Tabarca & Santa Pola · Spain · Reef
Galera
Remains of Tabarca's old tuna traps among grottoes and sand
An islet on Tabarca's south face, between Escull Negre and Escull Roig, where the seabed breaks into sand clearings, seagrass and grottoes down to 14 m. Groupers hide in the caves, butterfly rays rest on the sand, and the remains of the island's old tuna traps lie on the bottom.
Also known as Islote de la Galera.
Where it is and how deep
38.1615° N, 0.4749° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Galera is an islet on the south face of Tabarca, between Escull Negre and Escull Roig. The islet is a special protection area for birds, so visitors stay off its land. Under water the dive reaches 14 m over a seabed of sand, Posidonia seagrass and rock, shaped into wide clearings of sand between the seagrass and a scattering of grottoes and caves.
The grottoes and caves shelter groupers, while large butterfly rays rest on the patches of white sand alongside torpedo rays, gobies and soles. The remains of the old almadrabas, the fixed tuna traps once set in this zone, are a particular feature of the dive: tuna fishing was the economic mainstay of the island for many years.
Marine life and season
- Groupers
| 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.
Sources
- Buceo - Vadum Maris — Vadum Maris
- la Galera (OpenStreetMap) — OpenStreetMap contributors
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