About us

Since April 2004, Muriel and Joop have been running Son Bou Scuba, located in Son Bou on Menorca’s South coast. In the season of 2003 they also worked on Menorca and used this time to get to know the island and to find the best dive sites available.

You can find the dive centre in the ‘Centro Commercial San Jaime’ in Son Bou, only a short distance away from the beach. Please visit our Accommodation page to view a detailed map of Son Bou.
Before Menorca, Muriel and Joop worked for 8 years in the Maldives as scuba instructors and base leaders. Their experience, combined with high safety standards and organisational skills, will guarantee you a relaxed diving holiday. Whether you are a novice to scuba diving or (still) a two-hose regulator diver, you will find our centre, facilities and staff to be the perfect choice for your diving activities. Click here to meet the dive centre staff.

At Son Bou Scuba the dive groups are kept small and experience levels are not mixed. This way, all divers get maximum enjoyment from their dive. There is always an experienced ‘spare buddy’ at hand to accompany any single divers. There are two daily guided dives by van or boat to more than 45 exciting and unusual dive sites.

Safety
 

SBS is one of only a handful of fully licensed and legal dive centres on Menorca. We comply with all Spanish and European Community laws and Health and Safety regulations. We have oxygen cylinders and First Aid kits available in the centre, the vans and on the boat, as well as communications equipment.
 


Training
 

Son Bou Scuba is a PADI Gold Palm Resort, BSAC Resort Centre and DAN Sponsor. We offer courses according to PADI and DAN standards – from absolute beginner to Assistant Instructor. For beginner courses we use our swimming pool (2 min. walking distance from the centre) or one of many beaches available. Open Water students will make their first open water dives in one of many sheltered bays. Crystal-clear water and a water temperature of up to 29 degrees Celsius at 60 ft. / 18 meters depth (August 2003) guarantee ideal conditions for learning how to dive.

Certified divers who want to broaden their knowledge, can join one of our Continuing Education courses up to Assistant Instructor (PADI), as well as several PADI specialty courses like Cavern Diver, Nitrox Diver, Deep Diver, Dolphin SCR Diver and Wreck Diver, just to name a few. Instructor courses like IAHD Handicapped Instructor or DAN Oxygen Instructor are available on request.
 


Diving for children
 

Also younger divers can experience the feeling of being underwater. For 8 to 10 year olds we offer Bubblemaker-courses in the pool. For children from 10 years onwards it is possible to get certified as a PADI Junior Scuba Diver or PADI Junior Open Water Diver. Son Bou Scuba has special equipment for children, including suits, BCD’s and 5- & 7-litre cylinders.
 


Technical diving
 

We are rebreather friendly! New in 2007 is ‘Discover Rebreather Diving’: After a comprehensive equipment and safety briefing, certified divers can have a go with the Dolphin Dräger Semi-Closed Rebreather under the direct supervision of an instructor. During the months May, June and October we offer also PADI certification courses for these units. If you are already rebreather certified on the Dolphin Dräger, then simply hire one of our units. Please check out our technical price list on the ‘Prices & Courses’ page.

Rebreather divers who prefer their own unit do not need to bring soda lime…we've got plenty! Sofnolime 1025 1-2.5mm granule size suitable for the Inspiration and Evolution, DiveSorb® for Dolphin Dräger and Ray units. And why carry your heavy cylinders around the world? We have 2- and 3-Liter O2-clean cylinders for the Inspiration and Evolution, as well as 3-, 5- and an 8-litre cylinder for Dolphin units. We do oxygen fills to 200 bar (sorry, our cylinders only!)

In May, June and October, qualified divers can rent 10- and 12-litre twin sets to dive Menorca’s deep wrecks. We have SS twinning bands, SS backplates, wings in several sizes and rigged deco-cylinders available. Just take your own regs. For diving groups, Helair and Trimix are available upon request. Please check out our technical price list on the ‘Prices & Courses’ page.
 


Non-divers
 

It is important to us that all of our divers have the best time imaginable, therefore we welcome non-diving partners/ companions and offer them the opportunity to join our trips. Experience the beauty of Menorca by sunbathing on a deserted beach or discover the underwater life by snorkelling. Several times a week we offer try-out dives in different hotel pools, free-of–charge.
 


Equipment
 

The equipment at Son Bou Scuba is brand new. Every three years we renew all our wetsuits, regulators and cylinders. We have fifty 10-, 12- (dumpy) and 15-litre steel cylinders available (compatible with DIN or INT), as well as several 2- and 3-litre cylinders for rebreather diving. Technical divers can use 5- and 7-litre steel and aluminium cylinders (O2 clean) for their decompression requirements.

Our two new Bauer compressors deliver 240 litres of clean, filtered dry air per minute up to 210 bar. The quality of the air is checked regularly and the maintenance service schedule is carried out exactly as recommended by the manufacturer.

Son Bou Scuba is, among others, dealer for Aqualung and A.P. Valves; manufacturer of the famous “Buddy” jackets. We have following equipment available for rental:

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15 Apeks ATX-20 and XTX-20 regulators, fitted with TX-20 octopus and pressure gauge
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15 Buddy “Commando” and “Sport” BCD’s (range from XS to XXL)
- 10 Suunto “Gekko” dive computers (suitable for Nitrox)
- 10 Aluminium Treble-Light MX-6 dive lights (20 Watt)
- 30 x 6-mil ‘Mero’ full wetsuits. Our wetsuits come in an extensive range of sizes to fit all, and can be combined with a 5-mm body warmer, hood and gloves if wished so

You can rent a complete set of equipment -including dive computer- for only € 12 per dive, so why bother to bring your own?

Two Olympus digital underwater cameras are available for rental, as well as several wide angle- and macro lenses for the Sea & Sea MX-10 and MM II. If desired, one of our experienced instructors can capture your dive on video, so you can enjoy your diving adventure again back home.

At Son Bou Scuba we have rinsing and drying facilities with a large area assigned for our divers with boxes and racks for storing and hanging personal equipment. Within the centre there‘s a bathroom and changing facility, including a hot shower. A fully equipped workshop is available for regulator service and repairs.
 


Water temperature
 

 
Month Water
temperature ºC 		Air
temperature ºC		 Daily hours
of sunshine
April 15-19 10-18 7
May 20-22 13-21 8.5
June 22-25 17-25 10
July 25-27 20-28 11
August 25-28 21-29 10
September 23-27 18-26 7
October 21-23 15-22 6
November 18-20 11-18 4