Nautilus Diving Fornells

Located in the bay of Fornells, Nautilus Diving Fornells serves as a gateway to the North Minorcan Marine Reserve, a designated biosphere reserve. The centre's position allows for direct access to some of the most biodiverse underwater landscapes in the Balearic Islands, ranging from deep rocky platforms to intricate cave systems.

The operation is split between two locations, Fornells and Cala Galdana (operating as Blue Islands Diving), ensuring they can adapt to the prevailing sea conditions and find the best conditions for your dive. Whether you are looking for a relaxed snorkeling tour or a technical decompression dive, the setup is designed to handle a wide variety of diver profiles.

The team, led by Pietro, Enza, and Ricard, brings over 15 years of professional diving experience to the table. They operate under both PADI and SSI affiliations, providing a versatile training environment for students and professionals alike.

Communication is straightforward for international divers, as the team is multilingual, speaking Spanish, French, English, Italian, and Catalan. This ensures that instruction and safety briefings are clear and precise, regardless of your native language.

The training programme is comprehensive, covering the full spectrum of diver development. Beginners can start with Scuba Diver or Open Water Diver courses, progressing through Advanced Open Water Diver and specialty training like Deep Diving and Night Diving & Limited Visibility.

For those looking to advance their skills or career, the centre offers Diver Stress & Rescue, Enriched Air Nitrox, and the Divemaster programme. They also provide specialised training in Dry Suit Diving, Wreck Diving, Advanced Wreck Diving, and Decompression diving, as well as dedicated courses for sidemount divers.

The centre operates two Valiant semi-rigid boats, named CALAMARDO and TE DAS QUEEN. Both vessels are powered by twin 200 CV Yamaha engines, providing the speed and reliability needed to reach the best sites within the Marine Reserve efficiently.

Each boat has a capacity of 12 passengers, allowing for manageable group sizes during excursions. The boats are used for a range of activities, including standard guided dives, night dives, and snorkeling tours.

On shore, the centre is equipped with a dedicated preparation area, changing rooms, and showers. Air quality is a priority, with a BAUER PE250 compressor station using SECURUS and B-Kool systems to ensure high-standard breathing gas.

For those not bringing their own kit, a full range of recreational equipment is available for hire. The centre also caters to technical divers, providing specialised kit such as wings, twin-sets (bi-bouteilles), and sidemount configurations.

The marine life in the North Minorcan Marine Reserve is defined by the abundance of large predators and diverse reef inhabitants. You will frequently encounter large groupers, amberjack, and dentex patrolling the rocky walls and crevices. Schools of great barracuda are also common, particularly during certain times of the year.

Macro life is a significant draw for observant divers. The rocky substrates and gorgonians are home to various octopuses, moray eels, and colourful nudibranchs. You can also find a variety of crustaceans, including slipper lobsters, tucked into the reef structures.

The scenery is shaped by healthy Mediterranean habitats, including gorgonians and various sponges that cover the underwater topography. These structures provide essential shelter for the local population of crustaceans and smaller reef fish.

The centre's dual presence in Fornells and Cala Galdana allows them to choose the most suitable location based on the sea state and wind. This flexibility is vital for navigating the different environments of the northern and southern coasts of Minorca.