The Islas Hormigas Marine Park Dive Sites (East of Cabo de Palos)

Most of our Boat dives are conducted in the nearby Islas Hormigas Marine Reserve, which boasts some of the best diving in Spain!

The Reserve is a well established breeding ground for mediteranian fish and wildlife , it is  highly protected by the Marine authorities since 1995 and is home to an abundance of marine life such as huge Groupers, shoals of Barracuda, Octopus, Moray eels, Eagle rays as well as Nudibranch and the occasional Sunfish. During the months of August to October, in the reserve, you can see huge bait balls which attract Palagic fish, such as Tuna, Comon dentex  and Jacks as well as other preditory fish, all of whom feed on them offering a spectacular show! 

We and many other divers who regularly dive in the Mediterranean  believe this to be the best place to dive in Spain for the abundance  and variation of marine life.

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Bajo del Piles I

Access - From Cabo de Palos set course for Las Islas Hormigas for 1.5 miles then you turn towards La Manga crossing Piles.

Description:

Bajo del Piles consists of two separate rocky spines extending towards the islas Hormigas.The main spine is some 75m long with the two summits at 7m & 9m & can be clearly seen from the boat in the clear waters. 

The second spine is a continuation of the primary & lies parallel to it. It is 9m at its shallowest, with a similar average depth. The seabed is somewhat deeper at around 30m at the southern end.

Both spines are limited in marine flora but this is made up for by the vast array of marine life. The primary spine is renowned for the size & quantity of its indigenous Moray eel population, who share the rocks with Scorpion fish, Mojarras and groupers. The smaller spine attracts larger shoals of mojarra not to mention Barracuda, Cod and large groupers. Neither spine is subject to significant currents but from time to time can be blown out by the wind.

Common marine life: Huge groupers, large barracuda shoals, comon dentex shoals, bait balls, ornate wrasse.

Visibility: 10 m to 25m

Min depth: 7m

Max depth: 28m

Experience level: Open water and above

Conditions: The south side of the reef is more protected from currents but usually mild to medium. can be choppy in a north east wind.

 
Bajo de Piles II

Description:

The second and smaller of the rocky piles spines. It is a sheltered dive with regard to current but can be vunerable to wind. This bar is home to Barracuda, Morjarra, Cod & several large Groupers. To the north and north west of both spines are numerous rocky blocks, which form a labyrinthine home for large Groupers & Eels. In general these are easy, pleasant dives suitable for most levels of divers but care must be taken not to become disorientated, especially around the rocky blocks.

Common marine life: Home of the largest groupers, huge barracuda shoals, large octopus, trigger fish.

Visibility: 10 m to 25m

Min depth: 9m

Max depth: 32m

Experience level: Open water and above

Conditions: The south side of the reef is more protected from currents but usually mild to medium. can be choppy in a north east wind.

 Bajo de Dentro

Description:

Access - From Cabo de Palos set course for Islas Hormigas, de Dentro lies exactly 4 km from port, within the marine reserve of Islas Hormigas & takes about 10-15 minutes to reach by the RIB.  Bajo de Dentro is a rocky outcrop that rises from the sandy seabed at 50m at the tip of it’s southern spine to just 4m at its central point. The northern side comprises of gently sloping platform some 20-30m in length which lies in 12-16m of water. Both the eastern & western sides comprise of steep walls though the easterly wall is almost vertical & deeper. Both faces have caves & are around 20m & 40m respectively.

Because of the currents that wash this pinnacle, and its protected status, it is rich in both marine flora and fauna. There are large schools of both sea perch, Chromis, Corva, Bream & Mojarra, which in turn attract shoals of Barracuda, Groupers & Dentex. Amongst the rocks lies sanctuary for Scorpion fish, Brotala, Lobsters, Moray and Conger Eels.  There is also an abundance of soft corals such as Gorgonias. You can occasionally spot eagle rays, sunfish & maybe turtles.

Common marine life: large groupers,moray eels, eagle rays, barracuda shoals, dentex, occasional sun fish.

Visibility: 10 m to 40m

Min depth: 4m

Max depth: 45m

Experience level: Open water and above

Conditions: This site is in open waters so can have some strong currents running occasionally and can be choppy in a north east wind.. However on a calm day with no currents this is breathtaking!

 
Bajo de la Testa

Description:

Part of Cabo de Palos marine reserve, Bajo de la Testa is a gentler sloping plateau. It is surrounded by deeper water & fields of oceanic Gorgonia. The plateau has inhabitants that include schools of Mojarra, Pollack & large green & brown Wrasse.This site has many old artefacts that you could find and the highlight is the 3 roman anchors you can find around the base of the reef!    It is also home to many interesting invertebrates. A nice easy dive and the closest of the marine park dives to shore.

Common marine life: moray eels, sea bream, slipper lobster. 

Visibility: 10 m to 25m

Min depth: 8m

Max depth: 22m

Experience level: Open water

Conditions: More protected from currents than the other marine park dive sites due to being closer to shore but  can be choppy in a north east wind.

 
Isla Grosa Marine Park Dive Sites. (North East of La Manga strip)

Isla Grosa

This Big island in front of Thomas Mastre port offers some protected & shallow boat dives & is best dived at the south of the island where there is an entrance to a cave that extends around 80 meters inside the island & is a maximum depth of 7 metres & is good for most qualified divers. You can also dive the east side that goes to a maximum of 21 meters.

El Farallon

The East of the Islas Grosa island lies the strange rock of El Farallon which is around 10 minutes boat ride from Thomas Maestro port. This gentle sloping site reaches a depth of 18 metres as you swim through the scattered clusters of rocks that make shelter for a large variety of fish. There are also fields of oceanic gorgonia, which bring large shoals of salema which feed, on this plus a whole variety of other types of fish.

 La Laja

Which means flag is just north east of El Farallon & a shallow dive site with lots of      artefacts due to ther sinking of a ship from the venetian times. The wreck has just recently been dug out & on show in the maritime museum with lots of pieces of pottery , spear heads & other artefacts can be found still. Depth ranges from 3 meters to 22 meters & there is a canyon you can swim through at around 12 metres. This site is good for recently qualified divers and advanced.

 
La Campana

Is a shallow reef just 300 metres from La laja at 19 to 24 metres deep.

There are a variety of other dive sites stretching westwards towards Cartagena & as far as Mazarron that have been discovered & include a cave dive. please look below at our new sites for 2012!

NEW!!    Dive sites Cartagena. (south west)

We now have a dive boat located in cartagena which is approximatley 15 minutes drive south west from our dive centre. Here the dive sites are  generally more protected than in the Islas Hormigas marine park which means less waves and current that some divers will find more comfortable and relaxed to dive in.

Las Palomas reef.

Large reef system extending  off  the Palomas Island which is very close by. This site has a large plateau at the shallowest point  and slowly gets deeper and narrower as you swim south west along the steep walls with lots of cracks and crevasses in the walls which are home to many moray eels and in the open water there’s  a huge abundance of marine life.

At the very end of the dive site there is another deeper plateau and full of sea donughts  approx. 20m deep .Swim toward the edge  there is a sheer drop to a sandy 40m seabed where you will see a huge shoal of brown meagre fish  maybe even an eagle ray or two. Swimming north east along the reef edge take a close look at the reef to find lots of various  nudibranches  and slowly head on top of the shallower plateau to make your safety stop and then surface.

Common marine life: Barracuda, bait balls, moray eels, nudibranch. Possibly eagle rays or even a turtle.

Visibility: 10-30m

Min depth: 6m

Max depth: 40m

Experience level: Open water

Conditions: Mainly calm with small waves. Can be a slight current.

El Espeque

Large underwater rock reef just outside Cartagena port to the south east, this site had a large beacon extending out of the water to prevent large ships coming into port from hitting the shallow reef but was blown up and sank when an extension to the port was made.

The beacon now lies on the northern side of the reef in 25m of water and has attracted lots of marine life and now encrusted. This site has some steep edges and drop offs and a huge variety of marine life can be found here. On top of the reef you can find the base of the beacon and a thick chain link going down into the depths of this site.

Common marine life: moray eels, hermit crabs, sea bream, bait balls, occasional sunfish.

Visibility: 10 m to 25m

Min depth: 8m

Max depth: 40m

Experience level: Open water

Conditions: Mostly flat and calm unless a strong southerly wind is present, minimal current.

La Cueva de la virgin.

This small cave system is great for people with no cave diving certification but wish to make a memorable dive. Swimming towards the entrance you will find 2 archways, the first arch extends back approx. 25 m but the second entrance is bigger and more open, and is where the small stone statue of the Virgin Mary protects the entrance. 

Turning on your flashlight you then proceed inside of the cave where it is approx. 15m wide and extending to 30m wide the further you swim in, looking back you will see the bright blue entrance and makes a great contrast with divers and their flashlights to take some photos. Looking up the ceiling of the cave is approx. 5m deep and the bottom at 15m but gets progressively shallower  the more you swim inside and loosing most natural light but in the distance you will see a light tunnel extending down which shows the caves main chamber inside. As you are getting into the shallow water you will see a thermocline and notice the water drop a couple of degrees and a large sloping rock from extending down from the surface which has 4 stalagmites which also makes for a great photo before surfacing into the chamber. Inflate BCD and have a good look around, here there is a crack into the cave which sunlight will penetrate so you can turn off your flashlight to make some more great photos.

On the western side of the cave there is another small chamber but only recommended for more confident and advanced divers. Once you descend to the west you will see a small dark hole approx. 1.5m x 1.5m wide, inside here you can find some small stalagmites and stalactites and a huge crystal formation which is the highlight of this smaller chamber.

Once back out into the main chamber bear to the right and you will see the light coming from the entrance and follow it until you are outside into the reef. Here there are some large boulders piled up and you should find some big mullet patrolling the entrance. Swim to the right along the reef wall and eventually return to the boat.

Common marine life: Octopus, shrimp, mullet, maybe a conger eel! 

Visibility: 8 to 25m

Min depth: 5m

Max depth : 15m

Experience level: Open water, but must not be claustrophobic in any way.

Conditions: Mostly flat calm, no currents but not diveable when the entrance is rough in a southerly wind.

Wreck of the CBA Tug and Harrier Jet plane.

This Tug boat was sank in the 1950’s by the navy for training of their divers. It is 20m in long and 4m wide and has some areas for light penetration into the wreck. Swim along the port side to the bow of the ship and swim 20m off to the left you will come to the harrier jet fuselage also sank by the navy approximately 15 years ago on a sandy seabed. This is the deepest point of the dive and is very interesting to look in the jets engine and large intakes that confirm the harrier jet characteristics. At the cockpit you can sit inside which makes a great photo from in front of the jet.  

Swim back along the jet to the tail and usually you can see the bow of the wreck, continue along the starboard side of the wreck where you can penetrate the holds and also the bridge. And finish the dive by swimming on top of the bridge and up the mooring to make a safety stop before surfacing.

Common marine life: Large scorpion fish, moray eels, nudibranch and sea bream.

Visibility: 8- 20m

Min depth: 15m

Max depth: 22m

Experience level: Open water

Conditions: Mainly calm with small waves.