Big Blue Diving
Big Blue Diving, Palmanova: SSI and PADI center founded 1997, operating year-round from two RIBs across SW Mallorca's El Toro marine reserve and surrounding sites.
Last updated September 2026
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About Big Blue Diving
El Toro marine reserve is what Big Blue Diving calls its "most prized dive site" (part of the Illes del Ponent protected zone), reachable by RIB in under 20 minutes from the Palmanova base the center has run since 1997. Carlotta I and Naia, the center's two RIBs, carry up to 12 and 14 divers, launching from a jetty directly in front of the Palmanova premises at the end of Son Matías Beach. The same reserve cluster takes in the Malgrats islands and Isla del Sec, and certified divers extend the programme further with trips to Dragonera island and the wreck cluster at Porto Pi.
The center identifies as an exclusive Mares and SSI partner, with PADI courses running alongside. The full programme covers Discover Scuba Diving from the beach, certification from beginner to Divemaster under both agencies, and an extended PADI specialty menu: nitrox, deep, wreck, night, underwater photography, navigation, and several others. A multilingual team speaking Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Danish, Croatian, and Catalan reflects the international mix of Mallorca's SW resort coast. Morning and afternoon departures run every day of the year.
Since 2025, a second location at Puerto Portals marina serves a different clientele: private, individually arranged dives with custom itineraries from a luxury marina setting, a few kilometres from the main Palmanova operation. As an SSI Blue Oceans Official Partner, Big Blue integrates marine conservation work alongside its instructional activities.
What divers say
Big Blue Diving holds the top ranking among Palmanova outdoor activities, with reviews running overwhelmingly positive. Three patterns run consistently through the review body: professionalism and care from the multilingual staff team, noted by divers with decades of experience; equipment quality and practical post-dive details like ponchos and accessible showers; and the El Toro grouper encounters, which emerge repeatedly as highlights even for guests who arrived with measured expectations about a reserve they had not previously dived. A car pickup service from the Palmanova resort area appears across many reviews as a logistics detail that simplifies the journey to the boat. A smaller share of reviews rate the experience Poor or Terrible; one 2025 account from a self-identified certified diver describes unusually shallow, short dives (4.5-7 m and 5.3-13.6 m) that did not match what was booked. The Puerto Portals location carries its own listing with fewer reviews; that location opened in 2025.
Dive Sites (10)
Pricing
We do our best to show current pricing, but rates may change without notice. Last verified June 2026. Always confirm the latest prices on Big Blue Diving's official website before booking.
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Courses
Guided Dives
Other Services
Course prices are from the center website; early booking discounts apply to most PADI courses. Single guided dives, multi-dive packages, night dive supplements, boat-based Discover Scuba Diving, and equipment rental are quoted individually at booking, based on group size and duration. The CAIB reserve authorisation fee (5.24 EUR per diver per day) applies inside the Illes del Ponent marine reserve, typically included in the guided dive price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is El Toro marine reserve the main dive site?▾
El Toro is the center's primary destination, reachable in under 20 minutes by RIB from the Palmanova jetty. Dives inside the reserve are described as reaching around 40 m in places (a single-source figure), with the guided profile set day to day by group and conditions. The Malgrats islands and Isla del Sec sit within the same Illes del Ponent reserve cluster. Dragonera island reserve and the Porto Pi wreck cluster in Palma harbour extend the programme further. The CAIB reserve authorisation fee (5.24 EUR per diver per day) applies inside the reserve. Confirm at booking whether it is included in the guided dive price.
Does Big Blue Diving operate in winter?▾
The Palmanova center runs every day of the year, with morning and afternoon departures. Winter means smaller groups and quieter conditions on El Toro's mooring buoys: a different experience from August, and one worth considering for divers who prefer uncrowded reserve dives.
Which courses are available, and under which certification agency?▾
Both SSI and PADI programmes run from beginner through to Divemaster. The center's primary affiliation is SSI with an exclusive Mares equipment partnership; PADI runs alongside. PADI specialty courses cover nitrox, deep, wreck, night, navigation, boat, underwater photography, search and recovery, and emergency first response. Contact the center for SSI specialty equivalents and scheduling.
What is the Puerto Portals location?▾
Big Blue opened a second center at Puerto Portals marina in 2025, approximately 6 km northeast of Palmanova. The Puerto Portals operation focuses on private dives with custom itineraries and individual instruction: a different format from the Palmanova operation, aimed at guests who prefer smaller, exclusive departures.
How much does a guided dive cost?▾
Course prices are listed on the center's website, with early-booking rates for most PADI programmes. Guided dives, multi-dive packages, night dive supplements, and equipment rental are quoted individually at booking, based on group size and duration. Contact the center for current rates.
What languages does the team speak?▾
The team covers Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Danish, Croatian, and Catalan. That mix reflects the European makeup of Palmanova's resort coast, and is one of the broader language ranges among SW Mallorca dive centers.
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