Ocean Turtle Tropical

Located in La Herradura, Ocean Turtle Tropical serves as a central hub for diving in this part of Spain. As a PADI 5 Star IDC centre, it is specifically equipped to handle everything from initial student certifications to high-level professional development.

The centre operates as a PADI Eco Center, integrating ocean conservation into its core identity. Whether you are looking to explore the Mediterranean reefs or progress through the PADI professional hierarchy, the facility is built to support long-term diving goals.

The instructor team brings a massive depth of knowledge to the table, with over 100 years of collective experience as PADI professionals. Having logged more than 15,000 dives, the staff provides a level of expertise that is particularly valuable for students undertaking professional training.

Beyond basic instruction, the team offers extensive mentorship and career counselling for those looking to enter the industry. They maintain an active diving community, ensuring that graduates have a support network to rely on as they progress in their careers.

As an IDC centre, the course catalogue is extensive, covering the entire PADI spectrum. You can start with Discover Scuba Diver or Open Water Diver and progress through Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, and Master Scuba Diver.

For those pursuing a career, the centre offers the full professional path, including Divemaster, Assistant Instructor, and Instructor Development Courses (IDC). They provide various packages for students, such as the IDC Basic, Materials, and MSDT packages, to support their journey toward becoming a professional.

The centre provides full equipment hire for those not travelling with their own kit, including regulators, BCDs, fins, wetsuits, boots, and cylinders. For night dives, torches are available to ensure you can see the marine life clearly after sunset.

Nitrox is available on-site for divers looking to extend their bottom time. The centre maintains its equipment to high standards, ensuring reliability for both recreational and professional training sessions.

The rocky reefs of La Herradura are home to a diverse array of Mediterranean species. You will find large schools of sea bream, bogues, and sardines moving through the water, alongside predators like the Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) and various groupers (Epinephelus).

Macro life is abundant for those who know where to look. Keep an eye out for octopus (Octopus vulgaris), moray eels (Muraenidae), and various scorpionfish. Nudibranchs (Chromodoris willani) and sea anemones (Actiniaria) add splashes of colour to the seabed, while crabs (Brachyura) and lobsters (Homaridae) hide within the crevices.

The scenery is defined by a rich collection of fixed life, including various sponges (Porifera), sea fans (Gorgoniidae), and soft corals. Large anemones and yellow encrusting anemones provide habitat for smaller residents like damselfish (Pomacentridae), wrasse (Labridae), and gobies (Gobiidae).