Spain
TOP DIVE SITES – COSTA CALIDA AND ISLAS HORMIGAS MARINE RESERVE
The Costa Cálida is located in the province of Murcia. This coast and in the Islas Hormigas Marine Reserve are considered to be one of the greatest in the world due to its micro-climate and abundant marine life.Bajo de DentroBajo de Fuera or Piedra de Vapor Bajo del PilesCala FriaEl Farallon El Vapor Isla Gomera or El Naranjito Isla Grosa La LajaLilla or CarboneroPortmanTuria or El DragominaBajo de Dentro – also known as Bajo de en medio. This site is famous for a rock formation that rises from the seabed. Divers will encounter steep walls and caves in this area, as well as an abundant marine life -- sea perch, breams, damselfish, mojarras, barracudas, groupers, dentex, and more. Lucky divers may also see eagle rays, sunfish and turtles in this area. The depth ranges from 8 to 50 m.Location: Cabo de PalosType of dive: boat diveSea bed: sandRequirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open WaterBajo de Fuera or Piedra de Vapor – at least four wrecks can be found in this area: Nord America, Minerva and Sirio. Nord America was an Italian freighter and she sank in 1883. Minerva sank in 1899 in a storm. Sirio, the most famous wreck in this area, was an overloaded Italian liner with 1000 immigrants on board, on her way to the United States which sank in 1906. Local fishermen managed to rescue around 500 passengers. The wreck of Sirio lies at a depth of 50 to 60 m. Diving in this area requires a permission from the local authorities.Location: Bajo de FueraType of dive: boat diveRequirements: technical diversBajo del Piles – this dive site features two rocky underwater spines that can be seen from the boat. There is an abundance of marine life – moray eels, scorpion fish, mojarras, groupers, barracudas, cods and other species. The maximum depth is 30 m.Location: Islas Hormigas Marine ParkType of dive: boat diveSea bed: sandRequirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open WaterCala Fria – a good dive site for beginners. There are two rocky bays with beautiful rock formations, swim throughs and plenty of marine life: scorpion fish, octopi, groupers and wrasses. The maximum depth is 18 m. Lucky divers can meet here barracudas and the Moon fish.Location: Cabo de PalosType of dive: shore diveSea bed: rockRequirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open WaterEl Farallon – this small islet, situated next to Isla Grosa, used to be a target practice used by the Spanish armed forces. This place is a shelter for many marine species such as octopi and moray eels. Sometimes one may spot barracudas, groupers and dentex.Location: east of Isla Grosa, near Puerto Tomás MaestreType of dive: boat diveRequirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open WaterEl Vapor – the wreck of an old steamship was discovered in 2008. It lies at a depth of 49 m. The wreck is still being explored and there are no information about the name or the cargo yet.Location: near Cabo de PalosType of dive: boat diveRequirements: technical diversIsla Gomera or El Naranjito – the ship sank in a storm in 1946 but the crew managed to swim safely to the shore. The wreck lies at the depth of 28 to 45 m. The ship was called “El Naranjito” after her cargo – oranges. The wreck gives shelter to many marine species such as conger eels.Location: near Cabo de PalosType of dive: boat diveRequirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open WaterIsla Grosa – this island is a great dive site for all levels. At the southern side of the island there is an 80 meters long cave. The maximum depth in this area is 20 m.Location: Isla Grosa Marine Park, near Puerto Tomás MaestreType of dive: boat diveRequirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open WaterLa Laja – this is a shallow yet interesting dive site. The depth ranges from 3 to 22 m. There is a reef and a small canyon. This place attracts many marine species. Apart from the abundant marine life, there are also ancient artifacts to be found in this area.Location: northeast of El FarallonType of dive: boat diveRequirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open WaterLilla or Carbonero – the wreck if an Italian steamship lies at the depth of 35 to 45 m. The ship was sunk by a German submarine in 1917. The original name of the ship was “Thordisa” but later it was renamed “Lilla”. The ship is also called “Carbonero” after her cargo of coal. The wreck gives shelter to many fish species such as conger eels, jacks, dentex, etc.Location: 10 km east of Puerto Tomás MaestreType of dive: boat diveSea bed: sandRequirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open WaterPortman – a good site for beginners. This spot gives shelter to many fish species such as electric rays, butterfly rays, wrasses, scorpion fish, damsel fish and cuttlefish. The maximum depth is 10 m.Location: Cabo de PalosType of dive: shore diveSea bed: sandRequirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open WaterTuria or El Dragomina – the wreck of a wooden minesweeper lies at a depth of around 35 m. She was sunk deliberately in 1999 to serve as an artificial reef. The wreck attracts many marine species such as anchovies, sardines, mackerels and breams. Sometimes divers can see sunfish in this area.Location: between Cabo de Palos and Isla GrosaType of dive: boat diveRequirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open Water