Palma Wrecks (Porto Pi / Dique del Oeste: Playa Dorada, Karelia)
A group of intentionally sunk cargo ships and smaller vessels off the seaward side of Palma harbour's West Dock (Dique del Oeste), the best-known wreck area on Mallorca. Big Blue Diving names the 60 m cargo ship Playa Dorada, sitting upright, and the Karelia, a former ferry sunk near the breakwater with a sailboat wreck at its bow, scuttled in the 1970s–80s; West Coast Divers counts four modern wrecks with a 60 m cargo ship the largest. The deep wrecks lie at 27–30 m, while 220bars says other vessels along the dike are at 7–30 m. Access is by boat with a blue-water descent on a line; the wrecks are enjoyed from outside, without penetration. Nudibranchs, octopus, groupers, conger eels and moray eels are reported. Position estimated, for orientation only.
Facts
- Region: Mallorca & Cabrera (Balearic Islands)
- Area: Palma & Southwest
- Depth: 7–30 m
- Level: advanced
- Current: moderate
- Type: wreck
- Coordinates: 39.5425, 2.6269 (approximate)
- Highlights: four large cargo wrecks scuttled off the West Dock, Playa Dorada (60 m cargo ship) and Karelia (ex-ferry), blue-water descent on the line
- Tips: Advanced divers only: blue-water descent, shipping traffic and often limited visibility; sharp corroded steel sticks out (one operator warns), so no penetration. Dive with a local centre.
Sources
- https://bigbluediving.net/dive-sites/palma-wrecks/
- https://bigbluediving.net/wreck-diving-in-porto-pi-palma-de-mallorca/
- https://divinginmajorca.com/mobile/tauchspots.html
- https://220bars.com/en/divespots/dique-del-oeste
- https://www.mallorcamagazin.com/nachrichten/tourismus/2022/09/06/105225/diesen-wracks-stossen-taucher-rund-mallorca-vor.html