Illa del Toro (El Toro marine reserve)
The islet that closes the Bay of Santa Ponça to the west is part of the marine reserve of the islets of El Toro and Malgrats (declared 2004), about 10 minutes by boat from Santa Ponça. It holds six dive sites: a platform at about 5 m for first descents and safety stops, a slope to the 15–20 m band where groupers, moray eels and octopus gather, and vertical walls dropping to 35–40 m at the point. 220bars also lists amberjack, gilthead bream, barracuda and nudibranchs; Big Blue Diving gives visibility up to 35 m and notes occasional current. Position estimated, for orientation only.
Facts
- Region: Mallorca & Cabrera (Balearic Islands)
- Area: Palma & Southwest
- Depth: 5–40 m
- Level: intermediate
- Current: low
- Type: reef, wall, island
- Coordinates: 39.4623, 2.4727 (approximate)
- Highlights: marine reserve since 2004 with unafraid groupers, six sites on one islet, walls to 35-40 m at the point
- Permit: The Illa del Toro lies in the Reserva Marina de les illes del Toro i Malgrats, which has buoy fields in its special diving zones that authorised centres or clubs can reserve (fee for one buoy shift or an annual authorisation per the Govern page). Recreational diving in the Balearic marine reserves needs an authorisation issued to the dive centre or club (Direcció General de Pesca i Medi Marí); individual divers go with an authorised centre, they do not apply themselves. Applicant centres must be on the Balearic register and their guides must have completed the "responsible diving in marine reserves" course. In some reserves there are fully protected zones where scuba diving is banned. Check the current rules with the centre or the Govern page. (Source: Govern de les Illes Balears procedure page, 2025 archive copy)
- Issuer / contact: Direcció General de Pesca i Medi Marí, Govern de les Illes Balears (marine reserves)
- Tips: Dives in the special diving zones use fixed buoy fields and run through authorised centres only.