La Cresta - Isla del Fraile - Cabo de Palos
La Cresta, just off Isla del Fraile, is a really approachable spot in Cabo de Palos. It’s shallow, topping out around 18 metres, which makes it an easy dive for newer divers or those looking for a relaxed time in the water. We usually find schools of barracuda cruising through here, sometimes joined by small dentex. The current is generally pretty mild, so you can take your time exploring the rocky sections where octopuses often hide, tucked away in the crevices. It’s a solid pick for a second dive of the day, or when you just want a pleasant, easygoing immersion.
- Location
- Cabo de Palos, Spain, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 37.407700, -1.548900
- Maximum Depth
- 18m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: Isla de Terreros e Islas Negra
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 La Cresta - Isla del Fraile
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