Cabo de Palos

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.