MALAKOFF - Balearic Islands
The Malakoff, a substantial steamship, rests upright at 29 metres, surprisingly intact for a vessel sunk way back in 1929. We love how her colossal size immediately impresses you. That 109-metre length means you’ll need more than one dive to truly appreciate her scale, though we think the bow section makes a fantastic first exploration, especially with the morning light filtering down. Her hold, once carrying cargo from Antwerp to Madagascar, is now open to qualified divers. Inside, the play of light and shadow is mesmerizing, and we’ve often found conger eels peering out from the deeper recesses. Schools of damselfish shimmer around the superstructure, and the occasional stingray cruises past the deck plates. Be mindful of potential siltouts inside the wreck; good buoyancy is key here. It’s a dive for those who appreciate history and don't mind a deeper profile, offering a genuine sense of discovery as you navigate her corridors and decks.
- Location
- Balearic Islands, Spain, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 39.894670, 4.054167
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 29m
Marine Protected Area: De cala Llucalari a Cales Coves
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 MALAKOFF
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 MALAKOFF
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