CALA D'OR - Balearic Islands

Cala D'Or offers a fascinating dive into history, literally. We’re talking about the wreck of a roll-on/roll-off vessel, sunk back in 1971. It ran aground on a rocky bottom, so while it’s a wreck, it’s also blended with the natural reef over the decades. You’ll find the hull structure draped in sponges, and the shadowy internal spaces are now home to groupers, often lurking in the darker corners. The size, 89 metres long, means there’s plenty to explore; you can swim through the old car decks, imagining the vehicles that once filled them. We particularly love how the light plays through the upper structure, creating these ethereal shafts as you drift past. It’s a comfortable dive for most, not too deep, allowing good bottom time to really soak in the atmosphere. Bring a torch, not just for the darker sections but to really make the colours pop on the encrusting life.

Location
Balearic Islands, Spain, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
38.975000, 1.533333
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
1m

Wreck History - CALA D'OR

Year Sunk
1971
Vessel Type
ferry
Cause
grounding

The story of the Cala D'or is a short and tragic one. She was a brand-new roll-on/roll-off vessel, built in 1971 in Palma for the local company Naviera Mallorquina S.A. to serve the busy Balearic island routes. Her career, however, was destined to last only a matter of months. On October 8, 1971, while on a routine passage from Palma to Ibiza, the ferry strayed off course and ran hard aground on a rock.

The impact caused catastrophic damage, and despite attempts to salvage the new vessel, she was declared a total loss and abandoned to the sea. Lying in just one meter of water, the wreck has been relentlessly battered by waves and storms for over half a century. What remains today is a scattered debris field, with the ship's structure flattened and broken across the shallow seabed. For divers and snorkelers, the site offers an incredibly accessible and easy look at a shipwreck, where twisted metal plates and sections of the hull are interspersed with the natural rocky reef, providing a unique habitat for local marine life.

Marine Protected Area: Illots de Santa Eulària, Rodona i es Canar

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

Nearest Dive Centres to CALA D'OR

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

Recommended Packing List for CALA D'OR

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