Beginner Scuba Diving Experience Tossa de Mar Costa Brava

Tossa de Mar on the Costa Brava

Tossa de Mar is one of the jewels of the Costa Brava, about 100 kilometres north-east of Barcelona in the province of Girona. Its golden bay is framed by pine-covered cliffs and by the Vila Vella, the old walled town that climbs the headland above the beach. The clear water and rocky coastline around the town make it a favourite place for scuba diving in Costa Brava.

Getting there is easy: around an hour and a quarter by road from Barcelona, or by regular coach. Many visitors combine a try dive in the morning with an afternoon exploring the old town and the beaches, which makes Tossa de Mar an ideal day trip from Barcelona or a highlight of a stay on the coast.

The briefing at the dive centre

Your experience begins at the dive centre in Tossa de Mar with a briefing of about 40 minutes. The instructor explains how the regulator, mask and buoyancy jacket work, how to equalise your ears, the hand signals used underwater and the plan for the dive. There is time to ask every question, so nervous beginners feel confident before entering the water.

After the briefing you change into the wetsuit and boots provided in the changing area. All the diving equipment is included, along with diving insurance, so you only need to bring swimwear and a towel. Then a short van ride of about 10 minutes takes the group to the beach.

Mar Menuda beach

Mar Menuda is a small, sheltered beach just north of the main bay of Tossa de Mar, with clear water and rocks at each end. Its gentle slope makes it ideal for beginners: you walk in from the sand and descend gradually, giving your ears time to adjust to the pressure, step by step and at your own pace.

The beach is also one of the most popular shore-diving spots on this part of the coast, because interesting rock formations and seagrass begin only a few metres from the shore. The instructor stays by your side throughout, so even complete beginners can relax and enjoy the dive at Mar Menuda beach.

Underwater life of the Costa Brava

The dive lasts about 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how quickly you use your air. Among the rocks and meadows of Posidonia seagrass you can see octopus hiding in crevices, cuttlefish changing colour, seahorses, bream, wrasse and starfish. The Costa Brava has some of the richest marine life on the Spanish Mediterranean coast.

During the dive the instructor takes photos and video, so you can relive your first dive and share it later. The best time for scuba diving in Tossa de Mar is from June to October, when the water reaches around 20 to 24 degrees; the wetsuit keeps you comfortable in cooler months. Take your time and enjoy every moment.

The Vila Vella after your dive

After the dive, the van returns to the dive centre and the rest of the day is yours. The Vila Vella is the only fortified medieval town still standing on the Catalan coast: its walls and towers date from the twelfth to fourteenth centuries and enclose cobbled lanes that climb to a lighthouse with sweeping sea views.

A walk around the walls is the perfect way to end the morning, and the beach below is ideal for a swim. Remember that you should not fly for 12 hours after diving, so plan your travel accordingly if you are leaving Spain the same day. The old town is also lovely in the late afternoon light.