Spain
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Where to dive in Spain
Balearic Islands
Mediterranean Sea
TEMPERATURE13°C - 27°CVISIBILITY10 - 35 m
Cabo de Gata
Mediterranean Sea
TEMPERATURE14°C - 26°CVISIBILITY10 - 35 m
Cabo de Palos
Mediterranean Sea
TEMPERATURE13°C - 27°CVISIBILITY10 - 30 m
Canary Islands
Atlantic Ocean
TEMPERATURE18°C - 25°CVISIBILITY20 - 40 m
La Herradura
Mediterranean Sea
TEMPERATURE14°C - 27°CVISIBILITY15 - 35 m
Medes Islands
Mediterranean Sea
TEMPERATURE13°C - 26°CVISIBILITY15 - 30 m
Top species 15
- Unlikely
- Likely
- Very likely
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsAngelshark
Squatina squatina
The Angelshark is a flat-bodied shark resembling a ray, with broad pectoral fins. It is primarily found on sandy seabeds and is well-adapted for camouflage, making it a successful ambush predator.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsBrown Meagre
Sciaena umbra
The Brown Meagre, Sciaena umbra, is a nocturnal fish found primarily in the coastal waters of the Mediterranean and the eastern Atlantic. It is known for its distinctive sound production, which it uses for communication and navigation at night.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsCommon Dentex
Dentex dentex
The Common Dentex is a species of sea bream known for its blue hue and powerful jaws lined with sharp teeth. Often found in coastal and reef areas, they are carnivorous and hunt during the day in small groups.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsCommon Eagle Ray
Myliobatis aquila
The Common Eagle Ray is known for its long tail and wing-like pectoral fins. It typically inhabits coastal and coral reef environments and is often seen swimming in small groups. This species feeds primarily on mollusks and crustaceans.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsCommon Octopus
Octopus vulgaris
The Common Octopus is known for its intelligence and distinctive round body with eight arms. It inhabits coastal waters and exhibits remarkable adaptability to various environments.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsCommon Stingray
Dasyatis pastinaca
The Common Stingray plumes the sand with quick puffs of water to flush out hidden crabs and clams, then pins them with its wings before gulping them down. When it wants to disappear, it flicks a thin layer of sand over its back, leaving just the eyes and tail tip showing.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsDusky Grouper
Epinephelus marginatus
Each dusky grouper displays an intricate arrangement of pale markings across its face and around its eyes as distinct as a human fingerprint, allowing researchers to identify individual fish over decades without invasive tagging. To communicate and startle potential intruders, they can also contract specialized sonic muscles against their gas-filled swim bladder to generate resonant, low-frequency underwater booms.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsEuropean Conger Eel
Conger conger
The European Conger Eel is one of the largest eels, reaching lengths over 3 meters. It is primarily nocturnal and hunts small fish and invertebrates near reefs and ocean bottoms.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsGreater Amberjack
Seriola dumerili
The Greater Amberjack is a large, fast-swimming fish found in subtropical and tropical waters around the world. It is recognized for its streamlined body, distinctive lateral lines, and dark stripes that run from the nose to the dorsal fin.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsMediterranean Moray
Muraena helena
The Mediterranean Moray is a large eel commonly found in rocky coastal areas of the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic Ocean. It has a long, serpentine body with dark coloration and often hides in crevices during the day, emerging at night to hunt for fish and invertebrates.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsMediterranean Parrotfish
Sparisoma cretense
The Mediterranean Parrotfish is known for its bright colors and parrot-like beak. It inhabits the rocky coasts and reefs of the Mediterranean Sea, feeding primarily on algae.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsPearly Razorfish
Xyrichtys novacula
The Pearly Razorfish shoots headfirst into loose sand like a thrown knife, vanishing in a puff whenever danger looms. Males gather bits of shell and coral to build small nest mounds and court nearby females over them each breeding season.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsRed Scorpionfish
Scorpaena scrofa
The Red Scorpionfish hides in plain sight, its skin frills and mottled reds breaking up its outline so prey drifts close without noticing. When it breeds, it releases a pair of clear, jelly-like egg "balloons" that rise toward the surface and drift with the currents until the larvae hatch.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsWhite-Spotted Octopus
Callistoctopus macropus
The White-Spotted Octopus hunts like a slow-moving net, spreading its thin web over rocks and seagrass, then feeling underneath with its long arms to scoop up hidden crabs and small fish. It can fade its spots or pulse them brighter in a heartbeat, a quick light show that startles prey and helps it slip back into the dappled night.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsYellowmouth Barracuda
Sphyraena viridensis
The Yellowmouth Barracuda often forms tight summertime schools that work together to push baitfish toward steep drop-offs, then dart in with sudden bursts of speed. At other times it hangs almost motionless in the water, shadowing larger fish—or curious divers—before flashing away in a blur.
BEST SEASON
More marine life 42
Almaco JackSeriola rivoliana
Atlantic LizardfishSynodus saurus
Atlantic Spotted DolphinStenella frontalis
Atlantic TrumpetfishAulostomus strigosus
BarracudaSphyraena spp.
Basking SharkCetorhinus maximus
Black DurgonMelichthys niger
Black MorayMuraena augusti
Black ScorpionfishScorpaena porcus
Bluefin TunaThunnus thynnus
Bryde's WhaleBalaenoptera edeni
Common Bottlenose DolphinTursiops truncatus
Common CuttlefishSepia officinalis
Common Spider CrabMaja brachydactyla
Common SquidLoligo vulgaris
European LobsterHomarus gammarus
European Spiny LobsterPalinurus elephas
Flying GurnardDactylopterus volitans
ForkbeardPhycis phycis
Fried Egg JellyfishCotylorhiza tuberculata
Garden EelHeterocongrinae
Gilt-head BreamSparus aurata
GlasseyeHeteropriacanthus cruentatus
Gray TriggerfishBalistes capriscus
Green Sea TurtleChelonia mydas
Island GrouperMycteroperca fusca
John DoryZeus faber
Loggerhead Sea TurtleCaretta caretta
Marbled Electric RayTorpedo marmorata
Mediterranean slipper lobsterScyllarides latus
Noble Pen ShellPinna nobilis
Ocean SunfishMola mola
Ornate WrasseThalassoma pavo
Sargassum TriggerfishXanthichthys ringens
Scarlet-Striped Cleaner ShrimpLysmata grabhami
Scrawled FilefishAluterus scriptus
Sergeant MajorAbudefduf saxatilis
Smalltooth Sand Tiger SharkOdontaspis ferox
Spiny Butterfly RayGymnura altavela
Spot-fin PorcupinefishDiodon hystrix
Spotfin BurrfishChilomycterus reticulatus
Striped Red MulletMullus surmuletus
Explore Spain on the map
Frequently asked questions about Spain
What are the best dive destinations in Spain?
Spain has 6 dive destinations, including Balearic Islands, Cabo de Gata, Cabo de Palos, Canary Islands, La Herradura, and Medes Islands.
When is the best time to dive in Spain?
It depends on where you dive in Spain: Balearic Islands from May to September, Cabo de Gata from June to September, Cabo de Palos from May to October, Canary Islands from June to September, and La Herradura from May to September.
What marine life can you see diving in Spain?
Divers can encounter 57 species in Spain. Highlights include Angelshark, Brown Meagre, Common Dentex, Common Eagle Ray, Common Octopus, and Common Stingray.
When can you see the Angelshark in Spain?
The Angelshark is most often seen in Spain from April to September.
When can you see the Common Dentex in Spain?
The Common Dentex is most often seen in Spain from April to November.
When can you see the Common Eagle Ray in Spain?
The Common Eagle Ray is most often seen in Spain from June to September.
What is the water temperature in Spain?
Water temperature in Spain ranges from 13°C to 27°C through the year.
What wetsuit do I need to dive in Spain?
The water across Spain ranges from 13°C to 27°C, so pack anything from a 3 mm wetsuit to a 7 mm semi-dry or a drysuit depending on the site and the season.
What is the visibility like when diving in Spain?
Visibility in Spain ranges from 10 m to 40 m. The clearest water is found at Canary Islands.
What can you see on a night dive in Spain?
After dark, Spain reveals nocturnal species such as Angelshark, Brown Meagre, Common Octopus, European Conger Eel, Mediterranean Moray, and Red Scorpionfish.
Every answer is built from the conditions and sightings data we keep for Spain. Spotted something that looks off?
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