Diving In Ibiza

The Top Five Must Dive Locations

No matter what the season, the marine life inhabiting the waters around Ibiza seem to be far less fickle than its summertime tourists, choosing instead, to remain all year long for your viewing pleasure.                                                          The waters of the Mediterranean are famed for their crystal clear turquoise waters making them ideal for diving and even - for those of us who are a little less adventurous - snorkelling and Ibiza is no exception. There are some awe inspiring dives to be had here and with the sea temperature never dropping below 14 degrees, it is an activity that can be enjoyed in the winter months too. There are way to many incredible dive sites to mention them all so we have decided to concentrate on the five most spectacular... in our humble opinion of course.

CUEVA CALA LLONGA (THE CATHEDRAL)

There are no words, other than spectacular, to describe this dive so no wonder it's on of the most popular dives on the Island. Cala Llonga lies on the east coast of Ibiza and has one of the most beautiful beaches on the island and even though you are not here to enjoy the sand, you won't be able to stop yourself from admiring the view. As you enter the bay, on the Southside, you will find the beginning of the Cathedral dive. After bottoming out at 15m, you swim along side the rock wall until you reach the cave opening - which is about 8m from the surface. As you enter this enormous cave you will be able to ascend and surface into an huge air pocket, removing your mask and regulator to completely enjoy the experience. The cave itself, is filled with curious rock formations and impressive stalactites, created eons ago. When you are finished admiring the cave and heading back to the surface, take a moment to fully appreciate the contrast between the darkness of the cave and the breathtaking crystal clear turquoise colour of the Med. It is no wonder that most who dive in this spot become totally addicted

 THE 'ABYSS' AT ESPARTA ISLAND

There are four great dives around Esparta Island but the Abyss is by far the most exhilarating. For beginners, this dive may sound a little daunting due to the fact that it is so deep but it is not as scary as you might think. There is a fantastic drop off from about 5m down to 23m before turning into wonderful shelves until about 44m or so. If that sounds a little to adventurous to you, don't worry, all the best marine life can be found at levels between 25m to 30m so you don't have to go all the way down to fully experience this dive. Keep an eye out for 'Elvis' and enormous grouper that has his den safely tucked away at 37m. Weighing in at between 45-50 he is definitely something to behold.

 CUEVEA DE LA LUZ

The steep cliffs at Es Racó Fosc provide the backdrop for this amazing dive. About 3m below the crystal waters, you will find an entrance to an enchanting cave that may literally take your breath away. This cave also offers you the opportunity to surface and take in the scenery. The cave itself is as deep as it is wide - about 15m - and has a vaulted dome ceiling but what makes this cave so unique, is the fact that there is a crevice at the top that allows the light to flood the cave and illuminate the waters around you. They way the colours and light bounce around the cave can only be described as magical. There are many fabulous sea creatures living in these waters so keep a look out for cardinal fish, lobsters, conger eels, shrimps, moray eels and even slipper lobsters. The pillars of Hercules are nearby too so make sure you don’t miss out on having a little look around them as well.

 DON PEDRO

Isla de Daus, just of the East Coast of Ibiza Town is the home to one of the most amazing dives on the Island. It is a dive that most enthusiasts usually only dream about but never really think they will have the opportunity to experience. That’s right, Ladies and Gents, you guessed it. It is a shipwreck. The merchant ship named the Don Pedro to be more specific. It sunk one nautical mile off the coast of Ibiza in July 2007 whilst carrying 150 tonnes of oil and 50 tonnes of diesel from Ibiza’s port on its way to Valencia. She is an impressive ship that measures 140metres in length, so there is a lot of wreck to explore. She sank to a respectable depth and is now lying in all her glory at about a depth of 25 metres at her shallowest, down to about 43 metres at her deepest, making her the biggest recreational dive site in Europe.  And if you thought that things couldn’t get any better than this, you thought wrong because the visibility here is fantastic so you won’t miss out on anything, making this a very memorable dive indeed.

 CALA OLIVERA

Just down from the ‘Cathedral’ dive at Cala Llonga, one beach in fact, you will find the secluded spot of Cala Olivera. The bay is surrounded by huge swathes of Pines and the waters in this bay are renowned for their clarity, really adding to the splendour of this unique dive. Just diving around the outside of the entrance to this cave is an exhilarating experience all on its own but when you actually enter the cave itself, that is where the magic really begins. This cave has no fewer than three entrances and a fantastic chimney system that will blow your mind. This dive is a maximum of 20 metres and the waters are teaming with all manner of exotic creatures. And don’t worry if you are just a beginner, this dive is suitable for everyone.

 

Now that we have whet your appetite just a little all that remains is for you to book your ticket and come and join us for a little winter underwater exploring. Keep in mind that the different dives mentioned here are not all available from the same dive companies as they are in different parts of the Island and the dive centres tend to concentrate their dives to the waters in their immediate areas but if you need any further information about the many other dive sites in Ibiza as well as a comprehensive guide to all things Ibiza, then please visit us and see what else is on offer.

Written by Chantal Azevedo

October 2010