registered. The one that has been there longer is run by a British guy (he speaks English). You should be able to rent gear and complete any PADI course there. He should also know where to go diving locally. I was interested in taking up diving and enquired about the PADI Open Water and was quoted 360 Euros for everthing (books, equipment hire, dives). Maybe next summer. While there, try 'Bar Tranquilo' just round the corner, it is a known hangout for young local English speakers. I'm sure some of the guys with the VW bugs and surfboards must also be divers. If your Spanish is up to it ask around in the Club Nautico. Next time I'm in Moraira I'll ask around.

In Calpe there is a diving club that meets at Puerto Blanco. There is also a diving shop there. Puerto Blanco is a small port to the south of Calpe, to find it start by the Guardia Civil station and head towards the Cemetery (Yes, really ), signposts from there. I don't know much about them, I've just seen their boats when out sailing.

Rachel, can you tell me how you get to Benidorm from Madrid in 3 hours. I can get to Moraira in 4 but usually break many speeding laws on the way.

Saludos.