ALICE ROBERT - Costa Brava

The Alice Robert, for us, is one of those wrecks that just hits right. Not too deep that it’s purely technical, but deep enough to feel like a real dive, sitting at 46 meters. She’s a motor vessel, split into two main sections, and that’s where the fun really begins. Descending, you first hit the stern section, often bathed in a slightly eerie, diffused light thanks to the depth. We love swimming along her deck, spotting the resident conger eels peeking out from every nook and cranny. Keep an eye out for lobsters too; they’re pretty bold here. The bow section, a short swim away, feels like a completely different wreck. It’s more broken up, more open, and feels a bit more dramatic. Shoals of barracuda often circle above the wreck, their silver scales flashing as they catch the light from above. We’d suggest saving your bottom time for really exploring the nooks here, checking for nudibranchs on the encrusted metal. It’s a dive for those who appreciate history and the slow creep of nature reclaiming something man-made. The visibility in summer can be really special, making the wreck appear almost suspended in the blue.

Location
Costa Brava, Spain, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
42.589300, 3.129867
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
46m

Wreck History - ALICE ROBERT

Year Sunk
1944
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
scuttled
Tonnage
1,720 GRT

The Alice Robert was a French cargo ship with a dramatic end during the Second World War. In June 1944, fearing his vessel would be seized by German forces, the captain made the difficult decision to scuttle the ship. It was intentionally sunk and now rests perfectly upright on a sandy seabed off the coast of L'Estartit, making it one of the most iconic deep wrecks in the Costa Brava.

Sitting at a depth of 46 meters, the Alice Robert is a dive reserved for experienced and technical divers. The descent through the blue reveals the ship's impressive form, almost fully intact. Divers can explore the main deck, peer into the cargo holds which once carried cement, and admire the superstructure, now draped in colorful gorgonians. The wreck is a thriving artificial reef, attracting schools of fish, conger eels, and lobsters, offering a breathtaking glimpse into a moment frozen in wartime history.

Marine Protected Area: Sistema de cañones submarinos occidentales del Golfo de León

Best Time to Dive in Costa Brava

The warmest water temperatures in Costa Brava occur in August, averaging 23.7°C. The coolest conditions are in January at 11.2°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 11.2°C
  • February: 11.4°C
  • March: 12.7°C
  • April: 14.5°C
  • May: 17.5°C
  • June: 21.5°C
  • July: 23.5°C
  • August: 23.7°C
  • September: 22.0°C
  • October: 19.3°C
  • November: 15.6°C
  • December: 12.8°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Costa Brava

Nearest Dive Centres to ALICE ROBERT

Marine Life in Costa Brava

Home to 46 recorded species including 36 reef fish, 2 whales & dolphins, 2 sharks & rays, 1 worms, 1 seagrass & algae, 1 other.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for ALICE ROBERT

Based on average water temperature of 17.1°C, currents 2 cm/s.

  • Wetsuit (5-7mm) - recommended for 17°C water
  • Hood & Gloves (3-5mm) - helps retain warmth
  • 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