Cave diving in the Costa Cálida

From easy dives to highly technical and dangerous cave excursions in the Region of Murcia

Underwater access to caves is one of the special experiences shared by those in the diving community, and in the Region of Murcia there are numerous opportunities ranging from relatively simple excursions to the highly technical and dangerous cavern system of the Cueva del Agua in Isla Plana.

As ever with cave diving, all them should be undertaken with guidance from those who know the location well: click here for a pdf of registered dive centres in the Costa Cálida.

The Cueva del Agua in Isla Plana

This has been described as being one of the most dangerous cave diving venues in Spain, and a series of incidents and accidents have left various dead over the last 25 years, but at the same time it acts as a magnet to cave diving specialists.

For many years access to the cave was fenced off, but over the last decade or so there has been increased activity and now there is even an information board outside. However, the most important information is the following: don’t even consider attempting to explore the cavern system inside without proper equipment, a lot of experience in cave diving and a knowledgeable guide!

The cave system is actually an aquifer which in normal conditions is filled with thermal water, but at present it is “in recession” and much of the water inside is brine: there is no open access to the Mediterranean, but the seawater filters in through tiny fissures in the rock.

There are known to be at least 3.6 kilometres of caverns and galleries to explore, but this is no stroll in the park: this is serious underground caving and diving, the water is slightly acidic, and there are warnings that none of the air trapped in pockets is completely safe to breathe. Some of the areas opened up by divers have been given names like the “gallery of terror”, and in one of the air pockets, while the O2 level has been recorded at a healthy 20.8 per cent, the temperature is 28.4 degrees and relative humidity is 98 per cent.

In another pocket the oxygen level drops to 15 per cent: add to this the fact that the water inside can quickly become cloudy, and it becomes clear that this cave system, which descends to a depth of 21 metres, is to be treated as out of bounds for all but the most technically proficient divers.

The entrance of the Cueva del Agua is just metres from the RM-E22 road which takes vehicles from Puerto de Mazarrón to Cartagena via the more coastal of the two overland routes available.

Cueva de la Loberica in Cabo Tiñoso

Officially labelled CT-11, this is a narrow cave which climbs up to a small window in the rock face looking out over an open cavern. Inside are crustaceans and fragile coral formations, providing wonderful photo opportunities, but this is a difficult dive and great care must be taken not to disturb the sediment on the floor, obscuring the exit.

Cueva La Herradura in Cabo Tiñoso

Catalogued as CT-12, this cave is a grotto complex perfect for recreational diving, with wide entrances at depths of 12 and 23 metres. However, further progress is open only to certified divers, who are able to penetrate as far as spectacular lunar landscapes.

The Cueva de los Enamorados in Cabo Tiñoso

Known as the “lovers’ cave”, this is one of the finest dives in the marine reserve of Cabo Tiñoso, and is easily entered close to the site of El Arco at a depth of only 2.5 metres. After only a couple of minutes divers enter a small chamber containing stalactites, stalagmites, columns and other magical cave formations.

Cueva del Lago or Cueva del Arco in Cabo Tiñoso

More than a dive, this might be referred to as a trip to the heart of the mountain!

Entering via a 7-metre tunnel at a depth of 4.5 metres, divers emerge into a cavern where they shed their gear and walk with lanterns for around 5 minutes to an underground lake where freshwater and seawater mix. This makes for a unique dip before returning to the outside world!

Cueva de la Ovaza

This is a small but very attractive cave system within the marine reserve of Cabo Tiñoso, with the different caverns connected by narrow tunnels and passageways. The entrance is not complicated and diving conditions are not over-testing for experienced visitors.

Cueva de la Virgen in La Azohía

This cave was originally known as La Morada de Neptuno (the home of Neptune), and consists of an enormous cavern accessed by a wide tunnel.

Inside is a world of shadows created by sunlight entering from above, and there is even a giant palm tree and a fig tree! Among the discoveries made in the Cueva de la Virgen are the fossilized remains of pre-historic sharks and rock formations not seen anywhere else along the Cartagena coastline.

Cueva de la Virgen in Águilas

Almost entirely protected from marine currents, this location is home to various wrecks, including those of the Ana María and the Nueva Mi Teresa along with the tail of an aircraft, all of them at a depth of around 25 metres. The entrance to a 7-metre-long tunnel lies at a depth of 12 metres.

The Mi Teresa was sunk in 1999 to a depth of 29 metres, and is now home to eels and saddled and white sea bream.