Simply Diving

Simply Diving is a PADI 5 Star IDC Resort operating from Marbella's Puerto Deportivo since 1999, making it one of the longest-established dive operations on the Costa del Sol. Currently owned by Gordon and Shona Stewart (who took over in 2023-2024), the center serves primarily British and English-speaking tourists — the website is English-only, and 9 PADI instructors are on staff. As a Scubapro Educational Association centre, all equipment is Scubapro brand and replenished every two years.

The center's honest value proposition is convenience for holiday divers already in Marbella, combined with excursion access to genuinely strong dive sites. Marbella's local diving conditions are modest by Spanish standards — the Spanish diving community is blunt about this — but Las Bovedas, a 2-square-kilometre reef 3 nautical miles offshore, is rated among Spain's top 10 dive sites, and full-day excursions to Tarifa and Gibraltar open up entirely different marine environments.

Six named sites range from the beginner-friendly Tower (12m, 5-minute boat ride) and Pimpollo (12m, horseshoe reef near Puerto Banus) to the demanding Las Bovedas (18-40m with strong currents and Atlantic inflow) and the SS Menapier wreck (40m+, technical-level depth). El Galleon — the charred remains of a French warship from the 1705 Battle of Marbella — offers shallow historical diving at 8m. Dolphins are spotted regularly on boat rides.

Two-dive half-day trips run at 9am and 2pm, lasting approximately 5 hours. The RIB departs from steps away from the dive shop, carrying up to 10 divers. Site selection is done week by week based on conditions and customer requests. Full-day excursions to Tarifa (150 EUR), Gibraltar (150 EUR), and Marina del Este (130 EUR shore diving) extend the range significantly.

The center recently moved to a brighter, larger premises within the marina with a proper kitting-up area and customer toilet — an improvement noted by returning visitors. Shower facilities remain basic (a garden hose). All divers must complete a health questionnaire, and those with relevant medical conditions need a doctor's certificate valid within 12 months.

A half-day 2-dive trip costs 120 EUR including all equipment. PADI Open Water courses are 515 EUR over 3 days. Booking with deposit is available online via payment links or PayPal, and WhatsApp communication is supported. The marina is approximately 45-60 minutes from Malaga Airport by car — the PADI listing's claim of "10 minutes from Malaga Airport" is incorrect.

Visibility can be unpredictable. One August reviewer reported less than 2 metres of visibility and 15-degree water temperature during bad weather. The center's willingness to run dives in suboptimal conditions is a recurring point in negative reviews. If conditions matter to you, asking about current visibility before committing is advisable.