Costa Blanca · Spain · Reef · Wall
Isla del Descubridor
Two faces of a rocky islet: boulders to 26 m, Posidonia shallows and barracuda shoals
Area photo: diego_cue · CC BY-SA 3.0
An elongated, entirely rocky islet of 2.5 ha on the southern side of Cabo de la Nao, dived by boat on its north and south faces as two separate dives. The north face runs from boulders down to sand with a Posidonia meadow in the shallows and a maximum depth of 26 m; the south face is the side for nudibranchs and a fair chance of a big shoal of barracuda.
Also known as Isla Descubridor Norte, Isla Descubridor Sur, Discovery Island.
Where it is and how deep
38.7276° N, 0.2171° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
The north face is the deeper of the two dives, with a maximum depth of 26 m. The bottom changes as you go: rock and boulder formations near the islet give way to sand further out, and the shallow part of the dive runs over a Posidonia garden. Rays, scorpionfish, octopus, moray eels, damselfish and conger eels are the regular sightings on this side.
The south face, catalogued as a separate site, has no published depth of its own. It is the side for smaller subjects: lots of scorpionfish, octopus, nudibranchs, moray and conger eels in the rock, with a fair chance of a big shoal of barracuda in the water above. The two faces are dived as separate sites, so which one you get is set by the boat's plan on the day.
Marine life and season
- Octopus & cuttlefish
- Nudibranchs
- Barracuda
| 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.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Isla del Descubridor?+
The north face has a maximum depth of 26 m, with a Posidonia meadow on the shallow part of the dive. No separate depth is published for the south face.
Can you dive Isla del Descubridor from shore?+
The islet is entirely rocky and almost unapproachable, so both the north and south faces are dived by boat, even though it lies very close to Granadella beach.
Sources
- Isla Descubridor Norte - Scubago — Scubago
- Isla Descubridor Sur - Scubago — Scubago
More dive sites in Costa Blanca
Wall
Shoals of sargo over fallen boulders, with old fishing-boat debris at 26 m
Wall
A sea-cut bowl in the Peñón to 35 m where amberjack and barracuda gather
Reef
A maze of fallen-boulder arches at 15 m, crusted with sponges and anemones
Cave & cavern
A 50 m training cavern at 17 m, 15 minutes from Moraira port
Cave & cavern
Barracuda at the cave corner and an open chamber to surface in, off-season
Wall
Four ledges at 5, 8, 14 and 18 m, then back up the far side of the wall
Passages of light between enormous boulders, white gorgonians throughout
Light-filled entrance caverns at 15 m, one leading into a 2 km cave
Similar dives elsewhere
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A drop-off from about 10 m to 33 m, then a seagrass bed
Two dives in one cove: 20 m to the west, canyons to the east
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