Mallorca · Spain · Wall · Reef
Cala Vinyes
Rocky walls, sand and small caves in 5 to 20 m of calm water
Photo: frankblacknoir · CC BY-SA 3.0
Cala Vinyes is a calm cove on Mallorca's southwest coast with rocky walls, sandy patches and small caves between 5 and 20 m. It is a straightforward dive for beginners and intermediate divers, with damselfish and bream over the rock, moray eels and octopus in the holes, occasional groupers, and sponges and Posidonia seagrass meadows on the bottom.
Where it is and how deep
39.4971° N, 2.5357° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
Depths run from 5 to 20 m. Cala Vinyes is described as a calm and scenic site with clear water and gentle currents, and the structure is a mix of rocky walls, sandy patches and small caves, so the route goes along the base of the walls, across the sand and into the mouths of the small caves in turn, with the whole dive sitting inside a beginner profile.
Damselfish and bream are over the rock throughout, moray eels and octopus sit in the holes along the walls, and groupers are seen occasionally. The sand and the shallower rock carry sponges and Posidonia seagrass meadows, which is where much of the smaller life is, so the dive is as much about looking closely at the bottom as it is about the walls, and the shallow end of the site gives an easy place to finish.
Marine life and season
- Octopus & cuttlefish
- Groupers
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Off-season |
Season follows Mallorca: One Santa Ponça centre runs daily April–October and weekends only Nov–Mar; May–Sep brings the calmest seas and warmest water, with leisure-boat traffic in the bays at the height of summer.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Cala Vinyes?+
Depths range from 5 to 20 m over rocky walls, sandy patches and small caves, which is why the site is listed as ideal for beginners and intermediate divers.
What will I see at Cala Vinyes?+
Damselfish, bream, moray eels, octopus and occasional groupers, with sponges and Posidonia seagrass meadows on the bottom.
Sources
- Cala Vinyes — Scubago
Photo credits
- Aerial view of the rocky, pine-covered headland of Cala Vinyes dropping into clear turquoise water by frankblacknoir, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
More dive sites in Mallorca
Wall
Overhangs and rock walls to 20 m, good for finding octopus
A 30 m tunnel through the cliffs from 6 m, plus a cavern with an air bubble
A plateau below the lighthouse with barracuda, groupers and cuttlefish
Reef
Rocky plateaus and small caves stepping from 8 m down to 30 m
Wreck
A small boat at 18 m with mast and boxes intact, two more hulls at 27 m
Cavern entrances at 8 m, with shrimps, lobsters and snake starfish inside
Reef
Tunnels through the rock, a small wreck and a plane wing between 6 and 35 m
Wreck
Four of Mallorca's largest wrecks together at 28 m off Palma harbour
Similar dives elsewhere
A reserve wall to 20 m with a small arch full of life
A sheltered 17 m wall behind Punta Madonna used as a natural pool for courses
An orange Astroides wall with grottos, 6 to 21 m
The park's best-known walls, and a cave with an air pocket