RAINBOW

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 - RAINBOW 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 2m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

Rainbow, for us, is one of those sites that just feels right, especially if you're into history and close-up marine encounters. We’re talking about a steamship, sunk back in '74, lying in an almost unbelievable two metres of water. Seriously, you can practically stand on the deck. It’s a proper wreck, 74 metres long, with a good chunk of hull and superstructure still intact. You don't often get to explore something this size, this shallow, in the Med. Visibility here is usually excellent, so the whole wreck is often laid out below you. We’ve spent hours just finning slowly over the stern, watching sunlight dapple through the skeletal framework. It’s colonised by all sorts of little critters. Keep an eye out for moray eels tucked into crevices and schools of ornate wrasse flitting between the rusted plates. Our favourite spot is usually around the bow, where the light plays off the metalwork in a really atmospheric way. It’s perfect for snorkelers or new divers wanting to get a feel for a genuine wreck without the pressure of depth. A gentle drift over the Rainbow at sunset, when the light is low and soft, is something we always recommend.