Centro de Buceo - Al Hoceima

Okay, so Centro de Buceo. Forget everything you think you know about Med diving here. We’ve found ourselves coming back to this spot purely for the sheer density of fish. It’s not about giant pelagics or technicolour coral. It’s about the sheer, shimmering volume of schooling fish that often reduce visibility to a living wall. Drop down and you’re instantly surrounded. We’ve had anchovies so thick around us, you can barely see your buddy. Then the axillary sea-bream and mullet move in, pushing through the shoals, creating these swirling, silver tornadoes. Look closely on the sand and you’ll spot scaldfish perfectly camouflaged, or maybe a marbled goby peeking out. We’ve even seen elegant cuttlefish here, doing their amazing colour changes right in front of us. Our tip? Go early morning. The light catches the schools just right, turning the water into liquid mercury. It’s a photographer's dream if you like abstract fish portraits. This site really suits divers who appreciate the subtle beauty of a vibrant, active ecosystem, rather than dramatic topography.

Location: Al Hoceima, Morocco, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates: 36.733723, -3.975329

Best Time to Dive in Al Hoceima

The warmest water temperatures in Al Hoceima occur in January, averaging 16.4°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 16.4°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 16.4°C (air: 13.6°C)
February: 16.4°C (air: 14.8°C)
March: 16.4°C (air: 15.7°C)
April: 16.4°C (air: 17.3°C)
May: 16.4°C (air: 19.9°C)
June: 16.4°C (air: 22.5°C)
July: 16.4°C (air: 25.8°C)
August: 16.4°C (air: 26.3°C)
September: 16.4°C (air: 23.9°C)
October: 16.4°C (air: 20.9°C)
November: 16.4°C (air: 17.6°C)
December: 16.4°C (air: 15.2°C)

Nearest Dive Centres to Centro de Buceo

Marine Life in Al Hoceima

Home to 143 recorded species including 96 reef fish, 11 octopus & squid, 10 sharks & rays, 9 whales & dolphins, 3 crabs & lobsters, 2 other.

Notable Species

loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
Blue-white Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) - Whales & Dolphins
Short-beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) - Whales & Dolphins
Blackfish (Globicephala melas) - Whales & Dolphins
Blackmouth catshark (Galeus melastomus) - Sharks & Rays
Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
Pink (Hoplostethus mediterraneus) - Reef Fish
Velvet belly lantern shark (Etmopterus spinax) - Sharks & Rays
Common Atlantic Grenadier (Nezumia aequalis) - Reef Fish
Jac (Helicolenus dactylopterus) - Reef Fish
Lanternfish (Lampanyctus crocodilus) - Reef Fish
Boa Dragonfish (Stomias boa) - Reef Fish
European flying squid (Todarodes sagittatus) - Octopus & Squid
Rabbitfish (Chimaera monstrosa)
Axefish (Argyropelecus hemigymnus) - Reef Fish
Roughnosed Rattail (Trachyrincus scabrus) - Reef Fish
conger (Conger conger) - Reef Fish
Gunner (Pagellus bogaraveo) - Reef Fish
Spotted Lanternfish (Myctophum punctatum) - Reef Fish
Blackspot Grenadier (Coelorinchus caelorhincus) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for Centro de Buceo

Based on average water temperature of 16.4°C.

Wetsuit (5-7mm) - recommended for 16°C water
Hood & Gloves (3-5mm) - helps retain warmth
Mask - essential for every dive
Fins
BCD - buoyancy compensator
Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories