GUADARRAMA

Best months: Aug

Why dive here

With 140+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, ocean sunfish (mola mola), octopuses, sea turtles and sperm whales - GUADARRAMA offers some of Al Hoceima's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 16-23°C, warmest July, August, September.

Best timeAug

WetsuitA 3mm full wetsuit

Marine lifeDolphins, Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola), Octopuses, Sea Turtles and Sperm Whales · 140+ species recorded

Water16-23°C · warmest July, August, September

CharacterWreck dive · max 1m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

Okay, Guadarrama. Now, this isn't your typical deep wreck dive, not by a long shot. At a maximum depth of 1m, it's practically a snorkel, but don't let that fool you. This site is genuinely fascinating. We love it for its sheer accessibility and the way it brings history right to the surface. It's the remains of a Spanish steamship, beached and broken, and it stretches out like skeletal fingers from the shoreline. You’re really exploring the very bones of a ship here. The hull plates are thick with algae, and barnacles cling to every rivet. Look closely in the crevices and under the overturned sections, and you’ll spot a surprising number of small critters, mostly blennies and gobies darting between the rusty metal. Our favourite part is the way the light filters through the water, creating dancing patterns on the wreck's ribs. It's a photographer's dream, especially around midday when the sun is high. We’d suggest going at low tide if you can time it right; it exposes even more of the structure, letting you truly appreciate the scale of the old girl. Guadarrama suits anyone who loves a bit of history and doesn’t mind getting shallow. It’s a great spot to practice wreck photography or just spend an hour poking around a piece of maritime past.