Wrecks Marbella
Very close to "Torre Marbella" there are 3 wrecks quite close to each other at a depth of only 11 meters. Here you can dive on either by boat or even doing a shore dive. 2 of the wrecks are old cargo ships with a steel body. They have a length of about 60 meters each. The third wreck is a smaller sail boat which is decomposing quite quickly. There is not so much left of one of the wrecks. Here you can find the engines and a nicely covered propeller with a diameter of about 2 meters. |
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The other wreck is in rather good shape but broken in 2 pieces. The rail and the bridge are in
tact and quite impressive. In general there is a lot of marine life to discover in and around the wrecks.
Barco antiguo (antique ship)
Only a 10 minutes drive away from the diving center there are the remains of an ancient ship. It is only 150 meters off the shore in a depth of 5-6 meters. The natives call it the "Galeón" which means galley and they tell us that the cannons were stolen years ago. Today there are remains of the wooden hull and some of the frame. Impressive is the length of the wreck of about 60 - 70 meters. The whole wreck is covered by marine plants and animals. Schools of wrasses and the Mediterranean trigger fish can be seen frequently. Furthermore all marine life which can be found on the entire Costa del Sol seems to be concentrated here. Barco antiguo is one of Happy Diver´s Club`s most interesting dive sites in terms of variety and concentration of marine life. For that and for its shallowness it is the favorite dive site of the "diving kids". |
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Tubo (Pipe)
Tubo is a pipe which has a diameter of approx. 2 meters and runs from the beach until a depth of 25 meters, where it ends. Happy Diver´s Club is accomplishing different types of dives on this large spot. One dive starts at the beach and you can reach a depth of about 10 meters. Correspondingly the dive site`s name is Tubo beach. Close to shore the pipe runs invisible in the sea bed. It appears at approx. 3 meters of depth and is completely out at about 6 meters. The sea bed around the pipe is rocky and therefore a lot of fish can be seen. |
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Rich marine life will be found primarily under the pipe where it is hiding away. You can find here e.g. conger eels, smaller spider crabs, other types of crabs, some scorpion fish etc.
Of course boat dives are accomplished as well. One of these dives at Tubo begins at around 12 - 13 meters and will bring you to a maximum of about 20 meters. The pipe appears completely different here then diving off the shore. In this range of depth you can find conger eels very often, occasionally a moray eel , a lot of "false coral" and some huge spider crabs. Thousands of scorpion fish are sitting around the pipe. The dive site could also be renamed in "scorpion fish city". On the upper side of the pipe there are sea slugs and some different types of sea fans and soft corals. In a depth range of 20 - 25 meters the dive seems again to be completely different; this dive sites name is Tubo 25. You can find big sea fan and soft coral growing on top of the pipe. Conger eels, spider crabs and scorpion fish are rare. Therefore big "Greater Forkbeard" can be found. With a little bit of luck tuna or cat fish can be seen. Several times the very rare "Astropartus mediterraneus" has been seen. This is a seastar with a typical shape, normally found in depth more than 30 meters. |
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Punto Atalaya, Arrecife and Las Palomas
West of Estepona, driving in direction Gibraltar, Costa del Sol is getting very rocky. The dives in this part of the coast are accomplished mainly off the beach and will guide you through nice under water landscapes, cañons and interesting rock formations. "Sea fingers" and "Green Bonellia" can be found at a depth of only 6 meters. |
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| The following two dive sites and/or dive regions are explored by Happy Divers Marbella |
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Sierra
Sierra is located approx. 6 km west of Estepona in direction Gibraltar. Dives are done by boat. The new dive site is already a famous place for day excursions. The depth is from 15 to 25 meters. Big rocks which can be as high as 8-10 meters build mountains under water. Deep valleys, overhanging rocks and swim throughs dominate the dives. The rocks are covered with colorful sponges, hydroids and interesting sea squirts. Some walls are completely covered with the orange star coral. |
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| Different kinds of sea fans which are partly quite big can be found as well. Sea fingers or big sea fingers are growing as individuals and sometimes also in colonies. Furthermore big spiny spider grabs, a great variety of sea slugs, green bonellia and a lot more can be discovered. |
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For Advanced Divers
Placer de las Bovedas
Since 2001 Happy Diver's Club is diving extensively in the hugh dive region Placer de las Bovedas - one of the Top 10 dive sites in Spain! Placer de las Bovedas is a hugh reef that is situated about 3 nautical miles (approx. 6 km) opposite the coast from San Pedro de Alcäntara. It is about 1 km long and 500 meters wide. Coming from the shore side the reef comes up from approx. 30 meters depth, has its shallowest point at about 20 meters and drops down to very deep an the other side. |
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| Dives start at about 20 meters and go to a maximum of 40 meters. Due to the fact that out there not much professional fishing is done groupers from more than 1 meter of length and other bigger species can be seen. In general the reef is rocky, has beautiful canons, valleys, walls and overhanging rocks. The nicest flora and fauna from both seas, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic ocean can be found. Hugh schools of fish accompany the divers and make dives in Placer de las Bovedas unforgettable. Dives out there can only be done when the weather is nice and the sea flat. Due to the depth of the dives (20-40 meters) only advanced divers will be taken out. Usually 2-tankdives will be done which means 2 followed dives with a break in between. Because of the extension of the reef a lot of dive sites are still to discover. Because the dive sites in Las Bovedas are in the open sea, very close to the Strait of Gibraltar and the Atlantic Ocean you have to be aware that tidal currents can exist. Demanding current- , drift- and deep dives are guaranteed. |
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The Plateau
The Plateau is the shallowest spot in Las Bovedas, in other words the roof of the reef which is about 20 m deep.
Las Bovedas is reached by a boat ride of about 15 minutes. During the week there are only a few fishing boats and a small number of yachts containing sunbathers present at this site. However, regularly we can also be alone at the plateau. Despite being 6km from the coastline the shore may still be viewed. After the boat is moored, the skipper has given the dive briefing and everyone knows who his dive buddy is, we put on the gear. We drop in the water with a backwards roll, swim to the anchor line, wait for our dive buddies and then drop down into the deep blue.
Slowly we approach the seabed which we can make out from the surface. Large rock boulders and lots of schooling fish await us. After we have regrouped and have exchanged the o.k. signal we begin the dive. We pass canons, small rocky streets and sometimes cross sand patches. Rich marine life surrounds us. Looking under the rocks there are conger eels, sometimes moray eels, and if you are lucky you can also find one of the big groupers.
Ooops, 25 minutes has gone by and it is time to go up again! Slowly we approach the surface which gets brighter and brighter. After the obligatory safety stop and a total dive time of about 30 minutes we are at the surface again and …… there is the dive boat waiting for us. Once all divers are back on board we ride back to the dive center – full of new impressions.
Southern reef
"The “Southern reef” is one of the furthest southerly spots at Las Bovedas where diving within the recreational dive limit is possible. The dive starts at approx. 35 m and brings us back up to about 20 metres.
We glide down the anchor rope and reach the bottom at 35 metres deep. There on the side of Las Bovedas facing Morocco an interesting seabed compiled from old coral pieces is waiting for us. We move slowly uphill and can soon see the first of the big rock boulders. Some of them easily reach 10 metres in height. Here the seabed is composed of huge freight container sized rocks all piled up on top of each other. It looks as though giant hands have put them there. The “no-decompression watch” ticks and we have to go to shallower waters quickly. At around 25 metres the giant rock formations change into smaller rocks. During the whole dive we are accompanied by schools of fish. It is a pity the dive is over already.
Pamela
This dive site is named after its discoverer. It is a huge half-pipe which lies between 26 and 30 metres in depth, with a length of about 500 metres. The sea bed appears to be relatively flat but is actually composed of large rocky pieces all piled up on top of each other. The rocks are covered with colourful sponges, tentaculates and tunicates. Sometimes they are interrupted by sand patches. You can also find Green Bonellia and Sea fingers which either stand alone or grow in colonies. The observant divers will not miss the many sea slugs. Very often there are bigger individuals of Mola Mola, also known as the sunfish.
Roqueillos
This is an interesting dive site where little diving has been done so far. It starts at 26 m deep and continues down to about 42 m. The bottom here is composed of extremely large rocks piled up on top of each other. Lying at a N.E / S.W orientation and about 160m x 80m in size you will need several dives to get to know this site. With the shallowest part at 26m, this dive is for experienced divers only. The currents here can also be quite strong.
Spooky landscape and plentiful sea life makes for excellent photo shots. Being so close to the straits of Gibraltar and its inflow of Atlantic water you are likely to see species not found in any other part of the Mediterranean.
| The Wreck of the "Menapier" |
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| On the 11th November 1917 the cargo ship Menapier, loaded with iron ore whilst on passage from Villaricos to Gibraltar, sunk due to a collision with another ship. Today the wreck, lying between Fuengirola and Punta de Calaburra, is still in good condition. It is about 110 m in length and approx. 15 m in width and lies on a slightly sloping sandy bottom at around 40 m. The average diving depth is between 35 and 40 m. |
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For diving purposes and to have a reference line for descents and ascents there is a mooring line attached at around 35 m of depth at an impressive winch on the deck of the wreck. |
We descend along the mooring line towards the wreck of the Menapier. At a depth of 25 m a big school of sardines welcomes us. As we decend further we can already see the big bodies of the Yellowtail Kingfish.
The school of Yellowtails circles us during the whole dive. The brittle of the silverish fish with the lemon like glitter and the shade, provided by such a big school gives a great atmosphere. Additionally there are the Capitones, also known as Dentones, with their hornlike bumps on their foreheads.
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On the deck of the wreck and in its many holes there are loads of smaller fish to see. Using your torch brings back their true colours. This is a real spectacle of colours in front of the steel structures. Not to forget the spider crabs which can be discovered here and there. Also some bigger octopus can be seen. Conger eels are hiding in some holes. The top of the wreck is full of nudibranches. At the very bottom of the Menapier there are even some lobsters. |
Diving towards the bow provides a clearer picture of the wreck. The big hole in the hull caused by the collision almost a century ago can easily be seen. At the bow area we can see the big holds and the winches which were used to load and unload the vessel.
As we dive towards the middle of the ship where we soon will have to ascend there is also a big steam tank and lots of pipes and valves. This is a true trip into the past.
With a little luck we might see even a sun fish during the ascent.
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| Day excursions |
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Gibraltar - CAMP BAY – Five wrecks in two dives
After a minibus shuttle of about 1 hour the dives in Camp bay/ Gibraltar will be conducted as 2-tank shore dives. Since Gibraltar belongs to the United Kingdom you will need an ID card, driving licence or a valid passport to enter the country. Sometimes delays occur at the border.
“The Batty” and “The 482”
As part of an incentive to attract marine life to the area, several wrecks were scuttled around the Camp Bay area from 9 to 17 metres in depth. This makes Camp Bay an attraction for wreck divers. PADI specialty courses like “Wreck diver”, “U/ W Navigation” and the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Diver are ideal to carry out here.
In 1990 at the end of their working life the “Batty” and the “482”, both cable laying barges used in the naval dockyard, were scuttled in 17 metres of water in Camp Bay. The idea was to create an artificial reef to attract marine life to the area. Almost two decades later an incredible amount of life in and around the wreck can be viewed. Jacks, cods, morays, congers, lobsters, spider crabs, blennies are present…. the list goes on...
Due to their location the Batty and the 482 are ideal for all experience levels. Penetration of the wrecks are also possible and therefore a torch is a must on this dive. Hole dwelling creatures can be encountered especially beneath the bow and stern of the wreck.
The three barges
In Camp Bay there are 3 more wrecks waiting to be explored; “the three barges”. They are old cargo vessels which were scuttled at a max. depth of 10 m, as artificial reefs at about the same time then the cable layer; the 482. Life here is abundant and the site an El Dorado for nudibranches.
The Norwegian wreck
A little outside Camp Bay lays the “Norwegian Wreck” which may be explored from the shore. Lying on her side she is the biggest of the Camp Bay wrecks, measuring about 50 metres in length. This wreck is covered with marine life. As soon as you reach the wreck at 23 metres deep a massive wall of about 10 metres appears in front of you – sometimes you can hear a ‘wow’ escaping from the diver’s mouth! As the “Norwegian wreck” is lying on its side the deck of the ship invites the diver to explore.
Tarifa – Diving at the furthest southerly point of Europe
After a minibus shuttle of about 1 hour the dives at the furthest southerly point of Europe – the “Isla Palomas” just outside the city of Tarifa - will be conducted as 2-tank shore dives.
Tarifa is the furthest southerly city in Europe and here the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean meet. Tarifa is also called “the capital of the wind” as it always blowing fiercely here. A wind force of around 3-4 Beaufort is normal – sometimes it is even higher. Because of its consistent winds Tarifa is well known amongst wind- and kite surfers.
At Tarifa the diver can expect crystal clear waters, good visibility and nice rock formations all covered with abundant marine life. Depending on which direction the wind is blowing the dives are done either on the Mediterranean or the Atlantic side of the island. On the Mediterranean side advanced divers can go down to about 20 metres. Diving the Atlantic side, approx.125 metres can be reached. |
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