Diving and Snorkelling in Cabo de Gata
When you walk along one of the beaches of Cabo de Gata and step into the crystal clear water, look down and you'll be able to see little fish swimming around between your feet. And at that moment you'll realise that there is a whole world to be discovered under the sea, just as beautiful as what you find on dry land. You won't be able to resist discovering what's hidden under there, and the only way to do this is by diving into the water.
When you visit Cabo de Gata-Níjar Nature Reserve, scuba diving and snorkelling are two experiences that you'll inevitably be drawn to. And rightly so, as the Iberian Peninsula's "underwater forests" are excellent dive sites. Beneath the beaches you can discover the Mediterranean marine ecosystem, which was named the first protected maritime-land space in Andalusia.
The underwater environment in the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Geopark will leave you with your mouth open, but you'd better close it to avoid swallowing water! You will love the real forests and meadows of posidonia oceanica, a plant species similar to a green algae, which provides an ideal refuge for all kinds of fish, octopus, crabs and the fan mussel, one of the largest and rarest bivalve molluscs in the Mediterranean. Groupers, sea bass, sea bream, scorpion fish, John Dory, scaldfish and spider fish are just a few of the incredible varieties of species that you will be able to see.
The area has innumerable diving centres where you can enjoy this experience. They offer courses for complete beginners, guided dives, and scuba diving or free-diving. It doesn't matter where you choose to go – in Cabo de Gata any spot will meet your expectations. Los Escullos, Punta de la Isleta, El Francés Cave, Enmedio Cove, El Toro Cover or the famous Los Muertos Beach, which, despite its name (Los Muertos = The Dead), is a place bursting with life. All these sites will make you fall in love with diving. The diverse underwater life can be seen all around – even when you take a dip in the sea where it is one metre deep.
And this shallow underwater beauty enables us to opt for the easier version of diving – snorkelling. An ideal activity for children and for those who don't like venturing into the deep water. To enjoy any beach in the geopark, all you need is a snorkel mask and a tube and you'll be able to spot a huge amount of fish. Enjoy the rhythm of your own breathing, the sound of the water and the opportunity to walk between two worlds without going in too deep. You'll have no excuse not to venture under the sea...
And if you still want to enjoy this paradise, explore places out of the water, in the salt flats of Cabo de Gata. You'll walk among massive, dazzling white mountains of salt, be surrounded by a pleasant silence and enjoy a flat horizon where the silhouette of its iconic church and the flight of flamingos stand out.
