Spain – Inland Caves, Reservoirs & Rivers

Inland Spain has little diving infrastructure, but what exists is distinctive. The Guadalajara reservoirs of Entrepeñas, Buendía, Bolarque and Alcorlo hide village ruins, a royal spa complex, a bridge and an old railway track under the water, with pike, zander, pumpkinseed, black bass and barbel; the San Juan reservoir near Madrid and the river pools of the upper Tajo give easier dives. The Alto Tajo natural park allows diving only through an authorised centre. In Burgos the Pozo Azul spring at Covanera leads into more than 13 km of flooded cave and is for qualified cave divers only. Most open-water positions here come from a single Guadalajara dive centre's own site list, so coordinates are approximate and reservoir levels change. Many other Spanish caves (Sa Gleda, Cueva del Agua, Moraig, Fuente Azul and others) are protected, restricted or lacked verifiable positions and are not listed; the Lagunas de Ruidera are in the unverified list.

Facts

• Water temperature: Cave water at Pozo Azul stays about 9–11 °C all year; reservoirs and Tajo pools reach about 21–23 °C at the surface in summer, with a cold thermocline below. A general source gives 8–15 °C as typical for Spanish freshwater diving.
• Visibility: At Buendía the centre says visibility is best in cold winter water and after dry spells; at San Juan the water is clearer down to about 6 m.

Season

• Best months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
• Acceptable: Apr, Oct
• Poor: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
• Water temperature: 8–23 °C

Reservoirs and river pools: surface water is warmest in summer (about 21–23 °C), but visibility is better in cold winter water (Buendía). Cave water is about 9–11 °C all year. Seasonal notes come from one centre's pages and a general source.

Dive sites (29)

Guadalajara – Alcorlo & Palmaces reservoirs

• Alcorlo reservoir – beach and Ruinas Negras – 0–18 m, intermediate
• Alcorlo reservoir – sunken village ruins – 0–30 m, advanced
• Palmaces de Jadraque – pebble beach – 0–10 m, beginner
• Salto de Mandayona – 0–2.4 m, beginner

Guadalajara – Bolarque reservoir & Guadiela

• Bolarque – El Mirador – 0–12 m, intermediate
• Bolarque – El Puente (Río Guadiela) – 0–12 m, intermediate
• Bolarque – La Ermita (Virgen de los Desamparados) – 0–12 m, intermediate
• Bolarque – La Isla Pirata – 0–12 m, intermediate
• Bolarque – La Parada – 0–13.9 m, intermediate
• Bolarque – Lago de Bolarque – 0–6 m, beginner
• Bolarque – Náutico – 0–7 m, beginner
• Bolarque – Playa Paraíso – 0–6 m, beginner

Guadalajara – River Tajo & Alto Tajo pools

• Bolarque – Puente Romano on the Tajo – 0–5 m, beginner
• Río Tajo – La Isla Misteriosa – 0–3 m, beginner
• Río Tajo – Playa Blanca (El Empalme) – 0–6 m, beginner
• Río Tajo – Poza de Óvila – 0–5 m, beginner
• Salto de Poveda (Alto Tajo) – park-authorised only – 0–6 m, intermediate

Guadalajara – Entrepeñas & Buendía reservoirs

• Buendía – Real Puente (sunken bridge of La Isabela) – 0–21 m, advanced
• Buendía – Real Sitio de La Isabela and Baños de Sacedón (ruins) – 0–25 m, advanced
• Buendía – Ruinas del Buda – 0–20 m, intermediate
• Buendía – ruins of Santa María de Poyos – 0–30 m, advanced
• Entrepeñas – the railway tracks – 0–30 m, advanced
• Entrepeñas – the viaduct – 0–25 m, advanced
• Piscinas de Neptuno – 0–18 m, intermediate

Cuenca – Caracenilla reservoir

• Caracenilla reservoir (Cuenca) – 0–6 m, beginner
• Lagunas de Ruidera (Ruidera lagoons) – 0–10 m, beginner

Burgos – Covanera (Pozo Azul)

• Pozo Azul (Covanera) – cave-diver only – 0–71 m, advanced

Madrid – San Juan reservoir

• San Juan reservoir – Playa Dorada – 0–30 m, intermediate
• San Juan reservoir – Playa El Muro – 0–30 m, intermediate

Operators (1)

• Buceo H2o – dive centre, Guadalajara (Spain) – dives across Guadalajara, Cuenca and Madrid provinces

Routes (1)

• Guadalajara reservoir and river dives (Buceo H2o)

Most open-water positions come from a single dive centre's site list and are approximate; reservoir levels change with rainfall. Levels are estimated from depth where the source gives none. Cave diving (Pozo Azul) requires full cave-diver qualification; check permits and current access with the authorities before going. Always confirm conditions and rules with a local dive centre.