Located in the Autonomous Community of Murcia, at the base of that arm of land that separates the Mediterranean Sea from the Menor Sea called La Manga, is Cabo de Palos. A fishing municipality that is part of the Mar Menor Nautical Station.
During the summer months it undergoes an important transformation as its population multiplies due to the influx of visitors from all over. However, it is visited throughout the year by a large number of divers eager to explore its interesting backgrounds.
From the Cabo de Palos lighthouse heading northwest, about two miles away, is another small lighthouse that indicates the position of the Hormigas Islands. Two small islets, the Ant and, smaller, the Concrete emerge above the surface. Along those two miles we find a series of interesting shallows, in whose bottoms all the typical Mediterranean underwater fauna is fully represented.
Since 1995 it was declared a Marine Reserve, with restrictions for certain activities such as underwater fishing and boat fishing. In addition, there is an integral reserve area, where anchoring and recreational sailing are prohibited. This exclusion zone includes the Hormigas islands and Bajo de Fuera, located half a mile northwest of La Hormiga.
The "Bass from Outside"
The "Bajo de Fuera" is a restricted location only for divers who have the title issued by the formerly known as the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA). . Its summit is hidden just three meters below the surface and, for this reason, until the middle of the 21st century, there were numerous shipwrecks and it was consolidated as the >cemetery of several ships.
In its depths lie different wrecks, such as the Southampton, the Casenga, the Izaro, the S.S. Handel, the Nova América and the Sirius, among others. The Sirius is the best known of all, as it was an Italian liner that sank when it collided with the tip of the "Bajo de Fuera" in the early morning of August 5, 1906, with 822 passengers on board.
Their Remains, when split into two parts, are scattered on both sides of the ground floor. The south face of this underwater mountain is a slope that falls gently to -40 meters. The north face is a cut that descends to depths of -60 meters. At the bottom of this face we find two large wrecks belonging to the S.S. Handel, with the hull facing the surface, and next to him the Nova América rests on its port side. The latter has a very interesting cannon located in the stern.
In its waters we can admire large specimens of numerous pelagic fish such as barracudas (spitfish) and amberjacks (milkers); in addition to dentex, bream, sea bream, mojarras (esparids); multitude of groupers and pollock (serranids), numerous moray eels and on some occasions, rays, sunfish, tuna and swordfish.
There is a large amount of coral that populates the numerous remains. White and red gorgonians, colorful alcyonaries, extend their fans along the entire descent along the north face.
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But calm or quiet because Cabo de Palos is not only summed up in this, there are other no less interesting locations that can be visited by any certified diver, and we are talking specifically about the shallows of "Dentro", "Piles" and "Testa".
The "Bass Inside"
The "Bajo de Otro" is the furthest before reaching Las Hormigas and is located near the limit that begins the integral reserve zone. The roof is located three meters under water and descends to almost 40 meters deep. It is home to an important colony of large groupers and croakers, an indicator of their good health, as they are protected from human predation.
It is an incredible spectacle to dive at sunset, to watch the large predators feeding on the schools of fry that seek refuge along the walls of the shallows. Spiers, dentex, groupers... they alternate harassing the flocks of fry. It is worth staying still on the rocks, observing the hunting techniques of these fish.
On the other side, located 30 meters deep, there is a very interesting cave to visit. Inside, we will see a school of brotolas with their characteristic barbel. In the cavities, numerous crustaceans find shelter, lobsters, lobsters, shrimps and, most abundantly, the sea cicada or cigarrón. To the right there is a small siphon through which light enters, creating a unique atmosphere. We can cross another gallery that ascends in a spiral without any difficulty, while we observe the yellow and orange polyps that populate its walls.
Next to the bass, at the bottom, more than 30 meters deep, there are two huge rocks called "the needles" that congregate numerous haddocks, groupers and croaker on its walls and surroundings.
The "Bass of Piles"
The "Bajo de Piles", in the form of a wall or elongated bar, has two heads at 9 and 12 meters, respectively. Its depth is around 20 meters. A large shoal of spits constantly walks around it.
Its north face concentrates a large number of small beings for lovers of macro photography. Multicolored nudibranchs, hermits, blennies, spirographs and multicolored sponges, among others, inhabit its walls. In the deepest part, we will find medium-sized groupers and pollock. On the south face, if we carefully explore the sand and mud bottom, we can find some torpedoes (scrapie) or some rays.
The "Bass of Testa"
The one closest to the coast, the "Bajo de Testa", constitutes an ideal setting for less experienced divers, but that does not mean it is uninteresting. Inhabited by large schools of castanets and next to the Posidonia meadow, the size of the fish is smaller but not their quantity.
In Posidonia we can observe large nacras among its algae, with their open valves filtering the water. Its top is seven meters deep and the bottom is eighteen. It is worth exploring it, carefully observing each inch of rock in search of the small organisms that concentrate on it.
Do you want to see other wrecks in the area?
In addition to the aforementioned wrecks, Minerva, the Nueva PADI Discover Scuba Diving in Cabo de Palos">
On the other side, located 30 meters deep, there is a very interesting cave to visit. Inside, we will see a school of brotolas with their characteristic barbel. In the cavities, numerous crustaceans find shelter, lobsters, lobsters, shrimps and, most abundantly, the sea cicada or cigarrón. To the right there is a small siphon through which light enters, creating a unique atmosphere. We can cross another gallery that ascends in a spiral without any difficulty, while we observe the yellow and orange polyps that populate its walls.
Next to the bass, at the bottom, more than 30 meters deep, there are two huge rocks called "the needles" that congregate numerous haddocks, groupers and croaker on its walls and surroundings.
The "Bass of Piles"
The "Bajo de Piles", in the form of a wall or elongated bar, has two heads at 9 and 12 meters, respectively. Its depth is around 20 meters. A large shoal of spits constantly walks around it.
Its north face concentrates a large number of small beings for lovers of macro photography. Multicolored nudibranchs, hermits, blennies, spirographs and multicolored sponges, among others, inhabit its walls. In the deepest part, we will find medium-sized groupers and pollock. On the south face, if we carefully explore the sand and mud bottom, we can find some torpedoes (scrapie) or some rays.
The "Bass of Testa"
The one closest to the coast, the "Bajo de Testa", constitutes an ideal setting for less experienced divers, but that does not mean it is uninteresting. Inhabited by large schools of castanets and next to the Posidonia meadow, the size of the fish is smaller but not their quantity.
In Posidonia we can observe large nacras among its algae, with their open valves filtering the water. Its top is seven meters deep and the bottom is eighteen. It is worth exploring it, carefully observing each inch of rock in search of the small organisms that concentrate on it.
Do you want to see other wrecks in the area?
In addition to the aforementioned wrecks, Minerva, the Nueva
