Sirio wreck (Bajo de Fuera)
The Sirio is one of the wrecks that sank on Bajo de Fuera in the Islas Hormigas reserve, together with the Nord América and the Minerva. The dive centre Islas Hormigas describes the bajo as an area where the remains of ships overlap, with at least four distinguishable hulls, the 'mythical Sirius' being the best known. The position is the charted wreck position from OpenStreetMap seamark data.
Facts
- Region: Spain – Region of Murcia (Cabo de Palos, Cabo Tiñoso, Águilas)
- Area: Cabo de Palos – Islas Hormigas
- Level: advanced
- Current: moderate
- Type: wreck
- Coordinates: 37.66373, -0.63706
- Highlights: historic liner wreck, several hulls piled on the bajo
- 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: Deep and current-exposed; needs a good level of training and the reserve authorisation.