Mallorca is a jewel of the Med with a fabulous coastline that is ideal for diving with a huge variety of different sites. The island is home to some fascinating underwater geological treasures and has a rich biodiversity encouraged by its national parks. On dives here you can swim through underwater caves, discover mysterious tunnel systems and have the chance to see moray eels, dolphins, nudibranchs, groupers, barracudas and much much more.
Read on to discover our choice of the top 5 dive sites around the island, plus some advice on finding a great dive school.
Diving in this magical cave is an experience you will not forget in a hurry. The entrance is 18 metres high and can only be accessed from the from the water.
You only need to swim a short distance inside before you can surface and wonder at the huge underwater cavern complete with towering stalactites.
The environment here is untouched and if you are luck you will get to see moray eels, scorpion fish, octopuses and grouper fish hiding in the rocks!
This is a dive site open to all levels from beginners to expert free divers with a maximum depth of 30 metres.
The protected marine reserve around the island of Cabrera is located to the south of Mallorca, near the port. Since 1991 it has flourished as a protected environment and is now home to a diverse range of marine life.
It is a spot well known for large grouper fish. One known as Bernardo is particularly friendly and has even been known to pose for photos! You will also get the chance to see barracudas, maybe a few tuna, seahorses, starfish, dolphins, sea turtles and beautiful corals.
Here you will find cliffs 90 metre high, caves and fantastic visibility of up to 50 metres into the ocean. The dive site is up to 30 metres in depth for advanced divers with the less experienced still able to enjoy this spectacular national park.
Only 2 boats a day are allowed to stop here, so make sure to arrange your dive before you arrive on the island.
This aptly named dive site is located at Cap Pinar between Alcúdia and Port de Pollença. It is made up of a series of tunnels, holes and caves in the rock that resemble a holey swiss cheese.
If you are an adventurer at heart, this site is great fun to explore! Let your curiosity guide you as you discover the hidden corners of this area with the help of a torch. There is also a canyon and a rock resembling a turtle’s shell through which you can swim and marvel at its yellow anemone encrusted roof.
The Swiss Cheese is a popular haunt for scorpionfish and shrimp and in the area, you can also spot moray eels, octopuses, groupers and maybe even schools of barracuda.
The maximum depth here is 25 metres and it is suitable for all dive levels.
Located to the southwest of Mallorca, Dragonera Island is another protected national park with abundant marine life to discover. It is considered one of the most beautiful dive sites in Mallorca for its wonderful water quality and biodiversity.
Divers here particularly enjoy exploring the island’s many sea caves with their trapped air bubbles, such as La Cueva, and cliffs that measure 50 metres in depth. There is also an unforgettable reef at Dragonera with stunning corals, sponges, feather stars and tube anemones.
Keep an eye out for the large shrimps and lobsters that make this part of the seabed their home and if you are a more advanced diver, make sure to dive at the shipwreck to the front of the island. There you will find both conger and moray eels and maybe even an eagle ray if you are lucky!
The Cap de Formentor is a narrow peninsula protruding from the northeast of Mallorca with Formentor Island just off the coast. It is a wonderful place to dive with an abundance of beautiful sea creatures to see and natural features to explore.
Around this island you will find sea caves and walls that hide resident moray eels and colourful nudibranchs. There are also schools of barracuda, octopuses, groupers, cuttlefishes, squid, scorpion fish and schools of different breams. You will not be disappointed if you choose to dive here!
Nearby towards the Cap de Formentor you can also explore the Luis Candela Cave. This large cavern can be entered at 5 metres down and gives you the chance to witness a halocline. This is where the fresh water from the mountains meets the sea water creating a blurry visibility. Once inside, you can appreciate the magnificent stalactites and stalagmites.
The maximum depth for these dives is around 20 metres and they are suitable for all levels.
Now you know where you want to dive, it is time to find a suitable dive school or guide to ensure you have all the right equipment, can find the best spots and can dive safely.
There are plenty of different schools across the island with most specialising in the area they are based.
One of our favourites is Tramuntana Diving located in Port de Pollença in the north east of the island. It is one of the few schools on the island that is an official SSI Training Centre with resident scuba and freediving instructors. This means that you will find the some of the best tuition here whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced diver.
With Tramuntana Diving you can visit around 30 different nearby dive sites whether from the coast or from one of the company’s two boats. This includes the Cave de Jeroni, the Swiss Cheese and the Formentor Island sites mentioned above and many other fantastic spots. Your friendly instructors will ensure you have a great time and that you are kept safe.
We have only covered 5 of the many amazing dive sites around Mallorca, so if this article has inspired you to start planning your own trip, make sure to do further research to find out more!
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We are Jacob and Taylor. Travel is our passion and we love sharing our experiences here at The Travelling Souk. Our hope is that you would be inspired by this little blog to try something new, embrace an adventure, and live life to the fullest.