Tabarca & Santa Pola · Spain · Reef
Escull Negre
Big groupers in the corridor between two rocks, all within 14 m
Two large rocks off Tabarca's south coast, one breaking the surface and one submerged, with a busy corridor between them in the inner waters of the reserve. The dive stays within 14 m over sand, seagrass and rock, and draws photographers for its groupers, barracuda schools and small life.
Also known as Escollo Negro.
Where it is and how deep
38.1611° N, 0.4767° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Escull Negre is a pair of large rocks off the island's south coast, with a corridor between them that is crowded with life. The larger, black rock stands a few metres clear of the surface, while its smaller twin stays submerged, and the dive reaches a maximum of 14 m. The seabed alternates between sand, Posidonia and Cymodocea seagrass meadows and rock, and the water is usually clear with plenty of light.
Large groupers are the main draw, with giant butterfly rays, long schools of barracuda, gilthead bream, sea bass, dentex, slipper lobsters, nudibranchs, scorpionfish, octopus, morays and torpedo rays. At times schools of tuna race through, chasing shoals of bogue. The mix of big fish and small life makes the site a favourite with photographers and with divers who like to watch the behaviour of small creatures.
Marine life and season
- Groupers
- Barracuda
- Tuna
- Nudibranchs
- Octopus & cuttlefish
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Fair |
Season follows Tabarca & Santa Pola: The sea averages 14 °C in February, the coldest month, and 26 °C in August, the warmest.
Dive videos
TABARCA (ALICANTE) ESCULL NEGRE 28 06 2020 · LA SAL DIVING CENTER ALICANTE on YouTube
Sources
- Buceo - Vadum Maris — Vadum Maris
- Escull Negre - Scubago — Scubago
More dive sites in Tabarca & Santa Pola
Artificial reef
Anti-trawling concrete blocks turned into a 24 m reef
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Sheltered 8 m dive among rocks full of small, photogenic life
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Remains of Tabarca's old tuna traps among grottoes and sand
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A 50 m rock on a migration route, with schools of large groupers
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Stone arches and caves in clear, bright water to 14 m
Wall
A conger with cleaner shrimps in an old fishing boat's stern tube
Similar dives elsewhere
Stone columns and statues at 9 m in a shallow training bay
An 8 to 12 m plateau where big barracuda schools pass over nudibranch-rich rock
Two sea-carved amphitheatres joined over the top of a wall
Orange sponges, groupers and octopuses in a bay dived by day and night