A try dive in Spain costs roughly €75 to €130 per person, and the PADI Open Water course, which lets you dive independently to 18 m, €450 to €550. Once certified, a guided dive with equipment included costs €45 to €65, depending on whether it's from the shore or from a boat.
These are VAT-inclusive prices published for 2026 by dive centres in Mallorca, Menorca, Girona, Murcia and Cádiz. They vary with the area, the season and group size, so use them to judge whether an offer is reasonable.
Scuba diving prices in 2026: summary
The table above goes from your very first dive to courses and trips for certified divers. To read it:
- A try dive is a taster: you go down a few metres with an instructor holding your hand, and it gives you no certification.
- Open Water is the first full certification. With it you can rent gear and dive with a buddy anywhere in the world.
- Guided dives are for certified divers. They normally include the guide, the tank and the equipment.
Some real examples:
- In Mallorca, try dives are advertised from €99 in Cala Millor, €115 in the Malgrats Marine Reserve and around €130 in Santa Ponsa and Port d'Andratx.
- A PADI 5 Star centre in S'Algar (Menorca), inside the Isla del Aire marine reserve, lists the try dive at €75. Its Scuba Diver costs €300, the Open Water €450 and the Advanced €350.
- Open Water courses in Mallorca range from €450 to €550, from Cala Santanyí and Santa Ponça to Cala Millor, the priciest area.
- In Tarifa, a shore dive with equipment costs €45, and a double dive €60.
- In L'Estartit, guided dives at the Medes Islands cost around €50 to €65, and a four-dive package over two days about €200.
What the price includes
Equipment
For try dives and courses it's almost always included: wetsuit, BCD, regulator, tank, weights, mask and fins. For guided dives some centres charge equipment separately, so compare the all-in price. If you bring your own mask, fins and wetsuit, ask for a discount.
Boat
Boat dives reach better sites, such as shoals, wrecks and islets, and cost a little more than shore dives. In many parts of Mallorca and Menorca nearly all diving is from a boat.
Certification and materials
Courses usually include the digital certification and study materials, though some centres charge the PADI kit separately. Ask whether the course includes the online materials, the card and the four sea dives.
Marine reserve fees
Some marine reserves charge per dive. At the Medes Islands it's €5.15 per person, and places are capped at about 450 dives a day in high season. The centre normally handles it and includes it in the price.
What changes the price
Area and season
Very touristy areas and July and August are the most expensive. In spring and autumn many centres lower prices or offer packages.
Group size
A course with one instructor for two students costs more than one with four. For a try dive with children, or if you're nervous in the water, a small group is worth it.
Shore or boat dives
A boat dive costs €5 to €20 more than a shore dive, but takes you to better sites.
Real example: learning to dive on holiday in Mallorca
Say you do a try dive, love it, and on the same trip get your Open Water and do two more dives:
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Try dive | €100 – 130 |
| Open Water course (3–4 days) | €450 – 550 |
| Two guided boat dives | €100 – 130 |
| Total | €650 – 810 |
If the centre counts the try dive as the first dive of the course, or deducts it from the price, you can get most of it back.
How to save without compromising safety
- Do the theory online before you travel. You arrive prepared and spend more time in the water.
- Ask whether the try dive is deducted from the course before you book.
- Look for dive packages. Five or ten dives cost much less per dive than single ones.
- Dive in spring or autumn. It's quieter and cheaper, and in September the water is still warm.
- Don't choose on price alone. A small group, well-kept equipment and a boat close to the dive sites matter more than €20.
How to choose a dive centre
Ask before you book:
- Which agency do you certify with (PADI, SSI, other)? Are you an official centre?
- How many students per instructor?
- What does the price include: equipment, materials, certification, boat, fees?
- Are the dives from the shore or from a boat?
- Do you have accident insurance for students?
Warning signs: more than four students per instructor on a course, visibly old equipment, or a centre that doesn't ask about your health before you get in.
On Nautify you can find dive centres in Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Valencia and other areas, and contact them directly. For something more relaxed, there are also snorkelling trips.
Conclusion
Trying scuba diving costs €75 to €130, and getting your Open Water €450 to €550. After that, each guided dive costs €45 to €65. Choose a centre with small groups and ask what each price includes: equipment, the boat and marine reserve fees are what differ most from one centre to the next.
