From dolphins riding the bow to octopus on the reefs below — the wildlife you might meet on a day at sea with us.
The water off Marbella is busier than it looks. On the surface, dolphins work the coast and the odd sunfish or turtle drifts past; below it, the reefs and old wrecks shelter octopus, moray and cuttlefish. Nothing at sea is ever guaranteed — it's wild — but here's what this coast regularly turns up, above and below.
Bottlenose and common dolphins both work this stretch of coast, and on a good day a pod will fall in alongside and ride the bow wave on the way out — one of those moments that makes a day on the water. Spring and autumn often bring the most activity, though they turn up year-round. You might also catch a sunfish basking flat at the surface, the occasional loggerhead turtle, or seabirds diving a bait ball. We can't promise dolphins — no one honestly can — but we know the coast well enough to put you where the odds are best.
Book a family day →Drop beneath the same water and the coast changes character entirely. These are real clips from the dive sites we run, all a short ride from the port — the residents you're most likely to meet on a dive.
Marbella's master of disguise — colour-shifting and endlessly curious, usually tucked into a reef crevice watching you right back.
That open-and-close jaw is just how it breathes, not a threat — a shy reef-dweller that holds its ground in the rocks.
A living light show, rippling waves of colour across its skin as it hovers and hunts over the sand.
A small, completely harmless shark that rests on the seabed by day — a quiet thrill for first-time divers.
Armoured and unhurried, often dressed in bits of algae for camouflage across the rocky bottom.
Whip-like antennae and not a claw in sight, picking its way through a blaze of orange cup coral — a prize find on Marbella's rocky reefs.
Marine life is wild and seasonal — sightings vary with conditions, time of year and a little luck.
You don’t need to dive to meet the life on this coast. Masks and snorkels are on board for everyone, on every charter — at each swim stop you’re free to snorkel around the boat, with the skipper picking calm, sheltered water and pointing you at the best ground.
Want to see more? We can arrange a guided snorkelling session with a professional guide from our partner PADI dive centre — a dedicated snorkel at the day’s best spot, with your guide showing you where to look and what you’re seeing: bream circling the rocks, an octopus tucked into a crevice, cuttlefish drifting over the sand. It suits first-timers and families especially well; no certification or experience needed. Available on charters of four hours or more, at an additional cost — just ask when you book.
Plan a snorkelling day →Want to get among it? Dive Marbella's reefs →
Spend a day on the water with us — dolphins up top, and a whole other world below.