Cabo de Palos & Islas Hormigas · Spain · Pinnacle · Reef
Bajo de Piles
A rock spine with a crest at 12 m and groupers along its length
Area photo: Marta T López · CC BY-SA 4.0
A rocky spine inside the Cabo de Palos reserve, running east with a crest at 12 to 15 m and a sand bottom at 27 m off its south face. The local centre rates it a calm dive of simple to medium level, and its draw is fish: a large population of groupers, a striking number of moray eels, and pelagic species moving through over the rock.
Also known as Bajo de Piles II.
Where it is and how deep
37.6382° N, 0.6704° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
The site is a rocky spine extending east, and the axis of the dive follows it. The crest runs at an average of 12 to 15 m with its highest point shallower still, so groups drop onto the top and work along it, dipping onto the faces on either side. Several different routes are dived here depending on the level and experience of the group, so which line you follow is settled in the briefing rather than fixed by the rock.
The deepest ground is the south face, where the rock gives way to a sand bottom at 27 m that runs on towards the lighthouse and northwards, broken by scattered rocky groups. The north-west side is different again, a very extensive field of large boulders where it is easy to lose your bearings and miss the way back to the boat, which is the main reason the guide sets the route.
The fish make the dive. Groupers both small and large hold along the formation, especially on the north-west rocks, and the population of big ones is what the site is known for. Moray eels are here in unusual numbers, with scorpionfish and pollack among them, and pelagic species pass over the rock. Algae growth is thin, so the rock itself reads clean and the animals are what you watch.
Marine life and season
- Groupers
- Reef fish swarms
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair |
Season follows Cabo de Palos & Islas Hormigas: Jun–Oct has the warmest water and the calmest crossings; winter is clearest but cold, and easterly winds close the seamounts year-round.
Know before you go
- The north-west boulder field is extensive and disorienting; without the guide's route it is easy to surface away from the boat.
- The sand bottom at 27 m off the south face makes it easy to drift deeper than planned while following fish along the rock.
- Moderate current shifts with wind and swell on an offshore rock; hold to the crest and use the line for ascent.
Dive videos
Cabo de Palos - Bajo de Piles II · Angel Manso on YouTube
Meros en el Bajo de Piles II. Cabo de Palos. 02-08-2025 · jfgildepareja on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is Bajo de Piles?+
The crest of the rock averages 12 to 15 m and the highest point is shallower. The deepest ground on the normal dive is the sand bottom off the south face at 27 m.
Is Bajo de Piles suitable for less experienced divers?+
The local centre calls it a safe, calm dive of simple to medium level and runs different routes according to the group's experience, but it is still a guided boat dive inside a reserve with moderate current.
What will I see at Bajo de Piles?+
Groupers are the draw, small ones and large ones both, concentrated on the rock formation on the north-west side. The site also holds a large number of moray eels, with scorpionfish and pollack, and pelagic species passing over the spine.
Sources
- Bajo de Piles II Marine Reserve — SSI MyDiveGuide
- Where do we dive? — Centro de Buceo Islas Hormigas
- Cape Palos — Wikipedia
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