MIGUEL ORTEGA - Balearic Islands
The Miguel Ortega wreck, she’s a proper piece of history down there. We’re talking about a steamship, gone down in 1926, which means she's had nearly a century for the Med to take her back. You’ll find her sitting upright, mostly intact, with her bow pointing seaward at around 20 metres. For us, the real charm isn't just the history, it’s the way the light filters through the structure. You can fin past the old bridge, peering into cargo holds that are now home to schools of damselfish, their silver bodies flashing in the gloom. Look closer, and you’ll spot moray eels tucked into crevices, and maybe even a conger poking its head out from under a plate. We always recommend taking your time to explore the stern; it's often covered in colourful jewel anemones, a riot of orange and pink against the rust-coloured steel. It’s not a challenging dive, so it’s great for those who want to experience a proper shipwreck without a deep certification. Just watch your buoyancy as you explore the superstructure, there are plenty of spots to get a good look inside without disturbing anything.
- Location
- Balearic Islands, Spain, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 39.808334, 4.258333
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 20m
Marine Protected Area: Illa de l'Aire
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 MIGUEL ORTEGA
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 MIGUEL ORTEGA
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