Cabo de Palos-Islas Hormigas Marine Reserve

Spain

A marine reserve off Cabo de Palos (Murcia), established in 1995 around a submerged rocky ridge extending from the cape to the Islas Hormigas islets, rated among the top dive destinations in Europe.

Created in 1995, the reserve protects a submerged rocky spine running northeast from Cabo de Palos to the Islas Hormigas, noted for Posidonia oceanica meadows and fish populations; area figures vary by agency (roughly 1,898-1,931 ha per the regional government). Notable named dive sites include Piles I and II, Bajo de Dentro, Bajo de la Testa and Bajo de Fuera, the latter site of the wrecks of the Sirio, Nord America and Minerva. Source: es.wikipedia.org, CARM, mapa.gob.es.