Costa Brava · Spain · Wreck

El Marmoler

Carrara marble still lying in the holds at 42 m

A real wreck rather than a scuttled one: a cargo ship that went down in 1971, probably in bad weather, with a load of Carrara marble that still lies in its holds. The hull is intact and standing at 42 m, bow pointing north and stern south, and the dive runs between 38 and 44 m at advanced level.

Where it is and how deep

Depths on a shared scale to 50 m (164 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

42.1031° N, 3.1918° EPublished position for this site.

The dive

This is a real wreck and was not expressly sunk, and it shows in the way it sits: the hull is intact and still standing at 42 m, at an awkward angle, with the bow portion pointing north and the stern south. The dive runs between 38 and 44 m, so it is short by definition, and the descent is normally made on a guide line the operator installs because visibility here is usually not very good.

In the holds is the cargo the site is named for — Carrara marble, still where it was loaded. The fauna over the wreck is what the operator calls extraordinarily abundant, large, and often hidden in the ship's openings: sunfish, lobster and big schools of fish. Visibility here is usually not good, and July and August are the months the operator singles out as the exception.

The wreck

Vessel: Unidentified marble carrier
Type: Cargo ship carrying Carrara marble
Sunk: 1971
Cause: Probably bad weather and other adverse conditions; not sunk on purpose
Lies: Hull intact and standing at 42 m at an awkward angle, bow north and stern south

The ship was carrying Carrara marble, which still lies in its holds and gives the site its name — el marmoler, the marble carrier. It sank in 1971, probably because of bad weather and other adverse conditions. The operator is explicit that this is a real wreck and was not expressly sunk, which is what separates it from the artificial reef further down this coast. None of the sources consulted names the vessel.

Marine life and season

Mola mola
Reef fish swarms
Macro critters

Month-by-month season rating for El Marmoler
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Fair	Fair

Season follows Costa Brava: Water runs from about 13 °C in February to 25 °C in July and August; no L'Escala centre publishes closing months, and the tramuntana can keep boats in port in any month.