Diving in Jávea: dive sites, the marine reserve and dive schools

Why is Jávea a good place to dive?

Because the rocky shore under the headlands continues below the surface as reef and seagrass, so there is a spot for every level. PADI counts more than six regular dive sites in the marine reserve at Cap de Sant Antoni, at depths between 7 and 20 metres, suitable for beginners, intermediate and experienced divers.

The seabed differs from site to site: sand and rock lie beneath the cliffs and lighthouse of Cap de Sant Antoni, boulders with seagrass on the north side of the island off Portitxol, and open water at Punta Portitxol. Part of the coast has also been protected since the 1990s, with rules set out further on in this article.

Where do you dive around Jávea?

The dive centres name a handful of regular sites along the Jávea coast, with maximum depths of roughly 15 to 22 metres. Most suit all levels, and the calmest are ideal for beginners. All depths and levels below are indications from the centres, not fixed values.

Diving Javea describes the following overview. Cap de Sant Antoni: down to 20 metres, sand and rock beneath the cliffs and the lighthouse on the cape. Tango Bay: down to 20 metres, a reasonably safe dive for beginners. San Martín north: down to 22 metres, good for all levels. San Martín south: down to 22 metres, a safe and sheltered spot for beginners. Payés: around 15 metres, a very calm and easy dive. The north side of the island at Portitxol: around 15 metres, with boulders and seagrass. Punta Portitxol: down to 22 metres, open water where rays and sunfish are seen.

Other centres use other names, such as Piscinas de Neptuno, Cueva de la Virgen and Pared Negra. Of L'Escull, one centre says you often meet large octopuses, barracuda, groupers and moray eels there. No fixed depths are confirmed for these sites, so ask the centre where it is heading that day.

How does diving work in the marine reserve at Cap de Sant Antoni?

Diving in the marine reserve at Cap de Sant Antoni is allowed only with a permit, and the dive centres arrange that for their customers. You dive from a mooring buoy, you take nothing away and feed nothing, and taster dives or course exercises are not permitted in the reserve.

The area has been protected since the 1990s and is officially called the Reserva Marina de Interés Pesquero del Cabo de San Antonio. The rules are clear: a dive starts and ends at the buoy, anchoring is not allowed anywhere, angling and other forms of recreational fishing are prohibited, and night diving is not permitted. A daily quota also applies, so ask a centre well in advance about availability.

Anyone applying for a permit themselves, without a centre, needs among other things an official certification, insurance and at least 25 dives of experience. For most visitors, diving with a centre is the simplest route. A taster or course dive then takes place at a site outside the reserve.

What do you see underwater?

Mostly meadows of seagrass, rocks and the animals that live among them. Centres mention octopuses, moray eels, groupers, barracuda and sea bream, sometimes you see sunfish, and dolphins swim along the coast in spring and early summer. None of it is guaranteed: what you see depends on the site, the day and a good deal of luck.

The seagrass is posidonia, a plant that is legally protected in the Valencian region. It is forbidden to pick, cut, damage, pull up or destroy it, and anchoring over seagrass meadows without permission is also forbidden. As a diver you therefore keep your distance from the bottom and stay hovering above the seagrass.

When is the best diving season?

According to PADI, April, May and June are often the best time, as marine life is more active and there is less boat traffic. July and August are the high season, and September to November also offers excellent diving. Diving all year round is possible, as the centres publish year-round opening hours.

The sea averages around 15 degrees in winter, a little over 16 degrees in spring, about 25 degrees in summer and around 22 degrees in autumn. By law every diver must wear suitable thermal protection, which in practice means a wetsuit. Ask the centre which thickness suits the season, and which opening days it keeps.

Never dived before: taster dive or course?

If you want to try it first, choose a taster dive (Discover Scuba Diving); if you then want to dive independently, the Open Water course is the next step. According to PADI, a taster dive is possible from the age of 10 and goes to a maximum of 12 metres at sea. With an Open Water certification you dive to 18 metres.

The minimum age differs per centre: at one school it is 8, at another 10 or 12. So check beforehand if you are coming with children. The Open Water course consists of four sea dives, usually spread over two days. Under the age of 15 the certification is called Junior Open Water.

On a taster dive, Spanish law requires the instructor to supervise one learner at a time. You fill in a medical questionnaire beforehand, as a health declaration is compulsory even for a taster dive. If you answer yes to any question, a doctor's statement is needed.

Which dive school should you choose in Jávea?

Several dive schools in Jávea have strong reviews from visitors, so the choice depends mainly on what you are looking for. Buceo Cabo la Nao and Mardays are in the Marina Nou Fontana, Four Divers on the Avenida de la Fontana and Diving Javea on the road to Portitxol, each with its own profile: from a first taster dive to cave diving.

Buceo Cabo la Nao has been operating since 1995 and teaches SSI courses. Visitors rate the centre highly, although a few mention that it can feel rushed at times. Mardays holds PADI 5 Star IDC status and works in English and Spanish. According to its own website a minimum of four participants applies per activity, so ask when booking what that means for a smaller party.

Four Divers is a PADI-certified centre and gives a minimum age of 8 on its own site. Diving Javea teaches IANTD and SSI courses and is the centre for anyone who also wants to try caves or technical diving. We deliberately do not give prices here, as they vary by season.

Whichever school you choose, ask three questions: how large is the group, in which language will you be briefed, and what equipment is included.

What should you bring and what should you watch out for?

Bring your certification card and make sure you have dive insurance: by law every diver must have accident and liability insurance. Recreational diving in Spain is limited to a maximum of 40 metres and always in a pair at the very least. Also, do not plan a flight straight after your last dive.

The centres ask for an internationally recognised certification, for example from SSI or PADI. For flying, Divers Alert Network gives as a guideline waiting at least 12 hours after a single no-decompression dive, at least 18 hours after multiple dives or after several days of diving, and considerably longer after a dive that required decompression. So when planning your last day of diving, count back from your flight home.

And if you would rather stay above water?

Then a kayak trip from Cala de la Granadella is the nearest alternative: you see the rocky coast from the water, paddle to a sea cave and stop on the way to snorkel. You do not need a certification for that.

If you want a day without equipment, you can simply head to one of the beaches, such as the Arenal. Everything about that trip is in our guide to kayaking at Granadella.