Yes indeed, there is a scuba diving instructor and snorkelling business based in Cala Bona. In this blog, we will explore this very scuba diving business and what it offers Cala Bona tourists.
Scuba diving in Cala Bona has become very popular
Are you getting a little bit tired of all the sunshine? Need to cool off but also have a thirst for something exciting? In this post we will have a look at what we can get up to in the water, we are on an island after all! With beautiful beaches on hand, itβs easy enough to go for a little paddle but sometimes thatβs just not enough. Have you ever thought about scuba diving? Did you know that you can start proper training while on holiday that can be continued anywhere in the world at approved dive centres? Well, you can dip your toe in the water (pardon the pun) or advance your skills in one of these centres right in Cala Bona.
Scuba-diving has become a popular leisure activity, and many diving destinations have some form of dive shop presence that can offer air fills, equipment sale, rental and repair, and training. Cala Bona has one such place in Albatros Diving. It is a PADI 5 Star βGold Palm Resortβ, the highest quality mark for diving schools that have shown a high level of teaching, professionalism, service, and security and which in turn benefit from the guarantees that come with this. Besides, Albatros Diving is one of the founders and member of the Association of Majorcaβs dive centres, an organization that guarantees very high standards of quality and safety in diving. They offer a variety of courses from beginner to advanced. The staff hail from several parts of Europe and the expertise they bring ensures any questions or concerns you have will be confidently covered.
Albatros Diving was first established in 1993 and still maintains a fun and family-friendly feel. Onsite facilities include a nice chill-out zone with free wifi, a terrace area, and a drying space for after your diving. They also offer free transfers from within several local areas including Cala Millor, Sa Coma, Costa del Pins and Porto Cristo.
The courses available range from 4 beginners, 5 advanced, and a further 12 speciality courses. This is great for your first entering into the diving world or furthering your knowledge and scuba skills. Some courses do involve the completion of e-learning modules but these can all be completed online before you even get there. These PADI courses can then grant you an internationally recognized diving license to use throughout the world.
Are there any requirements for diving at Albatros Diving?
If you are doing more advanced courses you will need to provide your diving certification, logbook, and diving medical certificates. You will also need insurance but Albatros Diving can provide this through Scuba Medic. Prices are listing as follows for the time of writing:
| INSURANCE | PRICE β¬ |
|---|---|
| 1 day | 7 |
| 1 week | 16 |
| 1 month | 24 |
| 1 year | 45 |
What else is on offer at Albatros Diving?
Scuba diving isnβt the only activity available at Albatros Diving. They also have snorkelling trips out in a sheltered bay in depths of around 6m, with all equipment provided for you. Just bring your swimming clothes, a change of clothing a towel to dry you off later. Another adventure to have is the excursion to Pirate Cave. This ideal for the whole family and you get to walk through a semi-submerged cave system where you can swim through submerged lakes and marvel at ancient stalagmites and stalactites. Once you have finished there you will go for a small snorkel en route to your return to the shop in Cala Bona. They even allow you to hire their boat on request for a private excursion. Price for these trips are as follows:
| MORE ADVENTURES | PRICE β¬ |
|---|---|
| Snorkelling | 40 |
| Pirate Cave | 75 |
| Passenger | 25 |
Where can I find Albatros Diving in Cala Bona?
Albatros Diving can be located near the harbour, on Carrer del Xaloc, between Restaurante Violin and Alma Mia Pizzeria.
How can I get in contact with Albatros Diving in Cala Bona?
Tel (+ 34 ) 971 586 807
How much will Scuba Diving Cost at Albatros Diving?
HereΒ is a list of prices you can expect as of now
| DIVES | PRICE β¬ |
|---|---|
| 1 Dive | 40 |
| 6 Dives + 1 free | 240 |
| 10 Dives + 2 free | 400 |
| 14 Dives + 3 free | 560 |
| 25 Dives | 750 |
| 12 l. tank surcharge per dive | 4 |
| BEGINNER COURSES | PRICE β¬ |
|---|---|
| Try-Out Diving | 60 |
| Discover Scuba Diving | 90 |
| PADI Scuba Diver | 325 |
| PADI Open Water Diver | 450 |
| Upgrade PADI Scuba Diver to Open Water Diver | 220 |
| E-Learning discount | -75 |
| ADVANCE COURSES | PRICE β¬ |
|---|---|
| PADI Scuba Review | 80 |
| PADI Adventure Diver | 245 |
| PADI Advanced Open Water Diver | 400 |
| PADI Emergency First Response | 150 |
| PADI Rescue Diver | 480 |
| PADI Divemaster | 900 |
| SPECIALITY COURSES | PRICE β¬ |
|---|---|
| PADI Boat Diver | 200 |
| PADI Drift Diver | 200 |
| PADI Equipment Specialist | 125 |
| PADI Multilevel Diver | 200 |
| PADI Night Diver | 255 |
| PADI Underwater Navigator | 255 |
| PADI Underwater Photographer/Videographer | 200 |
| PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy | 200 |
| PADI Project AWARE | 125 |
| PADI Search and Recovery | 320 |
Do I have to bring my own equipment to Albatros Diving in Cala Bona?
You can rent equipment from Albatros Diving. As of the time of writing the prices are as follows:
| GEAR RENTAL | PRICE β¬ |
|---|---|
| Mask, Snorkel, fins | 5 |
| BCD | 5 |
| Regulator | 5 |
| Wetsuit | 5 |
| Dive computer | 5 |
| Dive torch | 5 |
| GoPro | 20 |
What about social media?
Find us on Google Maps
I have heard the term but what is Scuba Diving all about?
Scuba is the most common underwater breathing system used by recreational divers. Its name is actually an acronym for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus. The term stems fromΒ an underwater free-swimmingΒ oxygen rebreather invented in the 1940s, by an American Major called Christian J. Lambertsen. Originally called LARU (Lambertsen Amphibious Respiratory Unit), the LARU is what the initials SCUBA (Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) originally meant; Lambertsen changed his inventionβs name to SCUBA in 1952 but later βSCUBAβ, gradually changing to βscubaβ, came to mean any self-contained underwater breathing apparatus. These rebreathers are also called βclose-circuitβ scuba in where the carbon dioxide is removed from the diverβs exhaled breath which has oxygen added and is recirculated. Meanwhile, around the same time, a pair of Frenchmen, the world-famous Jacques Cousteau and engineer Γmile Gagnan, were patenting their own apparatus in the form of a regulator that would become popular throughout the world and this became branded as the aqualung.
The original βAqua-Lungβ was an βopen-circuitβ design which is when the diverβs exhaled breath is discharged directly into the water. Public use of the word βaqualungβ, and public interest in Aqualungs and scuba diving, were started around 1953 in English-speaking counties by aΒ National Geographical Society MagazineΒ article about Cousteauβs underwater archaeological expedition toΒ Grand ConglouΓ©. In France, aqualung diving was popularized byΒ Cousteauβs movieΒ Γpaves, while his bookΒ The Silent World also helped spark peopleβs intrigue. From then on itβs only got better and better with advances in technology helping to enhance the experience for all involved.
So what does it take to go Scuba diving?
Apart from the tank and breathing apparatus, youβll need a mask. Since your eyes arenβt designed to see underwater, one of the most important pieces of equipment to have is the diving mask. The diving mask will create air space in front of your eyes to let you see clearly underwater.
A diving suit will help protect you from the environment experienced underwater. These can be wet or dry. Use wetsuits when diving in warmer water and drysuits in colder water. Normally, wetsuits are skin-tight and made of neoprene that locks a layer of water around the body to keep it warm. On the other hand, drysuits will keep you completely dry. Drysuits are more loosely fitted compared to a wetsuit and operate as an incubator to keep you warm.
Fins are also essential to your scuba diving equipment. When diving, fins let you move through the water seamlessly, without wasting too much energy. There are two types of scuba fins: open heel and full-foot. Open heel fins are commonly used in cold water. Full-foot fins completely cover your feet and are normally used in warmer water.
Any top tips for going Scuba Diving?
- Maintain your physical fitness. If you have a decent level of fitness and are generally healthy this shouldnβt be a problem. If you feel unwell or under the effects of alcohol itβs best to postpone your dive.
- Always pay attention to the instructions you are giving while on a dive. The instructor will have planned everything out and should detail what you must do to have a fun but safe dive.
- Have a thorough buddy check. These checks are very important before entering the water and an extra pair of eyes is never a bad thing. Try to feel comfortable with each other, you might even make a new diving friend.
- Keep a copy of your emergency and medical information with you should the unforeseen happen.
- Try to maintain your breathing. It can be such a strange feeling to be breathing underwater but never hold your breath. This can lead to medical problems due to air bubbles entering your bloodstream.
- Stay alert while diving and never swim off on your own. This is essential for your orientation and dive safety. Keep your buddy and guide with you if you want to go off exploring.
- Donβt overdo it. Although it can be a very exciting sport you should be relaxed while underwater. I find it very calming and the slower you move, the more you are able to observe. There is no need to rush it.
- When finished always return to the surface slowly. This prevents decompression sickness. This is an essential rule for diving and worth repeating!
- it is always helpful to tidy gear and debrief after a dive. Talk about how it went, weights you used, interesting sights you discovered, etc. This is a nice way to get feedback from your guides and fellow divers on their own experiences.
- Avoid flying for at least 24 hours after your dive. You will have excess nitrogen in your system and this can bring on the bends while flying if you have left enough time to dissipate from your body.
Final thoughts on Albatros Diving
For a local dive centre at the heart of Cala Bona, you really canβt go wrong here. The crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean provide excellent conditions for observing the nearby caves and Neptune grass meadows. With over 20 dives along the east coast of Mallorca and a wealth of experience onboard their boat, Abakua, you will be well looked after on your relaxing voyage under the sea. It could be the start of something special and spark an interest in what can be a truly wonderful past time. If the conditions donβt allow for boat trips they also operate dives from secluded sites via their 2 vans. Please visit their website for more info and up-to-date content regarding recent Covid restrictions.