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A couple swims face to face underwater in clear blue waters, showcasing a serene and romantic moment in a tropical sea.
📷 Leticia Azevedo · Pexels

Cala Roja- Cabo de Palos

3.8 — based on 16 community signals
4.4 12 species 47 contributors

Cala Roja at Cabo de Palos is a year-round Spanish Mediterranean dive site with rich marine life and documented species diversity.

⭐ Best for beginners.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
Water temp
13–26°C
Shore entryMacroFocusFamily-friendly

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Water temp
13–26 °C
Best months
Year-round
Marine life
Common octopus

Top operators here

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Map

This spot Operators Airport Nearby spots
Cala Roja- Cabo de Palos location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
8.9 kn
Wave
0.88 m
Water
26.7°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: NE (43%)
Now: NE (44°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 0.21m

Next: Low at 02:00 (-0.47m)

+-0.4 m-0.6 m
▼ 02:00 · -0.47m ▲ 10:00 · -0.44m ▲ 12:00 · -0.43m ▲ 17:00 · -0.38m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV6.15 · high Air PM2.53 · good 07:48 20:04
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 13.8 1.28 6 11mm
09-20 13.7 1.28 5 0mm
09-21 9.4 1 6 0mm
09-22 6.2 0.48 6 0mm
09-23 7.1 0.16 6 0mm
09-24 8.1 0.14 6 0mm
09-25 6 0.14 6 0mm
🌡 Water temp: Normal for Sep (13–26°C)

About this spot

Cala Roja, situated at Cabo de Palos on Spain's southeastern coast, offers Mediterranean diving accessible throughout the year. The site draws divers to explore the marine ecosystem in this established coastal locality. With 12 documented species observations and community video resources available, the site has garnered interest from visiting divers. The area around Cabo de Palos benefits from Spain's Mediterranean setting, known for temperate waters and established dive infrastructure. Local marine life represents typical Mediterranean fauna, making the site educational for divers wanting to study regional species. The documented observations suggest diverse fish and invertebrate populations worth exploring. Access to Cala Roja is straightforward from the Cabo de Palos locality. Divers planning visits should check local dive operators for current conditions, weather windows, and any seasonal variations. Community video documentation provides visual reference for dive planning and site orientation before entry. The year-round diving window means flexibility in scheduling, though like all Mediterranean sites, seasonal swells and visibility can vary. Divers should verify specific depth ranges, current conditions, and recommended experience levels with local operators or dive guides familiar with the site's current status.

📖 Guide: Diving in Spain: 91 Sites From Kelp Forests to Barracuda Walls

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Marine life

Common octopus

Dive types

ShoreReef

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 🤿 Pack: 5/4 mm full
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type C/F · 230V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 47%
  • 🤿 Wetsuit 5/4 mm full
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 1539km · ~354kg · €6

From your departure country

United States
Origin score: 77/100
  • Visa: Visa-free · 90 days max
  • Flight: 7h · direct
  • Jet-lag: 6h east · 4 days recovery

FAQ

Can I dive Cala Roja year-round?

Yes, the site is accessible for diving throughout the year. However, seasonal weather and water conditions will vary. Check with local operators before your visit for current diving windows and sea state.

What marine life will I see?

Cala Roja has 12 documented species observations in the database. Expect typical Mediterranean fauna including fish and invertebrates common to Spain's southeast coast. Local dive guides can detail seasonal presence and behavior.

How do I access the dive site?

Cala Roja is located at Cabo de Palos, a coastal locality on Spain's southeastern Mediterranean. Local dive operators serve the area and can arrange access, instruction, and site guidance.

What's the difficulty level and depth?

Specific depth and difficulty ratings are not documented in current records. Contact local dive operators at Cabo de Palos for detailed site specifications, training recommendations, and conditions before diving.

Operators near this spot

Dive centres, kite & surf schools within 10 km, sourced from OpenStreetMap.

Divers Cabo de Palos

1.2 km
Dive centre

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Verified marine species observations

54 records · 44 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Caracollina lenticula

Gastropoda · Trissexodontidae
GBIF
Last seen:
29 Jan 2026
×2records

Leonia mammillaris

Gastropoda · Pomatiidae
GBIF
Last seen:
8 Jan 2026
×2records

Ferussacia folliculum

Gastropoda · Ferussaciidae
GBIF
Last seen:
1 Jan 2026
×1records

Pinna nobilis

Bivalvia · Pinnidae
OBIS
Last seen:
4 Dec 2018
×1records
Depth:
2 m

Inachus phalangium

Malacostraca · Inachidae
OBIS
Last seen:
3 Nov 2017
×1records

Brachynotus sexdentatus

Malacostraca · Varunidae
OBIS
Last seen:
12 Aug 2017
×2records

Pinna nobilis

Bivalvia · Pinnidae
OBIS
Last seen:
22 Jul 2017
×1records
Depth:
6 m

Paracentrotus lividus

Echinoidea · Parechinidae
OBIS
Last seen:
25 Apr 2017
×1records
Depth:
0–13 m

Ophidiaster ophidianus

Asteroidea · Ophidiasteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
24 Apr 2017
×1records
Depth:
1–11 m

Cotylorhiza tuberculata

Scyphozoa · Cepheidae
OBIS
Last seen:
30 Dec 2016
×1records

Processa canaliculata

Malacostraca · Processidae
OBIS
Last seen:
13 May 2014
×1records
Depth:
406–422 m

Carcinus aestuarii

Malacostraca · Carcinidae
OBIS
Last seen:
16 Aug 2013
×2records

Data: 187,991 observations from OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Buceo en Cala Roja en Cabo de Palos ( Cartagena - Murcia)💙

CFSUB

Cabo de Palos, Spain — could you handle this view? walking

A Beautiful Walk

Buceo en Cabo de Palos - Diving in Cabo de Palos

Belriska
💬 3 top comments
  • Que gozada!!!

    @pablofos2580 · 👍 1
  • Muchas gracias

    @LuisLopez-pg3ij · 👍 1
  • Gaz es el amo de los mares. Estupendo vídeo.

    @aguiloco23 · 👍 1
Visibility (month-by-month)
Best: Jul (100/100) Worst: Feb (0/100) Now: Sep (78/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

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