Spain – Andalusian Mediterranean coast (Almería, Granada, Málaga)

The Andalusian Mediterranean coast stretches from Almería's volcanic Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park to the Costa Tropical of Granada and the Costa del Sol. Cabo de Gata-Níjar is a marine reserve where scuba diving needs authorisation from the Spanish authorities, and local registered centres arrange it for guided dives: the Arna wreck (El Vapor), the deep Piedra de los Meros and small caves such as Cueva del Francés. North of the park, San Andrés island off Carboneras (a Natural Monument) offers an arch, a canyon wall and a 1927 steamboat wreck. Further west, La Herradura and the Maro-Cerro Gordo cliffs have a cluster of 16 boat sites with caves, current dives and deeper rock from Punta de la Mona, and Estepona has the shallow El Galeón and wrecks such as the Nortomra. Sites are verified from dive-centre and park pages; positions are estimates.

Facts

Best season: May to October is the main season (about 18–26 °C, calm and best visibility); winter diving is possible but cooler and sometimes rough
Water temperature: About 14 °C in February–March to about 29 °C in late summer (Mojácar page)
Cabo de Gata-Níjar permit: Scuba in the marine reserve's outer waters needs authorisation from the Government Subdelegation in Almería; in Natural Park waters from the Junta de Andalucía. Registered local centres arrange it
Ocean sunfish: Mola mola are listed in spring and summer at one La Herradura site

Season

Best months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Acceptable: Mar, Apr, Nov
Poor: Dec, Jan, Feb
Water temperature: 14–29 °C

Main season May–October (about 18–26 °C, calm and best visibility); spring and autumn are quieter, and winter diving is possible but cooler and sometimes rough. Water is about 14 °C in February–March and about 29 °C in late summer. Mola mola are listed in spring and summer at one La Herradura site.

Dive sites (27)

Cabo de Gata-Níjar (permit)

Agua Amarga wreck – 0–10 m, beginner
Arna wreck (El Vapor, Cabo de Gata) – 26–42 m, advanced
Cueva del Francés (Chalet del Francés) – 0–16 m, beginner
La Restinga de las Anclas (Los Escullos) – 0–14 m, beginner
Los Amarillos (Los Burros, Cala de los Amarillos) – 15–23 m, intermediate
Piedra de los Meros (La Isleta del Moro) – 26–32 m, advanced

Carboneras & San Andrés

Arch of San Andrés (Isla de San Andrés) – 5–31 m, advanced
Chocholita wreck (San Andrés) – 6–10 m, beginner
The Aquarium I (Isla de San Andrés) – 0–12 m, beginner
The Canyon - The Wall (Isla de San Andrés) – 14–27 m, advanced
The Cathedral (Sierra Almagrera submarine range) – 0–32 m, advanced
Villaricos fishing-boat wreck – 25–30 m, advanced

Costa Tropical (Granada)

Calaiza – 0–15 m, beginner
Cantarriján – 0–15 m, beginner
Cueva de las Palomas – 0–18 m, beginner
Cueva del Jarro – 0–25 m, intermediate
La Calita – 0–18 m, beginner
La Huerta – 0–21 m, intermediate
Los Candelabros – 0–22 m, intermediate
Los Molinos – 0–21 m, intermediate
Marina del Este – 0–18 m, beginner
Piedras Altas – 0–40 m, advanced
Punta de la Mona – 0–40 m, advanced

Costa del Sol (Málaga)

El Galeón (Lys galleon wreck, San Pedro de Alcántara) – 0–7 m, beginner
Punta Chullera (Manilva) – 0–15 m, beginner
S.P.M. Nortomra wreck (Estepona) – 30 m, advanced
Yate de las Ánforas (Amphoras Yacht, Estepona) – 24–26 m, advanced

Operators (9)

Isub San José – dive centre, C/ Babor 8, San José (Níjar)
Centro de Buceo Las Negras – dive centre, Calle Cantos Rodados 1, Las Negras (Níjar)
Centro Escuela Buceo Mojácar – dive centre, Mojácar (street address not listed)
Open Water La Herradura – dive centre, Paseo Andrés Segovia s/n, La Herradura
Buceo Marina – dive centre, Paseo Andrés Segovia 7, Local 5, La Herradura
Buceo La Herradura (Marina del Este) – dive centre, Puerto Deportivo Marina del Este, La Herradura
Black Frog Divers – dive centre, Urb. Laguna Beach, Torrox Costa
Buceo Estepona – dive centre, Real Club Náutico, Puerto Deportivo, Estepona
Estepona Dive Center – dive centre, Avenida Luis Braille 5, Local 6, Estepona

Routes (4)

Site positions are estimates from the nearest coast or landmark and are for orientation only — never for navigation. Dive with a local centre, follow protected-area rules (including the Cabo de Gata-Níjar authorisation) and check current conditions.