GUTENFERD - Al Hoceima
Gutenferd isn't your average Mediterranean wreck. We've dived our fair share of sun-baked, silt-covered hulks, but this one has a real presence. She sits upright at 20 meters, quite a bit of her superstructure still intact, which makes for some excellent swim-throughs. You’ll feel the cool current tugging you gently as you glide over rusted deck plates, imagining her working life. We particularly love the bow section; it's a magnet for schools of damselfish and tiny juvenile barracuda. Drop down into the holds, and the light shifts to a deep blue, often revealing groupers lurking in the shadows. The historical context, a German steamer sunk in 1918, just adds another layer to the experience. It’s a genuinely engaging dive for anyone who appreciates a good wreck with a story, and the consistent depth makes it accessible for advanced open water divers who want more than just a quick peek. We’d suggest going in late morning, after any early boat traffic has cleared, when the visibility tends to be at its best. Just be mindful of those deeper penetrations; some parts are quite tight.
- Location
- Al Hoceima, Morocco, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 36.029167, -5.523611
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 20m
Marine Protected Area: Littoral de Jbel Moussa
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)
Nearby Dive Sites in Al Hoceima
- ALECOS - 10m (wreck)
- ALEX - 17m (wreck)
- ALFREDO - 6m (wreck)
- ALGIBE A3 - 30m (wreck)
- ALTONA - 2m (wreck)
- ARALAR - 3m (wreck)
- ARANDA CHICO - 2m (wreck)
- ARRAYA MENDI - 15m (wreck)
- Arrecife del Cañaveral (reef)
- ARUNDALE - 1m (wreck)
- ASTENE III - 14m (wreck)
- BADALONA - 1m (wreck)
- BLACKHEATH - 6m (wreck)
- BRIDGET CAROLINE - 6m (wreck)
- Cala Iris - 5-20m
Nearest Dive Centres to GUTENFERD
- Abysub - ["PADI"]
- Almunecar Dive Center - ["PADI"]
- Black Frog Divers - ["PADI"]
- BUCEO ALGECIRAS
- Buceo Almunecar - SSI
- BUCEO AQUALIA - SSI, UTD
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 GUTENFERD
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