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Simply Diving uses an Olympic sized heated swimming pool for its training, so for those who maybe a bit apprehensive about dipping their tooties in the sea, for the first time, you need not worry as your confidence will be built up first. Bubblemakers are available for the kids – can’t be all about us adults…can it!
Simply Diving is part of Scubapro Education Association {SEA} Centre which ensures all equipment used is well maintained and up to a very high standard

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GIBRALTAR.

Don’t be in a hurry to put those passports away you’re going to be needing them to explore over 30 wrecks pinnacles and reefs, here at the entryway of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. The two forces joining together means you’re going to see a mass of colours, and marine life
For your look out list – Bass, Mullet, Sunfish, Octopus, Congers and Rays, corals and excellent visibility. Seven sisters is a cluster of rocky pinnacles situated near the shore. Europa reef, south of Gib, divers can discover reef diving and drop off cliffs. The currents can be strong in places, but depending on your level of diving,  from beginners to the most qualified a dive can be found in Gibraltar.

1. Bottle Site (5-25m)
2. Pilot Boat (34m) A 15m, 150-ton steam trawler used by the Navy during WWI to patrol the waters surrounding Gibraltar. Sank in 1917 following an explosion, she now sits upright in 34 metres of water.
3. Mount Olivet (22m)
4. Cannon Pile (27m) A large collection of steel cannon believed to have come from a Spanish siege barge circa 1782.
5. SS Excellent (25-28m) One of Gibraltar’s most popular dive sites, this 1082-ton, steel-clad steamer sank after a collision in 1888. Lying upside down, she has three access points, perfect for the PADI Wreck Diver Specialty. Home to a profusion of colourful marine life, from gorgonians and fanworms to spider crabs and lobsters.
6. Italian Chariot (33m) There isn’t much left of this chariot after it was mistaken for a torpedo and blown up. It’s believed to have been the chariot that broke down on “Buster” Crabb.
7. Mui (35m)
8. Helen (21m)
9. Pilot Boat (22m)
10. SS Rosslyn (21m) A very scenic wreck dive, the 3679-ton, 340ft long steamer sank in 1916 and now lies at the bottom of the South Mole. Covered in Anthias and damselfish, this wreck – the largest in Gibraltar – is excellent for photography.
11. Aircraft (40m) Bristol Bombay mono-plane bomber which ditched into the sea following engine trouble in 1941.
12. Mortar Ball Site (39m)
13. Rosia Bay Steeped in history, this area has a variety of features. The bay itself – sheltered and easily accessible – is a perfect spot for training as well as recording marine life such as seahorses. Expect to come across admiralty anchors and cannons as well as other anchors dating back to Roman times! Rosia Bay was also the Victualling Yard where Lord Admiral Nelson’s body was brought ashore in the HMS Victory after his triumph at the Battle of Trafalgar. The spectacular Seahawk wreck can be accessed just a short swim from the bay.
14. Seven Sisters (0-20m) Boasting a profusion of marine life, these rocky pinnacles display the history of Gibraltar shipping. Anchors, clay pipes and pottery can all be found scattered around the site.
15. Five Wrecks (20m)
16. Ark of Jesus Christ (19m)
17. Camp Bay Conservation Site (Beach-19m) Probably one of the most popular dive sites on the whole of Spain’s Costa del Sol! For the last three decades, a number of vessels have been purposefully sunk to create an artificial reef and encourage marine diversity. The result is the perfect divers’ playground! With 11 wrecks in the one site, Camp Bay is the ultimate locality for conducting the PADI Advanced Open Water diver course, plus PADI Specialties such as Wreck Diver, Underwater Navigation, Peak Performance Buoyancy and Project Aware Fish ID.
18. The 482M (17m) This immensely impressive Royal Navy mooring vessel was deliberately sunk in 1990 as part of the artificial reef project. Sitting upright in 17m of water, the 482 is 30m long. Wreck Specialty divers can penetrate its engine room, while all others can marvel at the huge variety of both large and small fish.
19. Europa Reef (18-62m) For experienced divers only, this spectacular dive has plenty to see.
20. Los Picos (19-80m)
21. Fred Flintstone’s Submarine (34-46m)
22. Eastern Reef (36-46m) Large boulders inhabited by Conger Eels and grouper.

LA COSTA TROPICAL.

La Herradura and Almuñecar is situated in the Costa Tropical in Granada, the Mediterranean here is at its best. The waters are warm and visibility is exceptional on good days. The bay is nestled between two mountains, which keeps the winds down to a minimum. Flora and fauna is in abundance and resting in the sand beds are 25 Spanish navel galleons, that were caught up in a storm in 1562, are waiting for the intrepid discoverer. La Herradura Sub-aquatic Reserve, was conceived for the protection of the marine life, which in turn would bring to the area international visitors, that would want to explore the sunken galleons, and discover the artificial reefs flora, and fauna, and Marine Life.

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 PADI Instructors.
4. Playa de La Herradura (3-12m) A gentle shore entry will allow you to explore the shallow reef along the bay’s east wall. It’s the perfect site for a PADI Discover Scuba Diving session and has played host to hundreds of Simply Diving students’ first taste of the underwater realm. Expect to come across octopus, cuttlefish, brittlestars and the occasional sand eel.
5. Tres Picos (6-19m) Three large pinnacles emerge from the seabed giving this site its name of Three Peaks. Start the dive over a 6m deep reef before plunging down the wall face covered in bright orange star coral. The rocky surfaces and many crevices are full of life. Look out for a couple of very cool swimthroughs too.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Punta de la Mona (12-40m+) 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.
9. 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 parked cars that have become regular cleaning stations for juvenile Ocean Sunfish.
10. 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. Hundreds of divers have been certified by Simply Diving in the bay due to its perfect year round conditions and topography. Seahorses are beginning to be spotted on a more regular basis and schools of damselfish, anthias and wrasse will keep any diver busy.

TARIFA.

Sixty percent of Tarifa is categorised with in a protected area, with the foremost being the Natural Park of the Straits, which is furthermore a marine park. Scuba diving along reefs and walls and shipwrecks, that range from six metres to thirty metres, in sparkling 15 – 20* Atlantic waters, can be achieved. Tarfia lies at the southernmost tip of the Liberian Peninsula, whist being the closest point to Africa. On your what to see list, could be Conger eel’s, Moray eels, Scorpion fish, Octopus, Turtles and lots of other marine life, In this region the currents are something not to be underestimated. There is a diverse selection of habitats and living conditions in the Tarifa area due to differing salt contents and water temperatures….

Simply Diving can take you to, two relaxing dives around the island of Isla de las Palomas, Los Alcornocales

Don’t forget your camera ……

1. The Stairs (2-8m) For beginners and training. A perfect white-sand sea bed and all year round good visibility, with occasional sightings of the rare Atlantic Pipefish, as well as a host of other Tarifa favourites: cuttlefish, starfish, octopus, nudibranchs.
2. The Cabin (12m) The perfect spot for the PADI Discover Scuba Diving course and for training students of all levels in such courses as PADI Project AWARE Fish Identification, PADI Underwater Navigator, PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy to name just a handful. Also a great reef for a leisurely night dive.
3. The Pool (8m) Fantastic shelf dive with plenty of Common Octopus, Moray Eels, nudibranchs with sometimes the odd Eagle Ray drifting by.
4. The Pool (8m) A shelf with the perfect depth for training sessions.
5. The Wall (18m) A vastly impressive vertical wall, bursting with orange and red colours due to the blanket of soft star coral, anemones and nudibranchs. The ideal reef for the macro photographer and a great opportunity to practice those all important buoyancy skills!
6. The Hole A second vertical wall with lots to explore, including some great swim-throughs.
7. The Wreck of San Andres (30m+) ) The most popular Tarifa site by far and when you join us for a dive here, you’ll see why! The wreck is the remains of a paddle-steamer that collided with the reef around 150 years ago and settled on the sloping reef. Turtles and Sunfish are regular visitors to the site that is now exploding with life of all varieties. The wreck provides the ideal cleaning station for pelagic species that come in from the Atlantic Ocean for a little R&R. It is also only reachable by taking one of Simply Diving’s boat dive trips, so sign up as soon as you can. Places are limited!
8. The Eastern Edge (4m) For intermediate divers – a shallow platform with parts of the San Andres wreck scattered around a 300m radius.
9. The Eastern Edge As above.
10. Morocco Point (30m) This site is for Advanced Divers only due to occasional strong currents and depth. Some of the biggest and best marine species are often spotted here due to its straddling of the official border between the Mediterranean and Atlantic. Also large groupers and rays can be photographed, while dipping in and out of the jaw-dropping overhangs and tunnels.
11. The Western Edge (26m) For divers of all levels Advanced and above. A regular dive spot for Simply Diving divers on the Dos Mares (Two Seas) Experience!
12. The Anchors (26m) For divers of all levels.
13. The Boilers A wreckage known locally as “Las Calderas”, the remains of this cargo ship are spread over a wide area and encompass the most impressive swim-through in Tarifa.
14. The Admiralty A large anchor with plenty of marine life.
15. The Corridors (4-14m) A site for beginners and experienced divers alike with lots to see. It’s known locally as the Labyrinth for a good reason, so make sure you stick closely to your Simply Diving guide!
16. Playa del Poniente (3-18m) After a dive in the Med, try a second dive in the Atlantic to complete the Two Seas Experience in one day! A white sandy sea bed provides the brightness to light up this long dense reef full of critters.

The ocean currents, often powerful, flow between the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean and encourage an overlap of ecosystems as well as an interchange of living organisms, enriching both the fauna and vegetation of the water.
The currents differ in both temperature and salt content and therefore increase the variety of habitats and living conditions. These in turn intensify the diversity and number of its cetaceans, other fish and invertebrates. From dolphins to turtles, you’ll need to keep your cameras ready for that not-to-be-missed photograph!

Instructors

Meet the team who will be training you

SIMON BELL

Dive Operations Manager

Simon says: “I have the best job in the world. Every time I take a beginner underwater, I get to enjoy the experience for the first time all over again.”

Simon is the only PADI course director in the Costa del Sol, with well over 3000 dives under his belt, he has been all over the world diving, so you can imagine he has great knowledge and is passionate about diving. In Mexico 2004 he began teaching and now his passion and expertise can be passed on to others, so Simon the teacher can now teach would be teachers !!

NATASHA JOHNSON BELL

Reservations / Administration

Natasha manages the Reservations and Customer Services department of one of Mexico’s largest eco-tour companies.