1. La Isla de Paco                  6. Cala Abierta                        11. Cabo Falcón

2. El Bajo                                 7. El Muellecito                       12. Cabo Tiñoso

3. Dragaminas Nálon           8. Cuevo Del Lago                 13. La Cueva De La Virgen

4. Tajo Colorao                      9. El Arco

5. Cala Cerrada                    10. La Cueva de la Herradur

Voyage time 10 minutes. La Isla de Paco lies to the west of the port where the cliff walls are almost vertical, but maximum depth is only 14 metres, making this an ideal site for try dives, training and for divers gaining experience. Most days this site is sheltered from prevailing winds and currents and usually has an abundance of fish life around the underwater rocks.

Voyage time 5 minutes - less than 1 kilometre from the port.

El Bajo de Fuera is a submerged mountain 300 metres long with depths from 14-31 metres. As you descend, you are engulfed in shoals of Damselfish - on the bottom you will find Octopus and more fish than an aquarium, including Barracuda, large Dentex and elusive big Mero (Sea Perch). The mountain is surrounded by more than a dozen substantial fishing boat wrecks, two smaller wrecks at 16 metres, a memorial to an old diver, a large statue of a well endowed female ‘La Gorda’ (The Fat Lady), Congers, Morays... this dive site has everything and makes an incredible night dive.

Voyage time 15 minutes.

So called because of the large split in the cliff wall which is filled with red stone. The wall is vertical down to 16 metres and then slopes to 30 metres, massive boulders litter the incline and sea bed where large Mero (Sea Perch) and Corvinas (Meagre) live and feed.

As its name implies a ‘closed bay’ with one narrow access to the open sea offering protection from wind and waves. Maximum depth within the bay of 14 metres with a floor of coarse sand and ‘posedonea oceanica’, creating a perfect area for try dives and courses. Exiting the bay, either left (east) or right (west) the cliff walls slope down to 27metres among large rocks, many of which form interesting ‘swim throughs’ and you are never far from large fish. Inside the bay are 2 beaches which may be used for rescue scenarios or more importantly barbeques!

Voyage time 25 minutes.

A natural rock jetty juts at right angles from the steep cliff wall, hence the name. We drop down into a canyon to 18 metres and then can explore east or west, more big rocks and fish with a sea bed at 35 metres. However, this is also an excellent training site as above the canyon is a shelf between 5 and 8 metres.

Voyage time 25 minutes.

A very different dive, drop down to just 4m and enter the cliff base through a wide opening, fin a few metres and then surface inside a large ‘bubble’ within the earth. Turn on your lamp, remove tanks and weights, climb out and walk through an underground passage to a brackish lake deep inside the mountain. The water is crystal clear (provided you don’t kick the silty bottom) constantly at 21c and 14 metres deep. Either carry your kit here, or just enjoy snorkelling. Walk back to the entrance, kit up and see the outside light shining blue through the opening. Once outside a 20 metres dive site awaits you.

Voyage time 25 minutes.

Nature indicated this site by creating a massive stone arch and gave us our star dive along the coast. Descend to 16 metres and find walls, enormous boulders, crevices, outcrops, overhangs and a firm sea bed at 30 metres. Every species of fish known to this coastline may be encountered here with more Octopus, Scorpion fish and Moray eels than any other of our sites. Everybody’s favourite, but also another great training site with shallow shelves. Night dives here are mind blowing!

Voyage time 30 minutes.

But where you find a completely different marine life and bottom formation. The cliff face drops vertically to 16 metres to a gently undulating bottom of sand and sea grass falling slowly, with few rocks, to 35 metres. While currents are not common in the region the proximity to the cape here can cause a slight drift, nothing as strong as a normal day’s diving around the British Isles! A very pleasant dive.

Voyage time 35 minutes.

Cabo Tinoso is situated at the extreme easterly end of the cliffs starting at La Azohia (to the east of the Bay of Mazarron). A lighthouse dominates the cape and behind is an enormous bay going westwards behind the cape giving total protection from westerly winds and a well used anchorage for shipping waiting to enter Cartagena. All along this reverse of the cliffs can be found many sites to anchor and dive, rocks and crevices are the home to thousands of sea creatures and a range of flora. Good safe diving normally to about 25 metres, but those so inclined may venture north away from the cliffs to 60 - 70 metres (not recommended for air divers). Currents tend to occur near the cape - but not inside the bays.

Voyage time 45 minutes.

Sometimes referred to as ‘Neptuno’ this dive site is only 10 minutes from Cartagena. Descend to a sandy bottom at 7 metres, follow the cliff edge to the east and at 14 metres we find the large cave entrance, on the floor of which is a statue of the Virgin Mary. Once inside, using torch light, we rise through the cave to the surface of about 100 metres sq within a natural rock chimney opening to the sky. Submerging again to only 5 or 6 metres we can explore a chamber containing stalagmites and stalactites (and then return to the entrance to the sea - better without lights as the bright blue glow guides you. The route inside is clearly marked with rope and an experienced guide always accompanies divers new to this amazing place. Once outside, air permitting we can drop to the sea bed at 27 metres before returning to the boat. A truly awesome dive.