OAK-MOORE WRECK - Al Hoceima
The Oak-Moore wreck, sitting upright at 26 meters, is our pick for Al Hoceima’s most atmospheric dive. Drop down the line and you’ll find yourself gazing at a surprisingly intact cargo ship, a ghostly silhouette against the Med’s blue. We love how the hull is draped in a shimmering coat of jewel anemones, reds and oranges popping against the dark steel. Swim through the open cargo holds, where shafts of light penetrate the gloom, and keep an eye out for moray eels peeking from every crevice. There’s often a school of barracuda circling the mast, their silver scales catching the light, and we’ve spotted massive groupers lurking in the shadows of the engine room more than once. This is an expert dive, not because of depth, but because currents can be shifty. Dive early in the morning for the calmest conditions and best visibility, and you’ll practically have the whole wreck to yourself. It’s a proper exploration, a dive that feels like stepping back in time.
- Location
- Al Hoceima, Morocco, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 36.052200, -5.707100
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 26m
- Difficulty
- Expert
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 OAK-MOORE WRECK
- 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 OAK-MOORE WRECK
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