Palma de Mallorca: Shark Dive at Palma Aquarium

Palma Aquarium’s Big Blue tank puts you close to 11 large sharks, rays, and schools of fish in one of Europe’s deepest aquarium tanks. The underwater session lasts 30 minutes, and a qualified instructor stays with you after a careful 40-minute briefing and preparation period.

I like the calm, personal guidance, especially when instructors such as Louis take time to explain the equipment and help you feel secure. I also like that your companion enters Palma Aquarium free, so someone can watch through the viewing windows and take photos while you are underwater.

The main consideration is the paperwork and timing. You need a medical certificate issued within the last 12 months, accident insurance, and enough space before and after a flight. If you have limited mobility, this activity is not suitable.

Key things to know before you book

• The sharks come very close: The Big Blue tank contains 11 large sharks, plus rays and hundreds of fish.
• Your depth depends on your experience: A licensed participant can reach 8.5 meters, while a participant without a license goes to a maximum of 4 meters.
• The briefing is nearly as important as the swim: Allow 40 minutes for the safety explanation, preparation, and equipment.
• A companion enters the aquarium free: Your booking includes aquarium admission for you and one companion.
• The underwater session lasts 30 minutes: Plan on about 2 hours and 40 minutes for the organized parts, then use the rest of the day to explore.
• Plan around flights: The published information gives both 12-hour and 24-hour flight restrictions. I would allow a full 24 hours on either side to avoid a problem.

The Big Blue tank is the real attraction

The setting does much of the work here. Big Blue is Palma Aquarium’s main tank and one of the deepest shark tanks in Europe, giving the experience more scale than a quick photo opportunity beside a small aquarium pool.

You are not simply looking at sharks through glass. You are in the water with them, at a depth of up to 8.5 meters if you hold a diving license. Without a license, you can descend to 4 meters, which still gives you a strong underwater view and puts you close to the animals.

The tank contains 11 large sharks, rays, and hundreds of different fish. That variety matters. The sharks are the headline, but the rays and smaller fish give the scene movement and keep your attention shifting around the tank.

This is a controlled aquarium encounter, not an open-water expedition. That makes it a good choice if you want the feeling of being close to sharks without dealing with currents, poor visibility, or the uncertainty of finding animals in the sea.

The experience also has a useful split personality. It is exciting enough for a birthday gift or a long-held shark wish, but structured enough for a first underwater animal encounter. The instructor controls the session, explains what to do, and remains with you rather than leaving you to manage the tank alone.

Allow 40 minutes to get ready

The first organized part lasts about 40 minutes. Your instructor explains the Big Blue tank, outlines the safety rules, and prepares you for the underwater session.

Do not treat this as filler. If you are nervous, this is the time to ask every basic question. You can learn how the session is arranged, what the depth limit means for you, and how to stay comfortable in the equipment before you enter the water.

The personal instruction is one of the strongest parts of the experience. Louis, one of the instructors named in the feedback, was praised for taking his time and creating a secure feeling. Other comments describe the guide as patient, careful, friendly, and willing to explain things in detail.

That matters because the sharks are not the only new element. You are also handling scuba equipment, entering a large tank, and trying to remember instructions while watching animals swim nearby. A clear briefing reduces the mental load.

The activity is offered in English, Spanish, and German. It is a private-group experience, though the supplied details do not specify the exact number of participants in every session. One account describes two people entering the tank together, so you may not have the water entirely to yourself.

You should arrive ready to follow instructions rather than expecting a casual swim. The activity requires a medical certificate issued during the past 12 months. Accident insurance is also required. The supplied information says insurance is included, but it also says you must have your own accident diving insurance or purchase it on arrival. Because those two statements do not fully match, confirm the current arrangement before booking and bring proof of your policy if you have one.

Thirty minutes among sharks, rays, and fish

The actual underwater session lasts 30 minutes. That may sound short for the price, but 30 minutes in full equipment, with large sharks nearby and an instructor managing the activity, is a substantial amount of time.

The depth limit creates two versions of the experience. With a license, you can go as deep as 8.5 meters. Without a license, you remain at a maximum of 4 meters. The shallower option is still worthwhile because the animals move through the tank rather than waiting at one fixed depth.

Expect the sharks to pass close by. The supplied comments repeatedly emphasize how near they can come, with one participant describing them as right beside the diver. That proximity is the adrenaline point, but the controlled setting and guide support help keep it from becoming chaotic.

A ray may glide past while smaller fish fill the background. The tank’s depth gives the animals room to move, and it gives you a better sense of scale than a standard aquarium viewing panel. You are still watching animals in a managed environment, so anyone looking for a wild encounter should understand the difference.

The experience seems especially suited to someone who has always wanted to swim with sharks but is not ready to begin in the open ocean. One participant described the session as a step toward trying the activity at sea later. That is a sensible way to view it: you get a supervised introduction to underwater movement around large marine animals, without the additional demands of an ocean location.

Your guide’s manner will shape the session. The strongest accounts focus less on technical detail and more on feeling supported. That is useful information for a first-timer. A calm instructor can make it easier to watch the animals instead of worrying about every piece of equipment.

Your companion can watch from the other side

The booking includes aquarium admission for the participant and free admission for one companion. This is a real value point, especially if a partner or parent wants to see the experience but does not want to enter the tank.

A companion can watch through the viewing windows, photograph, and film from outside. One family used the viewing area to watch the session, which makes this a better shared outing than an activity that separates the participant from everyone else for most of the day.

Do not assume that professional photos are included. One participant wished they had brought a phone suitable for underwater use and noted that no picture was automatically provided. Another mentioned that staff took a photo in a particular situation, but that does not establish a regular photo package.

If recording matters to you, ask the staff what is permitted before entering the water. Bring only equipment that the aquarium allows and that you can safely use underwater. A phone can distract you from the sharks and from the instructor, so make the experience your priority rather than chasing a perfect image.

The aquarium admission also gives your companion something to do before and after the tank session. You can explore the exhibits at your own pace once the organized portion ends, making the booking more than a 30-minute underwater appointment.

Stay for the 90-minute aquarium visit

After the underwater session, plan about 1.5 hours to visit Palma Aquarium. This time helps balance the price because you receive a full aquarium visit rather than only access to the Big Blue tank.

I would use the aquarium visit to slow down after the excitement. The shark session is concentrated and physical, while the rest of the aquarium lets you look at the marine life from the other side of the glass and revisit what you saw underwater.

The total scheduled time is about 40 minutes for the briefing and preparation, 30 minutes in the tank, and 1.5 hours for the aquarium. That adds up to roughly 2 hours and 40 minutes, even though the booking is described as lasting one day. Check the starting time when you reserve, then keep the rest of the day flexible.

This arrangement is useful if you are building a Palma itinerary around the activity. You do not need to rush away after the tank session, and your companion can explore while you prepare. It also makes sense for families, provided the actual participant meets the health and mobility requirements.

Is $247 fair for one participant?

The listed price is $247 for a group of up to one, so treat it as the cost of the shark experience for one participant, not a bargain group tour. The price includes the aquarium entry for the participant, free aquarium entry for one companion, equipment, an instructor, and the activity insurance according to the included-services information.

The value depends on what you compare it with. If you only count the 30 minutes underwater, the price is high. If you include the 40-minute preparation, expert supervision, equipment, aquarium entry for two people, and the chance to approach large sharks at close range, it becomes easier to justify.

This is a special-occasion purchase rather than a casual add-on. A birthday, anniversary, or once-in-a-lifetime shark wish can make the cost feel reasonable. If you are simply looking for a low-cost aquarium visit, buy regular admission instead.

The companion ticket improves the calculation. You are not paying for a separate spectator to stand outside, and the aquarium visit gives both of you time together after the underwater session.

Still, check the insurance wording before you pay. The information says accident insurance is included, yet it also says that you must have your own coverage or buy it on arrival. That may affect your final cost, and it is worth clarifying directly with Palma Aquarium.

Important health and flight rules

The medical requirement is strict: you must show a diving medical certificate issued within the last 12 months. No certificate means no session, and the supplied conditions say there will be no refund for failing to meet this requirement.

The same applies to accident insurance. Bring proof of your own policy if you have one, and confirm whether the provider’s stated insurance covers the activity or only applies after an additional purchase.

You also cannot schedule the activity close to a flight. One section gives a 24-hour restriction before or after flying, while another says 12 hours. Since the stricter figure is safer and avoids a dispute, leave at least 24 hours between the activity and any flight.

Availability can change because of weather and biological conditions. Even though this takes place indoors, the aquarium can still adjust the session for conditions affecting animal welfare or operations.

The activity is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. The equipment, preparation, entry into the tank, and underwater movement all make this a poor match if you need mobility assistance.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend this for a confident swimmer or certified diver who wants a close shark encounter in a controlled setting. It also suits someone without a license who is comfortable following an instructor and wants to experience a 4-meter underwater session.

It is particularly good for:

• A shark enthusiast looking for a memorable birthday gift
• A licensed diver who wants to reach the full 8.5-meter limit
• A first-time participant who values patient instruction
• A couple or family where one person enters the tank and another watches
• Anyone who wants an introduction before trying an ocean-based shark experience

I would hesitate if you dislike enclosed spaces, have mobility limitations, cannot arrange the required medical certificate, or need to fly soon after the activity. The aquarium setting removes many open-water worries, but it does not remove the demands of scuba equipment and underwater movement.

The guide makes a difference, and the named examples, including Louis and Coco, called Reina, suggest that the staff can add warmth and personality to the experience. You should not book based on a particular instructor being guaranteed, but you can expect the session to depend heavily on the person leading it.

Booking advice and cancellation

You can cancel up to three days in advance for a full refund. After that point, the stated conditions are strict, especially if you arrive without the medical certificate, lack the required insurance, or cannot meet the flight rule.

I would book only after checking your flight schedule and medical paperwork. Ask about the insurance requirement at the same time, since the supplied details describe it in two different ways.

Starting times depend on availability, and the activity is offered in English, Spanish, and German. The ticket also allows you to skip the regular ticket line, which is useful when you want to move directly into the scheduled briefing.

Should you book the Palma Aquarium shark experience?

Book it if the main goal of your Mallorca visit is a close, supervised encounter with sharks. The Big Blue tank, 11 large sharks, rays, and hundreds of fish give you plenty to watch, while the instructor support makes the experience approachable for both licensed participants and people limited to 4 meters.

The best value comes when you use the companion admission and stay for the aquarium visit. I would also treat the 30-minute underwater session as part of a larger half-day outing, not as a stand-alone attraction.

Skip it if you want a cheap aquarium ticket, an open-sea encounter, or a relaxed activity with no paperwork. For the right person, though, this is a memorable, carefully managed way to get close to sharks in Palma.

FAQ

How deep can I go during the shark session?

If you have a diving license, you can go as deep as 8.5 meters. Without a license, the maximum depth is 4 meters.

How long do I spend underwater?

The scuba session lasts 30 minutes. The safety briefing and preparation take about 40 minutes beforehand.

What animals will I see?

The Big Blue tank contains 11 large sharks, rays, and hundreds of different fish.

Does my companion need to buy an aquarium ticket?

No. The booking includes free Palma Aquarium admission for one companion, as well as entry for the participant.

What documents do I need?

You must present a diving medical certificate issued within the last 12 months. Accident diving insurance is also mandatory. The stated information says insurance is included, but also says you can use your own policy or purchase coverage on arrival, so confirm the current rule before going.

Can I do the activity close to a flight?

No. The supplied conditions prohibit the activity close to flying, with one section stating 12 hours and another stating 24 hours before or after a flight. Allow a full 24 hours on each side to follow the stricter rule.