GANDIA - Cabo de Palos
Gandia isn’t your typical wreck dive, and that’s why we love it. Instead of a dramatic sinking, this old fishing boat was scuttled intentionally, designed to become a fish haven, and boy, has it delivered. Dropping down to 19 metres, the first thing you notice is how completely taken over by life the hull has become. It’s not about penetration here, the wreck itself is pretty broken up, but rather about appreciating a man-made structure’s transformation into a vibrant artificial reef. We’ve found the best approach is to take your time, circling the hull slowly. Look closely, because moray eels are always tucked away in the nooks and crannies. You’ll spot the usual suspects – clouds of damselfish, curious little octopuses peeking from crevices, and often some bigger amberjacks cruising by. Visibility can vary, but generally, it’s a calm, easy dive, perfect for photographers wanting to capture life on a purposefully sunken ship, or newer divers getting their first taste of a wreck. It’s a good one to finish your day on, a relaxed, rewarding dive.
- Location
- Cabo de Palos, Spain, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 37.575500, -1.041167
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 19m
Marine Protected Area: Isla de las Palomas
Nearby Dive Sites in Cabo de Palos
- AMISTADA - 24m (wreck)
- ANA M'PORTILLA - 5m (wreck)
- Anthias
- Bajo de Emilio - 24m
- Bajo del Faro - Isla Benidorm - 20m (reef)
- Bajo de Piles II Marine Reserve - 22m
- Bajo de Piles I Marine Reserve - 22m (reef)
- Bajo el Descargador - 15m
- Bajo La Morra - 22m
- Bajo las Palomas Reserve - 19m (reef)
- Cabo San Antonio
- Cabo San Martin
- Cabo Tinoso
- Cala Abierta - 20m
- Cala Cortina
Nearest Dive Centres to GANDIA
Marine Life in Cabo de Palos
Home to 193 recorded species including 138 reef fish, 12 sharks & rays, 11 octopus & squid, 7 whales & dolphins, 5 other, 5 crabs & lobsters.
Notable Species
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Blue-white Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) - Whales & Dolphins
- hake (Merluccius merluccius) - Reef Fish
- dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) - Sharks & Rays
- Bogue (Boops boops) - Reef Fish
- Mullet (Mullus barbatus) - Reef Fish
- Pollock (Trachurus trachurus) - Reef Fish
- Brown Comber (Serranus hepatus) - Reef Fish
- Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) - Octopus & Squid
- Boarfish (Capros aper) - Reef Fish
- dory (Zeus faber) - Reef Fish
- red mullet (Mullus surmuletus) - Reef Fish
- Black-bellied angler (Lophius budegassa) - Reef Fish
- Red Band-fish (Cepola macrophthalma) - Reef Fish
- Curled octopus (Eledone cirrhosa) - Octopus & Squid
- Horse Mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus) - Reef Fish
- Deep-body Pickarel (Spicara smaris) - Reef Fish
- Gunner (Pagellus bogaraveo) - Reef Fish
- conger (Conger conger) - Reef Fish
- axillary sea-bream (Pagellus acarne) - Reef Fish