Costa Blanca · Spain · Wall · Reef
El Tazón
A sea-cut bowl in the Peñón to 35 m where amberjack and barracuda gather
Area photo: diego_cue · CC BY-SA 3.0
A bowl in the foot of the Peñón de Ifach at Calpe, carved out of the rock by the sea, with a maximum depth of 35 m. It is the deepest of the Peñón dives and the part of the rock where the larger fish congregate: barracuda, big schools of sea bream and amberjack, with streaked gurnard on the bottom and, for the lucky, the occasional sunfish.
Where it is and how deep
38.6309° N, 0.0838° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
El Tazón, the Bowl, is a section of the Peñón's base that the sea has hollowed into the shape of a soup bowl, with the deepest point at 35 m. That figure sets the character of the dive: it is the deepest of the Peñón sites, so the profile is planned around a limited time at the bottom rather than a long tour, and the guide sets how far round the bowl the group goes before turning back up the rock.
The fish are the reason to go: this is the part of the rock where the larger fish congregate. Barracuda, big schools of sea bream and amberjack are the regular sightings, streaked gurnard are on the bottom, and sunfish turn up sometimes, for the lucky, rather than on every dive. Keep an eye on depth and gas while watching them: the bowl floor is 35 m, and the safety stop is made on the shallower rock at the end of the dive.
Marine life and season
- Barracuda
- Trevally & jacks
- Mola mola
- Reef fish swarms
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Costa Blanca: Dived all year, but the water sits near 14 °C from January to March and the season is treated as starting in spring; peak-season boat traffic closes some cave surfacing.
Know before you go
- The floor of the bowl sits at 35 m: plan the bottom time before dropping in and start the ascent with a healthy reserve rather than chasing fish at depth.
Questions divers ask
How deep is El Tazón?+
The bowl reaches a maximum depth of 35 m, which makes it the deepest of the Peñón de Ifach dives and one for divers certified to that depth.
What can I see at El Tazón?+
Barracuda, big schools of sea bream, amberjack and streaked gurnard are the regular sightings, and sunfish are seen occasionally.
Sources
- El Tazón - Scubago — Scubago
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