ALMADRABERO - Balearic Islands
Almadrabero isn't just another Balearic wreck; it's a moody, atmospheric dive that really delivers. We love the way this old wooden fishing boat, sunk back in '67, has settled into the seabed, making it a proper colonised habitat. Dropping down, the first thing you notice is the sheer size of the thing, 29 meters long, and the way the light filters through the water, giving it a ghostly feel. You can trace the outline of the deck, the holds, and the stern, all softened by decades underwater. Look closely, and you'll spot lobsters tucked into every crevice, fat moray eels peeking from beneath decaying planks, and schools of damselfish flitting through the skeletal remains. It’s a dive for those who appreciate history and the slow reclamation of the ocean, best suited for experienced divers comfortable at 40 meters. Head down in the morning for the best light.
- Location
- Balearic Islands, Spain, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 39.025684, 1.623633
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 40m
Wreck History - ALMADRABERO
- Year Sunk
- 1967
- Vessel Type
- fishing vessel
- Cause
- unknown
Resting at the 40-meter mark in the clear waters of the Balearic Islands, the Almadrabero offers a compelling dive into the region's maritime past. The name itself suggests its purpose; an 'almadrabero' is related to the traditional and complex art of tuna fishing, indicating this 29-meter wooden vessel likely spent its life working the Mediterranean. Its sinking in 1967 remains undocumented, leaving a touch of mystery for divers to ponder as they descend.
Today, the Almadrabero lies on a sandy bottom, its wooden structures slowly surrendering to the sea. Exploring the skeletal remains of the hull and deck requires careful buoyancy control, especially at this depth. The wreck has become a sanctuary for marine life, with conger eels peering from dark recesses and schools of fish swarming its decaying timbers. This is a dive for experienced individuals, a deep and atmospheric journey to a vessel that tells a silent story of local industry and an unknown final voyage.
Marine Protected Area: Àrea marina de Tagomago
Best Time to Dive in Balearic Islands
The warmest water temperatures in Balearic Islands occur in August, averaging 27.4°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 14.8°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 15.3°C
- February: 14.8°C
- March: 15.2°C
- April: 16.4°C
- May: 19.3°C
- June: 22.5°C
- July: 26.2°C
- August: 27.4°C
- September: 25.9°C
- October: 23.4°C
- November: 19.6°C
- December: 16.5°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Balearic Islands
- ALBATROS - 10m (wreck)
- APOLONIA - 20m (wreck)
- Arco de Formentera (cave)
- Barcos de Burriana (wreck)
- Bufador de son solomo
- cala calafat
- CALA DEL VIDRE
- CALA D'OR - 1m (wreck)
- Cala en Porter East
- Calafat Playa
- Cala Figuera
- Cala fornells
- Cala Galiota - 5-20m (reef)
- CALA GAT - 18m (wreck)
- Cala Gran
Nearest Dive Centres to ALMADRABERO
Marine Life in Balearic Islands
Home to 150 recorded species including 110 reef fish, 11 octopus & squid, 11 sharks & rays, 5 whales & dolphins, 4 crabs & lobsters, 3 other.
Notable Species
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- hake (Merluccius merluccius) - Reef Fish
- Pollock (Trachurus trachurus) - Reef Fish
- Boarfish (Capros aper) - Reef Fish
- blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) - Reef Fish
- Jac (Helicolenus dactylopterus) - Reef Fish
- Curled octopus (Eledone cirrhosa) - Octopus & Squid
- Black-bellied angler (Lophius budegassa) - Reef Fish
- Dark Tonguefish (Symphurus nigrescens) - Reef Fish
- Bogue (Boops boops) - Reef Fish
- conger (Conger conger) - Reef Fish
- Red Band-fish (Cepola macrophthalma) - Reef Fish
- Mullet (Mullus barbatus) - Reef Fish
- Norway Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Common Bobtail (Sepietta oweniana) - Octopus & Squid
- red mullet (Mullus surmuletus) - Reef Fish
- poor cod (Trisopterus minutus) - Reef Fish
- Lanternfish (Lampanyctus crocodilus) - Reef Fish
- Brown Comber (Serranus hepatus) - Reef Fish
- dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) - Sharks & Rays
Recommended Packing List for ALMADRABERO
Based on average water temperature of 20.2°C, currents 12 cm/s.
- Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 20°C water
- 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