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  4. Cabo de Palos
Marine reserve/WreckMarine Protected Area

Cabo de Palos

Depth: 5–45 mLevel: Advanced Open WaterMay-October
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A rectangular reserve of 1,931 ha between the Cabo de Palos lighthouse and the Islas Hormigas, in an area where Mediterranean waters meet Atlantic water entering through Gibraltar. The classic sites are ridges and rocky shoals: Piles I (7-29 m), Piles II (11-32 m), Bajo de la Testa (8-24 m), Bajo de Dentro (3-50 m) and Bajo de Fuera, a 100 m bank with pinnacles just 3 m from the surface. Outside the reserve lie the deep wrecks, such as the Isla Gomera — the "Naranjito" — between 27 and 46 m and the Stanfield between 45 and 60 m.

Depth

5–45 m

Recommended level

Advanced Open Water

Average visibility

25 m

One of the oldest marine reserves in Spain (1995), with the famous Hormigas islet and its giant groupers.

Protection status

Cabo de Palos - Islas Hormigas Marine Reserve of Fishing Interest (1,931 ha; integral reserve around Isla Hormiga, the El Mosquito shoal, El Hormigón and La Losa)

Sources consulted: MAPA - Reservas Marinas de España · Turismo Región de Murcia · islashormigas.com · Wikipedia

Location

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Cabo de Palos: 129 documented species

Ecosystem

Wreck

Similar dive sites

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Same country: Spain

Same country: Spain

Same country: Spain

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Water temperature

20 °C

Current

Moderate

Access

Boat

Best season

May-October

Recommended certification

Wreck Diver

Approx. price

50 USD / dive

Plan your dive

Best season
May-October
Approx. price
50 USD / dive
See location

Same country: Spain

Spain · Murcia
See on the interactive map→
Greater PipefishLeast Concern

Greater Pipefish

Syngnathus acus

European EelCritically Endangered

European Eel

Anguilla anguilla

Greater ArgonautLeast Concern

Greater Argonaut

Argonauta argo

Atlantic Bluefin TunaEndangered

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

Thunnus thynnus

Little TunnyLeast Concern

Little Tunny

Euthynnus alletteratus

Great BarracudaLeast Concern

Great Barracuda

Sphyraena barracuda

Common CockleNot Evaluated

Common Cockle

Cerastoderma edule

Common LobsterLeast Concern

Common Lobster

Homarus gammarus

MackerelLeast Concern

Mackerel

Scomber scombrus

Short-snouted SeahorseVulnerable

Short-snouted Seahorse

Hippocampus hippocampus

Red ScorpionfishLeast Concern

Red Scorpionfish

Scorpaena scrofa

European SquidNot Evaluated

European Squid

Loligo vulgaris

See all 129 species found here
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CountrySpain
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