Palma de Mallorca: Shark Dive at Palma Aquarium

Palma Aquarium’s Big Blue tank gives you an unusual underwater meeting with 11 large sharks, rays, and hundreds of fish, all inside one of Europe’s deepest shark tanks. You get close enough to study the animals rather than simply watch them through glass.

I like the careful preparation, including a 40-minute briefing and support from a qualified instructor. I also like the practical value for couples and families: your companion receives free aquarium admission, so someone who stays out of the water can still share the day.

The main drawback is the paperwork. You need a medical certificate issued within the past 12 months and accident coverage for scuba activities. The published flight restriction also gives two different time limits, 12 hours and 24 hours, so I would confirm the rule with Palma Aquarium before booking.

Key points to know before booking

• 11 large sharks in the Big Blue: The main attraction is a close underwater view of sharks, rays, and many other fish.
• Two depth limits: Certified divers can descend as far as 8.5 meters; those without a license stay at a maximum of 4 meters.
• 40-minute safety session: You receive an explanation of the tank, safety rules, equipment, and the plan before entering the water.
• 30 minutes in the tank: The actual underwater session is shorter than the full visit, but it gives you focused time with the animals.
• Free entry for one companion: Your companion can visit Palma Aquarium while you prepare and afterward.
• Private-group format: The booking is for a private group, with instruction available in English, Spanish, or German.

What the Big Blue experience is really like

This is not a standard aquarium visit with a quick photo opportunity. You put on scuba equipment and enter the main tank, where the animals move through the water around you.

The setting changes the way you see sharks. Behind glass, a shark is part of an exhibit. In the water, you notice its size, movement, and calm rhythm in a much more direct way. The tank also contains rays and hundreds of fish, so the scene is not limited to one species.

The experience is designed around safety rather than bravado. Your instructor first explains the Big Blue tank and the rules for moving through it. That matters because many people booking this activity may have little or no experience with this type of underwater session.

The reviews supplied for this activity repeatedly praise the instructors for staying close, answering questions, and explaining things without rushing. Louis is specifically praised for helping a participant feel secure, while another booking describes an instructor as gentle and patient with a 17-year-old whose long-held wish was to meet sharks underwater.

That combination of close animal contact and steady instruction is the heart of the experience. You get the excitement of being near sharks, but the structure is controlled and supervised.

The 40-minute briefing is time well spent

Your visit begins at Palma Aquarium with a safety briefing lasting about 40 minutes. The instructor explains the Big Blue tank, outlines the safety measures, and prepares you for the session.

This is the part to take seriously. The tank is large and the sharks are close, so you need to understand how the activity works before you enter. The briefing also gives you a chance to ask questions and settle your nerves.

The equipment is supplied, and the instructor remains involved throughout the preparation. One detailed account describes participants being welcomed at the aquarium, shown the tank, given an explanation of the plan, and then taken to get ready before entering the water.

That order is helpful. You first see the environment, then learn what will happen, then put on the equipment. If you are new to scuba activities, the briefing should help you feel more prepared. If you already hold a license, it still gives you the specific rules for this aquarium tank.

Allow more time than the listed 40 minutes if you tend to need a slower clothing or equipment change. The formal schedule gives 40 minutes for instruction and preparation, followed by 30 minutes in the water.

A 30-minute session among sharks and rays

The underwater session lasts about 30 minutes. Licensed divers can go as deep as 8.5 meters. If you do not have a diving license, your maximum depth is 4 meters, which still puts you directly inside the Big Blue environment.

The depth difference affects the experience, but it does not turn the non-licensed version into a lesser activity. At 4 meters, you are still close to the animals and within the main tank. The activity is built to accommodate both certified participants and people without a license.

The main draw is the sharks. Eleven large sharks share the tank with rays and hundreds of fish, giving you plenty to watch during the session. The animals may pass very close to you, so you should expect a strong sense of scale and movement rather than a static animal display.

One participant received a shark tooth from the staff, but you should treat that as a personal extra rather than a promised part of the booking. Photography is also not clearly included. One person advised bringing a phone suitable for underwater use because no standard photo service was provided during that session.

I would not make a phone your priority, though. The best part of the activity is staying calm and paying attention to the animals. If you bring any personal device, ask the instructor first and follow the aquarium’s rules.

Your companion gets more than a waiting room

The booking includes free entrance to Palma Aquarium for you and one companion. That is a useful feature, especially if a partner, parent, or friend is coming along but does not want to enter the tank.

Your companion can watch from behind the aquarium glass, take photos, and follow the action from outside. A family account describes parents watching their daughter’s session through the windows and recording the moment.

After the underwater portion, you can visit the aquarium at your own pace. The planned aquarium visit lasts about 1.5 hours, giving you time to see the wider collection rather than leaving as soon as the shark session ends.

This arrangement makes the activity easier to share. The person in the water gets the central experience, while the companion still has something worthwhile to do. It also gives you a chance to compare the view from inside the tank with the view from outside.

The aquarium entry is part of the value of the package. You are not paying only for 30 minutes in the water. You also receive the briefing, equipment, instructor, participant admission, companion admission, and time to visit the aquarium afterward.

Is $247 good value?

The listed price is $247 for a group of up to one, meaning it is priced around one participant. That is a large amount for a short underwater session, so I would not book it casually.

The value improves if you specifically want a shark encounter in Mallorca. You are paying for a rare setting, professional supervision, equipment, aquarium admission, and a companion ticket. A standard aquarium visit cannot reproduce the sensation of being in the tank with the animals.

The free companion entry also matters. If two people are traveling together and only one wants to enter the water, the second person is not left paying for a separate aquarium ticket. The companion can watch, photograph, and then explore the aquarium.

For someone who simply wants to see sharks, the regular aquarium visit is likely enough. For someone who has always wanted to be underwater near sharks, the extra cost pays for access that a normal ticket cannot provide.

The experience has also been used as a birthday gift and as a long-planned goal for a teenager. That is a good clue about its best audience: people who place high value on a memorable, unusual event rather than on keeping the day inexpensive.

Medical and flight rules deserve attention

You must present a diving medical certificate issued within the last 12 months. This is not optional, and the activity provider states that no refund is given if you fail to meet the requirement.

You also need accident insurance for the activity. The information supplied says diving insurance is included, but it also says you must have your own accident diving insurance or purchase it on arrival. Because those statements do not fully match, confirm exactly what is included and what you must arrange before paying.

The flight rule is also presented in two ways. One part says the session cannot take place 24 hours before or after a flight, while another says 12 hours. I would use the stricter 24-hour gap when planning your Mallorca schedule and ask the provider to confirm the current requirement.

These rules can affect short holidays. Do not schedule the activity immediately before an early flight or directly after landing. Leave enough room for the medical paperwork and any change caused by weather or biological conditions.

Who will enjoy this most?

This activity suits an adult or older teenager who is comfortable following instructions and wants a close encounter with sharks. The supplied bookings include a 17-year-old, and the instructor-led format is designed to support people who may feel nervous at first.

It also works well for a mixed group. One person can enter the tank while a companion watches from outside and visits the aquarium. The private-group arrangement gives the occasion a more personal feel than a large public lesson.

You should not book it if you have mobility impairments, since the activity is specifically listed as unsuitable for people with mobility limitations. You should also think carefully before booking if you dislike enclosed water environments, have no time for the required medical certificate, or want a casual aquarium visit rather than a structured scuba activity.

The multilingual instruction is useful for international visitors. You can receive guidance in English, Spanish, or German, which makes the safety briefing easier to follow.

What the day looks like from start to finish

You begin at Palma Aquarium and meet the instructor. The first stage is the 40-minute explanation and preparation period, including the tank briefing, safety rules, equipment, and plan for the session.

Next comes the 30-minute underwater experience. Licensed participants can reach 8.5 meters, while those without a license remain at 4 meters. During this time, you share the Big Blue with 11 large sharks, rays, and hundreds of fish.

After changing out of the equipment, you have about 1.5 hours to visit Palma Aquarium. Your companion can use the aquarium admission during the session and afterward.

The formal activity lasts a little over two hours when the listed stages are added together, but the booking is described as a one-day activity because the starting time depends on availability. Check the available time before arranging other plans.

The schedule is well balanced. The briefing is long enough to cover safety, the underwater portion is focused, and the aquarium visit gives you time to slow down afterward. The only part that may disappoint is the short length of the actual shark session if you expect a full day in the water.

Final call: should you book it?

Book this if swimming close to sharks is a personal goal and you are willing to handle the medical certificate, insurance, cost, and flight restrictions. The strongest parts are the careful instructor support, the 11 sharks in the Big Blue tank, and free aquarium access for a companion.

I would especially recommend it as a birthday present or a once-only Mallorca event. The 30-minute session is brief, but the setting is unusual and the preparation helps make it accessible to people without a diving license.

Skip it if you only want a low-cost aquarium visit, cannot obtain the required medical certificate, or have limited mobility. Before booking, confirm the insurance wording and the 12-hour versus 24-hour flight rule. Those are small details until they affect your eligibility and refund.

FAQ

Where does the shark experience take place?

It takes place at Palma Aquarium in Mallorca, in the Big Blue tank.

How long is the underwater session?

The scuba session lasts about 30 minutes.

How long is the safety briefing?

The briefing and preparation take about 40 minutes.

How deep can I go without a diving license?

Without a license, you can go to a maximum depth of 4 meters.

How deep can a licensed diver go?

A participant with a diving license can go to a maximum depth of 8.5 meters.

Is aquarium admission included?

Yes. Admission is included for the participant, and one companion receives free admission as well.

Do I need a medical certificate?

Yes. You must present a diving medical certificate issued within the previous 12 months.

Can I take part close to a flight?

The supplied information gives both a 12-hour and a 24-hour restriction before or after flying. Confirm the current rule with Palma Aquarium, and plan around a 24-hour gap to be safe.