7 Fascinating Dive Sites in Mallorca
Mallorca is a diverse island, offering numerous activities on land as well as an impressively beautiful underwater world. Mallorca has a large number of nature reserves, in which a fascinating underwater flora and –fauna could evolve.
At the best dive sites of Mallorca you can bump into huge shoals of fish, spot endangered species and enjoy perfect dive conditions. A lot of dive centers are located in the southwest and east of the island due to the ideal conditions for scuba diving and many close dive sites at hand. Many times, the dive sites are reached by car or boat, but there are also a few possibilities for shore dives (for example the Cala Sa Nau in the east of the island). Scuba diving in Mallorca is possible all-season and recommended both for beginners and professionals. In the low-season and after-season you can also often enjoy very good dive conditions and visibilities. Mallorcas dive sites are distinct, you can dive to reefs, grots, caves or sunken wrecks. Professional and guided dives to the most beautiful dive sites of the island can be booked directly over Sunbonoo.
Cabrera
You can find the Island of Cabrera south of Mallorca and it is under conservation since 1991. This is why Cabrera is by far one of the most beautiful dive sites of Mallorca: The strict restrictions of streams of visitors gave rise to an isolated, highly diversified underwater world. Since only two dive boats per day are allowed to reach the island, an early booking of a dive there is recommended. In return, an enormous biodiversity and a diversely constituted and outstandingly preserved ocean floor with up to 90 m precipitous underwater cliffs are waiting for you. Look forward to barracuda shoals, seahorses, red starfish, dolphins, sea turtle and corals, which you can observe perfectly at an outstanding visibility of up to 50 m. Cabrera also offers one of the most beautiful grot dive sites in Mallorca, the grot Cova Azul, which is famous for its luminously blue water and its many shoals of fish.
Illa del Toro
One of the most famous marine reserves of Mallorca is the dive site of El Toro close to Santa Ponsa at the southwestern coast of the island. Ideal dive conditions make El Toro the perfect dive site for beginners and professionals. Here, too, you will discover a big biodiversity during your dive – explore the home of moray eels, scorpionfish, golden redfish, amberjacks, red dragonfish and wrasses. With a little bit of luck you can spot some beautifully patterned seahorses. A more than 40 m steep face full of holes, little caves and grots are the ideal hideout for octopi and conger eels. Go scuba diving surrounded by many shoals of fish and enjoy the great visibility over the open sea!
Pirate Cave
In the east of the island, close to the famous Cala Varques, you can find the Pirate Cave – a dive site in Mallorca only reachable from the seaside. The Pirate Cave is pretty big and fascinates with various tunnels, subterranean lakes and chambers as well as gorgeous dripstone formations. This dive site is perfectly suitable for beginners and snorkellers. The water is crystal-clear and convinces with perfect dive conditions. The cave has a steady temperature of 18 degrees, therefore a wet suit and a good forehead lamp should be obligatory. You can climb and swim across the cave and slowly discover the cave system with its different chambers step by step. A guided dive is especially worthwhile at this dive site of Mallorca, since a local guide knows the best way through the cave and can supply you with many interesting information about the cave during your dive.
Islands of Malgrats
Mallorcas dive site of the Islands of Malgrats close to Santa Ponsa in the southwest of the island is claimed a nature reserve since 2004. Due to the vigorous restrictions, the underwater flora and –fauna could significantly improve and now offer an amazing underwater world. 2007, a 133 m long ship was sunken in front of the Islands of Malgrats, which now is the new home of numerous animals and plants. The ship is one of the most frequently visited dive sites at the Islands of Malgrats, which thereby developed into a true underwater paradise. The Islands of Malgrats are also popular amongst divers because they’re closely located at the coast (about 5 minutes per boat). The biodiversity reaches from red coral reefs, sponges and sea grass to octopi (which hide in tiny holes and block the entries with a stone), moray eels, huge breams and fan mussels.
Isla del Sec
In the southwest of the island, right in front of Sol de Mallorca, you can explore a really beautiful dive site. A precipitous plateau leads down to 32 m depth and is home to huge shoals of barracudas and many other fish. A few years ago, a submarine was anchoring there and in order to offer something special for the tourists, they sank three ships right at this dive site. Many times the divers performed shows feeding the fish and even nowadays the fish follow the divers and hope for some treats. While you’re there, you should explore the sunken ships, in which many moray eels and eels hide away.
The wrecks in front of Palma
At the Bahia de Palma you can find an interesting dive site of Mallorca for experienced wreck divers, because four shipwrecks are located in up to 35 m depth closely in front of the harbour. You can easily dive inside the biggest wreck of 60 m length – you’ll never forget this fascinating experience since many shoals of fish made the wrecks their new home and the size of the wrecks is impressive. The underwater visibility is often bad and ship traffic due to the closeness of the harbour makes this Mallorcan dive site only suitable for experienced divers.
Island of Dragonera
The Island of Dragonera in the southwest of Mallorca is under protection since 1995. Because of the terrific water quality and the longtime conservation, this is definitely one of the most beautiful dive sites of Mallorca. Dragonera is especially famous for its unique caves with trapped air bubbles, for example the dripstone cave La Cueva. Discover big shrimps and slipper lobsters at the up to 50 m deep underwater cliffs and dive to the panorama reef. At the escarpment you can explore a fascinating fauna with corals, sponges, feather stars and tube anemones. If you’re lucky, at this dive site you can have an amazing view out to the open ocean and maybe spot the one or other eagle rays. For experienced divers we recommend a dive to the shipwreck in front of Dragonera, which lies in about 34 m depth and is populated by huge moray eels and conger eels.
This is just a small selection of dive sites in Mallorca. It is important to know that a copy of your passport, your diver certification and a diving insurance are required for every dive in Mallorca. They’re not necessary for snorkelling at these dive sites. As a precaution, you shouldn't dive 24 hours before or after a flight in order to not risk the danger of getting decompression sickness.