Bajo de Dentro (Islas Hormigas)
Bajo de Dentro is a rocky spire that rises from depth to a minimum of about 3 m, with a platform at 15–20 m on the north side. On the east side lies a cave about 15 m long at 22 m, home to big conger eels. Shoals of barracuda, brown meagre, sargo and dentex pass the bajo, and groupers, lobsters, moray eels and gorgonians are common. Position estimated from map data, for orientation only.
Facts
- Region: Spain – Region of Murcia (Cabo de Palos, Cabo Tiñoso, Águilas)
- Area: Cabo de Palos – Islas Hormigas
- Depth: 3.3–50 m
- Level: intermediate
- Current: moderate
- Type: reef, wall, cave
- Coordinates: 37.64628, -0.66574 (approximate)
- Highlights: rocky needle rising from 50 m to 3 m, 15 m cave with conger eels, gorgonians, groupers, lobsters
- Permit: Inside the Cabo de Palos–Islas Hormigas marine reserve (created 1995). Scuba diving outside the no-take integral reserve needs prior authorisation: in outer waters from the Área Funcional de Agricultura y Pesca of the Government Delegation in Murcia, in inner waters from the regional Dirección General de Ganadería y Pesca (the regional e-office lists the procedure 'Autorización para realizar inmersiones en las Reservas Marinas de Interés Pesquero', code 1153). Dive centres normally arrange this; go with a local centre and check the current rules. The contact details in the official reserve brochure date from 2009, so verify them.
- Issuer / contact: Área Funcional de Agricultura y Pesca, Delegación del Gobierno en Murcia (outer waters) / Dirección General de Ganadería y Pesca, Región de Murcia (inner waters)
- Address: Avda. de Alfonso X El Sabio 6, 30071 Murcia (Delegación del Gobierno); Plaza Juan XXIII s/n, 30008 Murcia (Dirección General); reserve centre: Miguel Salas Coy 8, Cabo de Palos
- As printed in the official reserve brochure (2009 edition); verify before use. Phone numbers from a 2009 leaflet could not be confirmed and were removed; check the official page.
- Tips: Dive plans usually stay shallower than the 50 m base; needs the reserve authorisation.