If you are looking for the largest protected area on the Mediterranean coast to enjoy a scuba dive, let us tell you that you will have to look for it under the name of Ses Salines. It is a marine area that includes the southern area of the Island of Ibiza and the north of Formentera where a multitude of small islets lie, highlighting Porcs, Penjats, Ses Empalmador, Castaví and several more.
Why Ses Salines?
The toponym that names the area comes from the presence of salt marshes in the waters of Ibiza and Formentera.The salt mining activity, of great importance until just two decades ago, not only modeled and defined the appearance of the coastal landscape, but has also given rise to an ecosystem that harmonizes human activity with the conservation of the environment.
The salt industry along with the isolation in which the area has been until a few years ago, especially in Formentera, have contributed to the conservation of the coast that, miraculously, has escaped the fury of urban speculation that so many kilometers of Spanish coast it has denatured.
The excellent state of conservation of Ses Salines was the reason why it was declared, in 1995, Maritime-terrestrial Natural Reserve and in 1998, Marine Reserve (expanding its marine protection zone with the Es Reserva Freus). These protection figures make it the largest protected marine space on our Mediterranean coast with 11,231 hectares (2,219 land and 9,012 marine), being even larger than the emblematic Cabrera National Park.
Archetype of the lower Mediterranean coast recognized by UNESCO
Due to the intense human pressure to which we have subjected the coasts of our Mediterranean, the archetype of the low Mediterranean coast consisting of a wonderful succession of communities, Posidonia meadow, beach, dune system and forest coastline, has practically disappeared. If we want to know, contemplate and enjoy the genuine Mediterranean landscape, both below the surface and above it, Ses Salines shows it to us in all its beauty.
Thisarea is a real gem natural,for the beauty and diversity of its coastal and underwater landscapes. The coast is a reminder of what the Mediterranean basin was like in the past: kilometers of white sand beaches and crystal clear turquoise waters, cliffs, coastal lagoons, dune systems and juniper forests.
Here we can bathe, lie in the sun and walk without the sight of large hotels or promenades behind us. Underwater we will find luminous bottoms of white sand, lush Posidonia meadows, vertical walls, underwater caves, coralline bottoms with gorgonians, etc.
The great richness and beauty of these excellently preserved funds was recognized in December 1999, when Ses Salines was declared a World Heritage Site. Currently being the only natural area on the entire Mediterranean coast included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage properties.
The best dives
This natural environment has one of the best conditions to enjoy diving. The bonanza of the best Mediterranean climate offers us excellent conditions for diving, turning our dives into quiet underwater walks with calm waters and visibility that ranges from 30 to 50 meters and almost always without currents. The water temperature in summer is 27º C up to 20-25 m depth.
One of the most relevant characteristics of the dives within Ses Salines is the variety and diversity of its underwater landscapes, both within the Natural Reserve and in its surroundings outside it.
Between Ses Salines and its surroundings there are more than twenty clearly differentiated diving spots: Punta Gavina, La Plataforma, Punta Prima, Es Vedrá, La Mola, Las Cuevas de Punta Rasa, El Dado, La Llosa de Santa Eulalia, etc.
Diving on the northwest side of the island of Formentera
The dives on the northwest side of the island (Punta Gavina, Es Banc, Punta Pedrera, El Arco, etc.) have a certain similarity between them and are totally different from the dives in other areas, such as Es Vedrá or Espardell.
In this area, it is advisable to anchor the boat, for the subsequent immersion, on a rocky platform of 8-10 meters that runs parallel to the coast. This platform towards the open sea is delimited by a vertical wall that plunges directly up to 15 -25 meters, depending on the location. At the foot of the wall, at the bottom of fine white sand, there are large blocks detached from the wall.
These dives are very appreciated for the varied landscape that alternates the walls, the small caves and numerous cracks throughout. along the cliff, large rocky arches and large patches of the best preserved posidonia meadows in the Mediterranean. These bottoms are very good for fish watching: groupers, croaker, haddock, immense schools of bream, schools of amberjack, mullet and many more.
The wreck of the "Mariana" platform
Halfway between the islands of Espalmador and Espardell is located the wreck known as The Platform. This is one of the most genuine dives that we can do since we will not find anything like it anywhere else, which makes it a must-do dive.
The Platform is the remains of a floating fish farm that was dedicated to the cultivation of sea bream. The company went bankrupt, leaving the anchored structure abandoned for several years until it finally sank to a depth of 32 meters. It's a science fiction immersion. The landscape of the structure makes it seem like we are diving in the remains of a spaceship or a futuristic underwater city.
An artificial habitat has been created around it that has recruited a variety and quantity of fish. Schools of dozens of barracudas, omnipresent throughout the dive, swim in the blue between the structure. Lobsters, large groupers, enormous conger eels, moray eels, scorpionfish, etc., occupy the structure, which overflows with life on all sides. In short, a dive to remember.
The islet of Es Vedrá
In the surroundings of the Ses Salines Reserve we have a long list of possible dives. The islet of Es Vedrá, located southwest of the island of Ibiza, is one of the most relevant diving places.
The vertical walls of the islet plunge directly to depths around 60 meters. We must highlight the excellent visibility that we will generally find in Es Vedrá up to 50 meters. The landscape of the wall, covered with large red gorgonians (Paramuricea clavata), is a sight worth seeing. Of course, to do this we have to descend to a depth of 40 meters.
The bass of La Bota
A little more than detached from the wall.
These dives are very appreciated for the varied landscape that alternates the walls, the small caves and numerous cracks throughout. along the cliff, large rocky arches and large patches of the best preserved posidonia meadows in the Mediterranean. These bottoms are very good for fish watching: groupers, croaker, haddock, immense schools of bream, schools of amberjack, mullet and many more.
The wreck of the "Mariana" platform
Halfway between the islands of Espalmador and Espardell is located the wreck known as The Platform. This is one of the most genuine dives that we can do since we will not find anything like it anywhere else, which makes it a must-do dive.
The Platform is the remains of a floating fish farm that was dedicated to the cultivation of sea bream. The company went bankrupt, leaving the anchored structure abandoned for several years until it finally sank to a depth of 32 meters. It's a science fiction immersion. The landscape of the structure makes it seem like we are diving in the remains of a spaceship or a futuristic underwater city.
An artificial habitat has been created around it that has recruited a variety and quantity of fish. Schools of dozens of barracudas, omnipresent throughout the dive, swim in the blue between the structure. Lobsters, large groupers, enormous conger eels, moray eels, scorpionfish, etc., occupy the structure, which overflows with life on all sides. In short, a dive to remember.
The islet of Es Vedrá
In the surroundings of the Ses Salines Reserve we have a long list of possible dives. The islet of Es Vedrá, located southwest of the island of Ibiza, is one of the most relevant diving places.
The vertical walls of the islet plunge directly to depths around 60 meters. We must highlight the excellent visibility that we will generally find in Es Vedrá up to 50 meters. The landscape of the wall, covered with large red gorgonians (Paramuricea clavata), is a sight worth seeing. Of course, to do this we have to descend to a depth of 40 meters.
The bass of La Bota
A little more than
