BSAC training here we go

12 October 2009

We are delighted to have teamed up with one of Tenerife's most experienced BSAC instructors, Andy Molloy, in order to become a BSAC training centre.

A new website detailling course prices etc. is under construction but for now please contact us directly with any enquiries: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Dive Show 2009

12 October 2009

As usual Steve and Madge will be at the Dive Show at the NEC in Birmingham on 24-25 October.

They expect to be circulating quite a bit (things to do, people to see...), so call to arrange a chat if you're there too - we'd hate to miss you: (+44) 07939 080 179.

Government Licence

17 September 2009

As mentioned in the letters page of September’s Diver magazine, you can now check on-line to see which Canarian dive centres have Government approval: Gobierno de Canarias.

Those of you who have seen how much photocopying Madge does will not be surprised to find that we are one of only 9 centres in Tenerife to have this licence.

Click on the Gobierno de Canarias logo on our home page to find out more.

Turtle Trouble

16 September 2009

On our way back from a dive this week we spotted a distressed turtle on the surface wrapped in a plastic bag and struggling to get free. Having got her on the boat we realised she was seriously injured on her left flipper apparently having been cut by fishing net. Unable to swim properly the boys decided we had to bring her in for treatment so she was kept overnight at the dive centre.

The following morning the Tenerife Wildlife Rescue service collected her and took her to La Laguna in the North where she will be rehabilitated. We look forward to hearing from them with a happy ending and will keep you all posted on her progress.

More Seahorses

16 September 2009

Not to be outdone by Ines’ sighting of a seahorse last month, Emma and several of our customers saw two with their tails interlinked at El Condesito last week.

We’re not sure if you will be able to make them out on this photo, but they really are there!

Specialty of the Month - October

16 September 2009

Book now for October’s Specialty of the Month: Night Diver.

The course is comprised of 3 dives and costs 220 euros each for a minimum of 2 people with Open Water certification or above. If you complete a PADI registration form you will be entered for a prize draw which may result in £50 worth of PADI goodies and entry into the annual draw for £500 worth of PADI equipment.

New Tanks

16 September 2009

In preparation for the installation of our Nitrox compressor we took delivery of 30 new steel Faber tanks this week, in a mixture of 10 litre, 12 litre and 15 litre sizes, to suit all consumption levels!

Personal Video

16 September 2009

The lovely Mia is now ready to capture your underwater adventure for you to take home and amaze friends and family, or maybe just re-live the memory yourself.

The price is 70 euros for a personalised video focusing just on you. Don’t be shy – you know you want it!

10th Anniversary

8 September 2009

Today we were in festive mood in recognition of our 10th PADI anniversary and having just concluded our busiest trading month ever.

The celebrations started with an afternoon dive to Palm Mar Cave with 2 boat fulls of divers including staff, residents and some of our regulars. After an underwater photo-shoot of the divers courtesy of our local Aqua-Lung supplier, Philippe Guillaume, it was back to the shop where the numbers swelled and the event turned into a proper party on the terrace, with some top notch cava and a lavish spread of tapas prepared by a 5* chef friend Roberto (it pays to choose your friends carefully!).

Aqua-Marina Oxygène has of course seen some changes in its 10 year history. Originally started by Fiona Alexander and Andreas Palmas, the management of the centre passed to Fiona’s sister, Rhona, 2 years later. In April 2004, the current owners, Steve Knight, Madge Hawkes and Neil Smith took over and embarked on an investment programme that saw the opening of a small shop to free up space in the wet centre, and the gradual replacement of kit, vehicles and boat. In 2005 the improvements were recognised by PADI in the form of an upgrade from PADI Centre to 5* Instructor Development Centre.

Aqua-Marina further reinforced its commitment to quality by joining the international franchise Oxygène in 2008, which has dive resorts and shops in diverse locations around the world but with a common theme of dependable quality. By this summer growth at Aqua-Marina Oxygène was such that Discover Scuba registrations recorded with PADI alone were in the top ten of Europe, despite the core business being aimed at certified divers.

Significant changes to the centre started in September 2008 with the move of the shop / office to an idyllic beachfront location but still within the same complex. Soon afterwards a new wet centre was opened around the corner, giving divers more space and smarter and more comfortable facilities, and quicker access to the beach.

Stage 3, planned for November 2009, will see the complete refurbishment of the original wet centre. The compressor room will be extended to house an additional compressor with Nitrox membrane, currently on order from Bauer. The remaining area will be developed into an enlarged classroom space equipped, of course, to the highest standard.

We are very much looking forward to our next 10 years and hope to welcome many more divers to Tenerife.

We would also like to take the opportunity to say a big thank you to all our existing customers. Hope to see you again soon!

Dolphin Delight

26 August 2009

Although we quite regularly see dolphins from the boat, they usually disappear when we get in the water. As you can imagine therefore it was a particular treat to see dolphins playing around the rigging whilst we dived our local wreck, El Meridian, on 2 different occasions in the last week.

At first it was rather worrying to see one of them with a plastic bag apparently stuck to its fin, and even more worrying to see the same thing several days later. But then it did a little flip and removed the bag and went on to play around with it, doing somersaults and tossing it around. What a relief – the whole thing was just playtime!

Beach Clean-Up

26 August 2009

Saturday 29th August is the date for this year’s clean up dive on Las Vistas beach, organised by our local council of Arona and sponsored by Aqua-Lung.

If anyone wishes to participate, this will be our first dive of the day, and of course will be free of charge.

Manta Magnet

26 August 2009

Emma has declared herself Tenerife’s official manta magnet after a dive at Neptune’s Cave where she and a group of our divers spent no less than 10 minutes in the close company of a manta ray with an approximate wing span of 3 metres.

Fortunately we were able to get photographic evidence, courtesy of Andres (Muchas Gracias!)

New Wet Centre

07 August 2009

Hurrah! Our new wet centre was open for business for the first time this week.

What luxury – same great service but with loads more space, 2 hot showers and, best of all, the shortest possible walk to the boat.

If it's a bit difficult to see how lovely it is from this photo why not call in for some diving to try it out for yourself?

Happy Birthday To Us!

14 August 2009

The 8th of September 2009 is the 10th anniversary of the registration of Aqua-Marina Oxygene with PADI and it seems to us like a good excuse for a party!

So the afternoon slot (1430 – 1700) will be given over to a free fun dive, with places allocated on a first come, first served basis. Then it’s back to the terrace for champagne (or whatever else you fancy) and nibbles. Obviously dive places are restricted but party places aren’t, so come and join us if you can.

If you are around and would like to dive, email us as soon as possible to secure your place on one of the boats.

Post Recession

02 August 2009

The Chancellor of Aqua-Marina Oxygene has declared the recession is over, having had a busier June and July than these same months in 2008.