During this article, you will be able to discover the most fascinating marine spaces on the Mediterranean coast that borders Murcia. Will you know how to choose the diving point that will leave you totally stunned?
Diving off the coast
One of the main characteristics of this route is the existence of underwater meadows of Poseidonia oceanica. These meadows are nothing more than extensive formations of vegetation, just like what happens on land, that take over the terrain. Poseidonia does this in the water, thanks to the clean waters that allow light to pass through, attach to the underwater soil through their roots and colonize the underwater surface.
Protected by these plant formations, numerous animal species are born and grow, finding in these meadows everything they need to live. Furthermore, many species have achieved chromatic mimicry with this environment. A clear example of the existence of these underwater meadows is the trail that, during the fall, they leave on the beaches of the Murcia coast, which begins at La Manga.
You will only have to dive to a shallow depth to have the opportunity to observe the plant species and their inhabitants. Cuttlefish, octopuses, mullets, castanets or nacras are part of this underwater world sustained thanks to the underwater meadows.
As you advance on your diving route to Cabo de Palos, you will be able to observe how the exterior landscape and the underwater landscape undergo important changes. Here, thanks to the greater depth, the strong currents and the nearby shallows, you will be able to observe beings very different from those in the previous areas.
From the Ants to the bass of Fuera
Starting now from Cabo de Palos, you immerse yourself in a new adventure northeast direction, full of reefs like Testa, Piles or Interior, until you start to see Islas Hormigas. At this point you are already 2 miles from the coast. Once here, following the same direction, at 1,500 meters, you will find the bottom rocky rock that comes out from the waters to form the Fuera shoal, 5 meters deep. This is when you will notice the most radical change: from a bright bottom full of underwater meadows to a deep and less illuminated bottom (ideal environment for corals).
This section that goes from Hormigas to Bajo de Fuera is characterized by the existence of a wide variety of animals that are grouped in fans of different colors, giving rise to spectacular pictures. Furthermore, as you go deeper, you will be able to find yellow coral formations and sea feathers among the mud and gravel of the bottom.
During this diving tour you will even be able to spot typical open sea species (sunfish, sea eagles or sharks). As if they wanted to make the underwater landscape around Bajo de Fuera even more spectacular, there are remains of shipwrecks scattered under the sea.
Precisely because of all these characteristics, the lower Fuera area is currently included in a marine reserve, and has important restrictions for diving or fishing. We recommend that you inform yourself well about the regulations of the area before deciding on the scuba dive.
Cabo Tiñoso
Once you pass the beaches of Portus and La Morera, the coast gains altitude again thanks to the Sierra de la Muela, whose altitude reaches 600 meters in Peñas Blancas. This gives rise to Cabo Tiñoso, whose large walls house a large number of organisms that form the benthic and pelagic fauna.
Between Cabo Tiñoso and the tip of La Azohia there are 3 miles of cliff. The fact that it is one of the most significant maritime spaces on the coast of Murcia is due to the depth that the cliff wall reaches, the underwater configuration of this area and the conditions of its waters. . Proof of the importance of this section throughout history are the remains of Roman traps that we can still find in its depths today.
Next to Cala Aguilar, near Cabo Tiñoso, you can find a beautiful underwater cave, inside which there is a lake. It is Neptune's cave. The entrance to the cave is located 14 meters deep and is accessed through a small tunnel with a length of about 5 meters.
Puerto de Mazarrón
This small municipality has become the last years in a center of attraction for numerous adventurers from all over Spain. The underwater beds that surround this area are very interesting for practicing this adventure sport. The most important points for diving around this area are: Punta de los Aviones, Punta Negra, the Island and Bajo de Out.
Cope's Mount
This mountain forms a peninsula guarded by the Fuente Cove, to the east, and the Calabardina to the west, an ancient Roman Urci. This rock formation offers 2 miles of cliffs that serve as an excellent shelter for these territories against the easterly winds.
In Calabardina you can visit the Cueva de la Virgen, one of the most visited diving spots on the entire coast. This cave is a small gallery 12 meters deep full of fish, due to the food that divers provide them. The natural underwater landscape is complemented by the remains of sunken ships, which act as artificial reefs.
This stretch of the Murcian coast was very important for the Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans and Carthaginians, in this area they established ports and mining operations, which means that this corner of the Mediterranean contains valuable archaeological treasures.
Furthermore, in the underwater area of the Cope and Fraile cliffs, you will be able to observe stratified blocks produced by the collapse of the rock walls, inhabited by a large number of organismsand species. If you want to spot larger species, you will have to move away from the coast and search among the stones and slabs, in the areas less accessible to underwater fishermen.
You already know what you can find while diving from end to end of the Murcian coastline, now you just have to choose the section that most attracts you and explore it yourself with your diving equipment. And if you are passionate about adventure, why not explore it all?
