wreck

Log This Dive

RAFAEL MAROTO

The Rafael Maroto, off the Balearic Islands, is a deeply satisfying wreck dive. She’s a trawler, sitting upright on a sandy bottom at 45 metres, and remarkably intact for her age and depth. We love how her fishing gear is still visible, giving a real sense of her working life before she went down. Expect to see her mast pointing towards the surface, deck superstructure largely in place, and the holds open for exploration if you’re properly trained and equipped for overhead environments. This is a dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts and technical divers, given the depth. Despite the low light, the wreck teems with life. Schools of barracuda often circle the mast, their silvery bodies flashing. We’ve seen conger eels poking their heads from pipes and crevices, and the occasional dusky grouper lurking in the shadows. The atmosphere here is one of peaceful decay, with the silence only broken by the occasional creak of metal in the current. Our favourite time to dive her is in late morning; the light penetrates just enough to pick out details on the deck, making the hull glow a deep blue. Just be aware, currents can pick up here, so a decent dive plan is essential.