Santander & Isla de Mouro · Spain · Wall · Pelagic & blue water
El Bálamo
Open-sea ridge walls where tuna and shoals of sardines pass by
El Bálamo is an underwater ridge several kilometres long on the open Cantabrian Sea, named by Cantabrian fishermen for a fishing bank, usually of sardines. It is a demanding open-sea dive along walls cut by large cavities, with pelagic life passing in the blue, and it is only for experienced divers used to strong current and to decompression.
Also known as Bálamo, Balamo.
Where it is and how deep
No published position for this site — the map shows Santander & Isla de Mouro and its other sites; operators know the mooring.
The dive
Depths on the ridge range from 22 to 60 m, and the dive follows its walls, which are cut by enormous cavities. Broken nets lie across the bottom, so the route keeps close to the wall rather than out over the floor. Out in open water the life is pelagic: tuna, schools of sea bass, big shoals of horse mackerel and sardines, and with luck a dolphin.
Marine life and season
- Tuna
- Reef fish swarms
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Santander & Isla de Mouro: Boats run from late April to late October; April to September is the best stretch, and visibility can pass 15 m in spring and summer.
Know before you go
- Strong currents are usual on the ridge, and decompression is a certainty on this dive.
- Broken fishing nets are scattered across the whole bottom; staying close to the wall keeps divers clear of them.
Dive videos
Buceando en "El Bálamo". · Buceo Cantabria Abisal on YouTube
Sources
- Bajos y Cabezos - Mourosub — Mourosub
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