FRANCINA - Balearic Islands
Francina sits in such shallow water, it’s practically a pool dive, but don’t let that fool you. This isn’t a quick dip; it’s a proper wreck experience, all 87 metres of her, lying broken in just 6 metres of the Balearic Sea. We love that the sheer size of the ship means you can spend a solid hour just finning from bow to stern, taking in the scale without ever worrying about bottom time or decompression. What makes Francina a standout for us isn't just the history, though it's cool to think of her journey from Rotterdam to her final resting place off the Balearics. It’s the light. With the sun filtering down so brightly, the colours of the sponges and anemones that have colonised the hull are just brilliant. You’ll see schools of damselfish flitting through the superstructure, and octopuses often peek out from under plates of twisted metal. Our favourite part is navigating the broken stern section, where the prop shaft is still visible, encrusted with growth, and we always find something new tucked away amongst the wreckage. It’s an easy, relaxed exploration, perfect for photographers or anyone who just wants to wander a shipwreck at their own pace.
- Location
- Balearic Islands, Spain, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 40.053833, 3.879667
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 6m
Marine Protected Area: Cala d'Algairens
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)
- ALMADRABERO - 40m (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)
Nearest Dive Centres to FRANCINA
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 FRANCINA
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