Valenciana, Comunidad·Spain
Photo: Jose A. · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
The waters around the little island of Tabarca were Spain's first marine reserve, and the protection shows: meadows of posidonia seagrass, caverns on the south side, and dusky grouper grown large and unafraid of divers. A short boat hop from Alicante or Santa Pola to some of the clearest water on the coast.
In season: May–Oct · Peak: Jun–Sep
Easy to moderate dives inside a reserve, from the shallow reef of La Llosa to the Cova del Llop Mari cavern and a small wreck on the sand. Warm, clear summer water and plentiful fish.
Shallow reef with grouper used to divers
Cavern on the island's south side inside the reserve
Small wreck on the sand shelf
Dive with a centre from Santa Pola or on Tabarca itself. Most sites suit newer divers; the reserve requires diving with an authorised operator.
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