Diving

DIVING SPAIN TOP DIVE SITES - COSTA CALIDA




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 Dentro
Bajo de Fuera or Piedra de Vapor
Bajo del Piles
Cala Fria
El Farallon
El Vapor
Isla Gomera or El Naranjito
Isla Grosa
La Laja
Lilla or Carbonero
Portman
Turia or El Dragomina


Bajo 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 Palos
Type of dive: boat dive
Sea bed: sand
Requirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open Water


Bajo 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 Fuera
Type of dive: boat dive
Requirements: technical divers


Bajo 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 Park
Type of dive: boat dive
Sea bed: sand
Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water


Cala 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 Palos
Type of dive: shore dive
Sea bed: rock
Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water


El 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 Maestre
Type of dive: boat dive
Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water


El 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 Palos
Type of dive: boat dive
Requirements: technical divers


Isla 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 Palos
Type of dive: boat dive
Requirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open Water


Isla 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 Maestre
Type of dive: boat dive
Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water


La 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 Farallon
Type of dive: boat dive
Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water


Lilla 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 Maestre
Type of dive: boat dive
Sea bed: sand
Requirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open Water


Portman – 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 Palos
Type of dive: shore dive
Sea bed: sand
Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water


Turia 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 Grosa
Type of dive: boat dive
Requirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open Water