L'Àmfora Diving Center

The Solans family has run L'Amfora from Carrer Puig Gros in Tossa de Mar for over 21 seasons. Director Sebastian Solans Vives has led the centre since its founding, holding PADI, SSI, and CMAS certifications. The team -- Antoni, Miriam, Aida, Carlos, Nicholas among them -- operates in four languages across a 250 m2 facility with apartments next door for divers who want everything in one place.

What sets L'Amfora apart on the Costa Brava is straightforward: free Nitrox on every guided dive, no supplement. For divers chasing longer bottom times and less post-dive fatigue, it removes a cost that most centres treat as an add-on. The centre covers shore sites at Mar Menuda, Illa de Tossa, and a seasonal point at Cala Llevado opened in 2023 where seahorse sightings are regular. Boat dives reach Muladera, Bolets at 31 m, Castells at 40 m, and La Seca.

The marine life focus runs deeper than the dive sites. Staff carry underwater species ID slates and run post-dive debriefings where depth profiles and species sightings are logged. Specialty courses in Mediterranean fish identification and seahorse biology combine theory with focused dives. The Professional Package in July and August takes candidates from Advanced through Assistant Instructor over 120 dives in two months.

With 909 Google reviews, 194 on TripAdvisor, and 509 on Facebook -- all at 4.8 or 96% recommendation -- L'Amfora has one of the strongest review profiles of any dive centre on the Costa Brava. The volume alone, accumulated over two decades, points to a loyal returning client base that keeps growing.

Divers consistently highlight the professionalism of the staff and their knowledge of local marine life. The guides' ability to find and identify species draws particular praise. The family atmosphere comes up repeatedly: attentive, personal service without unnecessary formality, and an organization that handles logistics from pick-up to return. Equipment is described as well maintained, and the combination of free Nitrox with specialist marine biology courses positions the centre as a reference point for diving in the central Costa Brava.