Welcome to Simply Diving, Spain. The only British-run PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Resort on the Costa del Sol.

Dive Sites - La Costa Tropical

Cantarrijan beach with Simply Diving SpainHome to Europe’s first ever National Marine Park and one of Spain’s most popular dive sites. With viz up to 30m and water temperatures topping 26°C: It’s the perfect spot to take in a leisurely holiday dive.

Whether diving the quiet sheltered coves of Marina del Este or from the white sand nudist beach of Cantarriján, the Costa Tropical has a number of protected bays to satisfy both beginner divers or the more experienced and allows year round diving too.

Lying at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, this rocky shoreline offers a rich heritage of ecological wonder and hosts a profusion of multi-coloured marine species.

Marine life regularly encountered includes octopus, conger and moray eels, lobster, grouper, weaverfish, moonfish, damsels, wrasse, scorpionfish, dolphins, nudibranchs, together with a variety of faunas and corals.

  1. La Huerta (7-18m) The widest area of Cerro Gordo, giving four or five different dive options. Shallow with a lot of fauna and light, numerous crevices to investigate and with magnificent spirogyra.
  2. Cerro Gordo (7-18m) Made up of large stone blocks at the foot of the cliffs, the fauna is very well conserved thanks, in part, to the protection afforded by its inclusion in the nature reserve since 1989.
  3. La Cueva de Cerro Gordo (16m) A short five metre swim will bring to you a cavern lit by a hole in the ceiling. The cave system beyond is for cave-divers only; it is fed by freshwater and the visibility is fantastic. After about a distance of 80 metres, you can surface in an enclosed cavern of fresh water. This dive is for Advanced and Cavern divers only, accompanied by one of our instructors.
  4. Tres Picos (6-19m) Large stones emerge from the seabed, enabling comfortable and interesting dives. The rocky surfaces are full of fauna, providing a colourful panorama.
  5. Los Gigantes (10-30m) From around ten metres a steep bank drops down to a depth of between 25 and 30 metres. Octopus and Ocean Sunfish are frequently seen, while for macro-photographers there’s a wide variety of nudibranchs.
  6. Las Piedras Altas (20-40m) Two rocky formations emerge from 30 and 18 metres. An extensive and extremely uneven relief zone offers the opportunity to encounter large fish such as sea bass.
  7. Punta de la Mona (12-40+m) On the underwater projection of Punta de la Mona, depths at this site reach up to 52 metres. Encounters with sea bass and Ocean Sunfish are common. At depths of 35 metres there is one of the few existing yellow coral fields.
  8. Fraggle Rock (16-24m) An underwater seamount providing an interesting dive, with the depth increasing as you move around it. A good site to observe scorpionfish and nudibranchs. A short distance away from the rock is a small fishing boat at a depth of 27 metres, as well as two cars that have become a cleaning station for Ocean Sunfish.
  9. Marina Bay (8-30m) This is a wide area with different dive options, catering for all levels of experience. One route involves following the cliff wall, which forms the eastern part of Punta de la Mona - huge rocks protrude from the cliff face, providing a maze of large crevices. Of particular interest are the benthic fauna on the vertical walls, where sponges and soft corals show off their colours.

FAST FACTS

VISIBILITY: 10-30 metres

WATER TEMP: 16-26°C

TIME: 8.30am–4pm (approx.)

PRICE: €110

Includes two guided dives, full equipment rental, hotel/apartment pick-up and drop off, transportation to and from the dive site in air-conditioned minibus, plus light refreshments (bottled water, fruit juice, cookies and après-dive beers).

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Or see our Special Offers page for discounts on multiple dive and group bookings.

Map of La Costa Tropical dive sites

Gibraltar

  • Gibraltar

…offers some of the best wreck diving in the world. Boat and shore diving. War wrecks and cargo vessels.

Tarifa

  • Gibraltar

…is where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic. Some of the best diving on the Iberian Peninsula for its multitude and variety of marine life.

Local Wrecks

  • Gibraltar

…can be found just a short boat or minibus journey away. Step into the past and meet some amazing sea life at the same time.