Scuba diving in Malaga, Spain?

[Matt Beckwith]

I'm going to be in Malaga, Spain in a few weeks (last week of January). I'm a newly certified open water diver. I certified in 81-degree water in a 3-mm wetsuit. Very comfortable!

The current water temp in Malaga is 71 Fahrenheit (22 centigrade)!

I don't want to be cold. But I had an unpleasant experience diving recently in a quarry in a 6-mm wetsuit with a hood. I found it way too bulky, a claustrophobic experience. But that was before I was certified, so perhaps I'd tolerate it better now.

I've never tried a dry suit.

The thing is, I don't like to be cold, but it seems a waste to be right there on the beach for a week with nothing to do, and not do some diving.

I'm taking the on-line Advanced Open Water PADI course, so would like to do the 6 adventure dives to obtain the certification.

I've heard there's not a lot to see underwater in that part of the world, but I'd be happy just getting certified. The sense of accomplishment is what motivates me more than the wildlife.

I found one dive center but it's down the coast, not in Malaga. I emailed them but got no response.

I speak Spanish.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!
Matt

[PansSiren]

There's a town right next to Malaga called Torremolinos (10 min from Malaga airport), and there's a small shop there called "Simply Diving". It's owned and operated by British people, so there's only a slight and sometimes hilariously awkward language barrier, haha. I did my AOW there with the owner, Simon, and many dives after that with him. He's a really great and funny guy and took me diving all over the place. They even have DPVs (the james bond underwater scooter looking things)!!! I used them for one of the class choices during AOW, and they are a BLAST!! Just keep an eye on your air supply while using them your first few times (if you dive with him, reference that I told you that and he'll know EXACTLY who I am, haha). They will also pick you up if you don't have transportation.

I went for a month there in the summer a few years ago, and the water was COLD!! I think it got to 14C (57F) one day. I wore a full 7mm suit AND either a 3 or 5mm shorty on top of that. I didn't see any drysuits being used anywhere, but everyone was hooded, gloved, and booted up in pretty thick suits.

I'd agree that the diving wasn't spectacular there, but I still had a great time and enjoyed every bit of it, none the less. There are TONS of nudibranchs and other really neat small stuff, so keep your eyes open! It's also where I've seen the largest conger eel and octopus ever! The eel was probably about 7-8 feet long and and the size of my thigh, and the octopus was almost as big as me (and lives in a car)! There's also a point at the very bottom of the peninsula where you can dive in both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea during the same dive!

Edit: http://www.simplydiving.com/

[Matt Beckwith]

There's a town right next to Malaga called Torremolinos (10 min from Malaga airport), and there's a small shop there called "Simply Diving".

Okey dokey, I'll get in touch with them. Thanks!

[dad-the-diver]

Was out there a few weeks ago. Used a company called "One Zone Diving" really helpfull. I only had a window of one day so the presure was on them! No probs, they picked me up from the Hotel, drove me few miles down to Gibraltar. I dove no fewer then FIVE Wrecks in two dives right off the beach! All in less then 12 meters, so well inside your Cert. Was 15 degrees. I dived a 5mm suit no probs but I Cert'ed here in the UK so I'm pretty used to chilly water, LOL. If your intrested give them a call on 0034617016738. Whoever you go with have a great Trip.

Here's a critter that followed us along one of the Wrecks:-
DSCF2812.jpgDSCF2813.jpg

[Matt Beckwith]

I went ahead and signed up with Simply Diving for the Advanced Open Water certification while I'm there the last week of this month. Perhaps they'll have a dry suit I can try, since that's one of the optional Adventure dives. But a 6-mm wet suit should be fine in the 68-degree water there.

[PansSiren]

That's awesome!! Have a great time!!