People jet out to Majorca from all over Europe and beyond to explore its quaint towns and villages. However, if you’re looking for something more active during your stay, this Balearic Island is packed with opportunities for adventure, especially at some of its diving sites. There are around 70 different dive sites offering wreck and cavern dive opportunities, as well as a wide diversity of marine life. The best time to go scuba diving is between May and October when the water temperature ranges from 18 to 25ºC.
The main dive sites are located close to five different areas – Alcudia and Puerto Pollensa to the north, the stretch of coastline between Cala Ratjada and Cala Millor to the east, around Cala d’Or towards the south, just off the uninhabited islet of Cabrera, and around the west peninsular near the capital of Palma de Mallorca.
ALCUDIA AND PUERTO POLLENSA
Although it offers diving sites for both beginners and intermediate divers, the north of the island is a more suitable region for those with advanced certifications. Alcanda is a good location for a refresher course, and also has some great snorkelling opportunities for those who don’t fancy diving. Es Colomer is great for deep dives and drifts and the stronger currents attract species of lobster, cuttlefish and squid.
Some of the dive sites in this area can only be visited depending on the tide and currents, but waiting for the opportune moment pays off. Secret Squirrel is for advanced and cavern specialty divers and involves the navigation of a tunnel, which leads to a cave partially filled with air and a hidden beach. The Point is another hidden gem, where jellyfish and octopods are frequently spotted.
Experienced freedivers may enjoy the challenge of the Cave de Jeroni. At 18 m, you enter a cavern, through which there is a passage leading up to a pocket of air beside a secret lake.
CALA MILLOR
One of the best dive sites to the east of the island is known as the Big Cheese. Here, you can dive around a small island that’s perforated with holes and interconnecting tunnels. Swim inside and enjoy an interesting display of natural light while seeking colourful nudibranchs, as well as larger sea life such as barracuda, grouper fish and moray eels.
Other sites of interest include: ‘Beard’, where Posidonia seagrass gives the illusion of hair growing from the side of a vertical rock wall; Manta Point, where giant manta rays often like to hang out; and Conger Cave, which offers night dives to see the eels of the same name.
CALA D’OR
Cala d’Or has grown over the years from a small traditional fishing village to a low-key resort with five small beaches and some interesting diving among calm, beginner-friendly conditions. As with the other locations around Majorca, you can choose between reefs, walls, wrecks and caves.
Cala Sa Nau is one of the most popular local dive sites, where stalactites, stalagmites, column formations and corals can all be seen inside an 80 m long cave. Dive centres will also take you from here to sites around Palma, including Three Caves, El Toro and Isla del Sec.
CABRERA
Close to Cabrera Port, Llebeig is a relatively easy dive beginning with a small cove where the visibility can reach up to 40 m. Although this site is known for its groupers (there is a resident one named Bernardo who likes to come over for selfies!), if you’re really lucky you might even see a sunfish.
Isla Bledas, a smaller island near Cabrera also has massive groupers, moray eels, lobsters and the occasional ray.
PALMA DE MALLORCA
If you’re new to diving, a great place to start is around Palma de Mallorca. Out to sea, the conditions are perfect for beginners, with none of the challenging currents of the north side. There are even a few alternative options to whet your appetite, including an 8.5 m shark tank at the aquarium and the option to try out the PETER diving system, which negates the need for heavy SCUBA equipment.
Close to the port of Palma, experienced divers can check out sunken cargo ships and the biggest wrecks of Majorca, as well as the beautiful Palma Caves.
Other sites include Cala Monjo, close to a secluded nudist beach with three cave dives to a deepest depth of 17 m; Ses Penyes Rotges, which has a reef wall that is great for night diving; Isla del Sec, where you can see a submarine in operation; and the unbeatable visibility of El Toro Marine Reserve.
Why not combine your diving holiday in Majorca with a stay in one of the fine villas to the north of the island? They offer the perfect opportunity to relax and reflect on your day’s diving as the sun sets. They also have an outdoor pool, just in case you can’t get enough of being in the water.
Looks like a great dive site! Those temps are a little cool for my taste, but the coves and tunnels look like it’d be a blast to play around in. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Henry! I agree about the temperature. I prefer it to be 27 degrees or above! I’m pretty spoiled though. I’ve only done a couple of dives in colder water (14 degrees both times). The first time I only had one wetsuit and no hood and was shivering for ages afterwards. The next time I doubled up on my wetsuit but I still wasn’t comfortable. I think I need to learn to use a drysuit just in case.
Mallorca is definitely on my list to visit for some diving sometime soon. You must have had a blast on those dives! At least your photos indicate that these are awesome dive sites. Thank you for sharing!
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All these spots are perfect, but Cala d’Or won my heart! Diving is an awesome activity, Arianwen!
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It’s absolutely the best!