Menorca is a diver’s dream, not least because it has a more low-key reputation than its more popular sisters, Mallorca (you may know it as Majorca) and Ibiza. You know what that means: less crowds, less competition for space, and a little more peace and tourist-less quiet. It’s located in the Mediterranean, one of the Balearic Islands belonging to Spain. As a result, most residents speak Catalan or Spanish.
More than a quiet space with endless beaches, Menorca offers attractive prospects for diving. Here are 5 ways to make the most of diving in Menorca.
Take Your PADI Courses in Menorca
Where better to take your diving courses than in Menorca itself? The incredibly clear water is known to have visibility of up to 30 meters, so even on a shallow beginner’s dive you can experience coral reefs, schools of fish, and that brilliant ocean color all around you. Whether you have zero diving experience or you’re just running a refresher course, there’s no better place to go.
Deep Diving Certification
You will want to bring this certification to Menorca (or take the qualifying course here!). We especially encourage this for our wreck dives. One of the most popular is the Ocean Diver wreck, sitting at an average depth of 27 meters. This confiscated tobacco smuggler was converted into an artificial reef where many groupers and lizardfish gather.
Another challenging dive is the Francesquita, at a diving depth of 39 to 50 meters. It requires some experience, a deep divers certification, and is a full decompression dive. If you’re up to it, don’t miss out on this one! She is an actual wreck, holed by an underwater rock and now sitting on a sandy bottom. No ghosts though–100% of the crew was saved.
Cavern Diving Certification
Menorca has some of the most thrilling underwater cavern networks for divers. Bring or take your cavern diving certification, so you won’t miss out on what Menorca has to offer. Make sure you already have your Open Water certification (unless of course you’re planning to take that diving course in Menorca).
Two good places to start out are the Illa Tirant and Es racó des Llamp. Illa Tirant starts with a canyon entrance that you can use to explore more canyons and caverns in adequate light. Es racó des Llamp, on the other hand, requires a torch to properly explore, which adds another dimension to the experience.
Choose the Right Season to Dive
Like with many other diving sites, you have a choice: more tourists, warmer temperatures, calmer water? Or less tourists, cooler temperatures, rougher water? Peak diving season lasts from April to October, July and August being High season. By the end of August, some rainfall and storms may interrupt your plans.
From July to September, the warmest the sea will become is around 80 degrees. The winter sea temperature is a steady 64 degrees. Make the most of diving in Menorca by choosing the conditions (both weather conditions and tourist conditions) that suit you the best.
Bring a Good Underwater Camera
With visibility of up to 30 meters, the opportunities for photography can be limitless. A small underwater torch can even help you light up small cracks and caverns so you won’t miss anything. Drift walls, cavern sides, natural reef formations all create dramatic frames to the eels, barracuda, lizardfish, octopi, and many more. You will fully enjoy capturing the experience no matter where you dive.
Make the Most of Diving in Menorca
What’s the point of entering a great dive site if you can’t make the most of it? With these 5 tips, we hope you can experience everything Menorca has to offer to divers.
