Alicante: Guided Diving Tour for Certified Divers - Choosing Between Shore and Boat Dives

Alicante: Guided Diving Tour for Certified Divers

Discover Alicante's crystal-clear waters with a guided diving tour from Santa Pola, including options for shore or boat dives in the Tabarca Marine Reserve.

Explore the Underwater World of Alicante on a Guided Diving Tour

Alicante: Guided Diving Tour for Certified Divers - Explore the Underwater World of Alicante on a Guided Diving Tour

The Alicante: Guided Diving Tour for Certified Divers offers a compelling experience for certified divers looking to explore Spain’s vibrant marine life. Departing from Santa Pola, this 5-hour adventure takes you into the Tabarca Marine Reserve, renowned for its clear waters and diverse underwater scenery. The tour is led by the PADI 5-star dive center, Dive Academy Santa Pola, ensuring a professional and safety-oriented experience.

This tour stands out by offering flexible options: you can choose between a shore dive or a boat dive, depending on your preferences and certification level. The trip covers multiple notable locations including Alicante, Torrevieja, and Cartagena, with specific sites around Tabarca Island celebrated for their underwater beauty. Equipment rental and insurance are available to streamline your experience, making this tour accessible and straightforward.

While the duration is five hours, the actual diving time is approximately 4 hours, and the entire experience includes transportation, equipment, and expert guidance. This makes it well-suited for divers who want a comprehensive yet manageable outing, especially those with current certification looking to discover new underwater spots in the Valencian Community.

You can check availability for your dates here:

Key Points

  • Duration: 5 hours total, with about 4 hours of diving
  • Locations: Dive sites in Alicante, Torrevieja, Cartagena, Cabo de Palos, and Tabarca Island’s Marine Reserve
  • Activity: Guided diving with options for shore or boat dives
  • Equipment: Rental options available—full sets or individual pieces
  • Insurance: Mandatory; can be purchased on-site or brought
  • Group size: Small groups limited to 10 participants for personalized attention

The Meeting Point at Dive Academy Santa Pola

Alicante: Guided Diving Tour for Certified Divers - The Meeting Point at Dive Academy Santa Pola

The tour begins at Dive Academy Santa Pola, located at 38.1906, -0.5609, a central hub for diving in the region. From there, a 30-minute transfer by van takes the group to Alicante’s best dive sites. The convenience of a dedicated meeting point and organized transportation ensures a smooth start to the day.

The small group size allows for personalized instruction and safety, and the live guides communicate in Spanish and English. This flexibility in language makes the experience accessible for international visitors, ensuring clear instructions and engaging storytelling.

Choosing Between Shore and Boat Dives

Alicante: Guided Diving Tour for Certified Divers - Choosing Between Shore and Boat Dives

One of the main advantages of this tour is the option to select between a shore dive or a boat dive. The shore dive allows exploration directly from the coast, ideal for divers who prefer a quick entry into the water or have specific site preferences. Meanwhile, the boat dive involves traveling by vessel to more remote or deeper spots, providing access to sites that might be less accessible from land.

Divers can expect the guide to select the best dive site based on their certification level and current conditions. The flexibility ensures that both novice and experienced certified divers find a suitable and safe environment to discover the region’s marine life.

Exploring the Marine Reserve and Surrounding Sites

The Tabarca Marine Reserve is the focal point of this tour, celebrated for its crystal-clear waters and rich biodiversity. Guests will visit various dive spots around Tabarca Island, known for their colorful fish, rocky formations, and underwater cliffs.

Beyond Tabarca, the tour also covers other locations in Alicante, Torrevieja, and Cartagena. Each site offers unique underwater landscapes, from rocky outcrops to sandy bottoms with abundant marine life. The diversity of sites makes the tour appealing to divers eager to see different underwater environments.

Cabo de Palos also features among the options, providing additional variety for those interested in exploring different types of marine habitats along the coast.

More Great Tours Nearby

Logistics: From Santa Pola to the Dive Sites

The tour departs from Pura Aventura, Deportes de Aventura en Santa Pola. After meeting the guide, a 30-minute van ride transports participants to Alicante. The journey is straightforward and designed to maximize your dive time rather than spend hours on transit.

Once at the dive sites, the guides lead you through your chosen underwater adventure, emphasizing safety and ecological respect. After approximately 4 hours of diving, the group returns to Santa Pola, completing the 5-hour experience.

Equipment Rental and Insurance Options

For those who do not have their own diving gear, the dive center offers rental options. You can rent a full set or individual pieces, making it easy to prepare without bringing your own equipment.

Diving insurance is a mandatory requirement in Spain. Guests can either bring proof of their own insurance or purchase coverage directly at the dive center before diving. This ensures compliance with local regulations and peace of mind during your underwater explorations.

Physical Requirements and Certification

This tour is strictly for certified divers, and those with an Open Water certification or higher** are eligible to participate. Divers with little experience can select sites that match their certification, but divers without certification are not suitable and cannot join this tour.

Pregnant women are advised not to participate for safety reasons. The activity emphasizes safety and technical competence, making it essential for participants to meet the certification and health requirements.

Comfortable Group Sizes and Multilingual Guides

With limited to 10 participants, the tour maintains a personalized atmosphere, allowing guides to focus on safety and individual needs. The multilingual guides—fluent in Spanish and English—enhance communication, making the experience accessible to international visitors.

This small group setting helps foster a relaxed environment, where questions are welcomed, and guidance is tailored.

Flexibility with Bookings and Cancellations

Booking is flexible, with the option to reserve now and pay later. Cancellations are free if made up to 24 hours in advance, providing peace of mind for planning.

This approach suits travelers who prefer to keep their plans adaptable while securing their spot for this popular activity.

Final Thoughts on the Alicante Guided Diving Tour

This tour offers a well-organized, flexible, and safety-focused way for certified divers to explore some of Spain’s most beautiful underwater sites. The option for shore or boat dives enhances accessibility, while the small group size ensures personalized attention.

The crystal-clear waters of the Tabarca Marine Reserve and surrounding sites create a memorable diving environment. While the activity requires certification and insurance, the straightforward logistics and comprehensive equipment options make it a practical choice for experienced divers eager to expand their horizons in Alicante.

This tour provides an excellent value for those seeking a guided, professional diving experience in the Valencian Community, particularly for divers with prior certification who want to explore Alicante’s underwater treasures.

Ready to Book?

Alicante: Guided Diving Tour for Certified Divers

Frequently Asked Questions

Is diving insurance included in the tour price?
Diving insurance is not included; it is mandatory and can be purchased on-site or brought by the participant.

Can I participate if I am an Open Water diver with limited experience?
Yes, Open Water divers with some experience can choose dive sites suited to their certification. Divers without certification are not eligible.

What are the meeting arrangements?
The tour departs from Dive Academy Santa Pola, located at 38.1906, -0.5609. A 30-minute van transfer takes the group to the dive sites.

What should I bring?
Bring swimwear, a towel, flip-flops, and dive certification. Equipment rental is available at the dive center.

How long is the overall tour?
The entire experience lasts about 5 hours, with approximately 4 hours of actual diving.

Can I cancel if my plans change?
Yes, cancellations are free if made at least 24 hours before the scheduled activity.

You can check availability for your dates here:
More Great Tours Nearby