The crystal clear waters around Ibiza are ideal for a snorkelling or diving holiday. Away from the party life, you can discover a new side of Ibiza by diving. Depending on your preference, there is the option of either exploring the shallower flats of the sea with snorkelling equipment or diving deep into the sea with scuba gear. Depending on the activity, you can experience and discover different adventures.
Snorkelling – the experience for beginners
The special thing about snorkelling is the little effort it requires. To see the beautiful nature under water, you don’t necessarily have to dive several metres deep. There is a colourful and fascinating world to discover just below the surface of the sea. You don’t need any previous knowledge, which makes this experience very special. Experienced guides, who often grew up in Ibiza, show the tourists remote places. They try to select areas that are not yet flooded with tourists. On Ibiza’s more than 200 kilometres of coastline, there is always an ideal spot with good conditions for snorkelling. Equipped with mask, snorkel and fins, you can then swim at the surface. If you wish, here are a few perfect places:
Platja de Cala Xarraca
The 90-metre-long bay offers crystal-clear water and also has a beautiful beach. It not only serves as an ideal place for snorkelling, but is also well-known as a photo motif. The picturesque bay is relatively hidden in the north of Ibiza. You can even snorkel to a small island called Sa Penya Grossa. For a bit of variety, there are cliffs on the left and right sides. A special feature is the mud bath to the left of the beach, which is said to have a healing effect. Due to its remote location, the bay is only accessible by car and there is no accommodation for tourists on site. A quiet holiday without masses of tourists is guaranteed here.
Cala d’en Serra
Cala d’en Serra is reached by a narrow and winding country road that leads through the unspoilt nature of Ibiza. To the northeast is the small bay of Cala d’en Serra. There is hardly any hustle and bustle in this bay either, which is perfect for snorkelling. You can rent sunbeds and umbrellas on the beach if you need a break after snorkelling. There is excellent snorkelling along the cliffs all the way out to the outer edge. You can also take a closer look at the rocks in the deeper water, as fish often hide here. Due to the remoteness, access is mainly by car.
Portinatx
This small fishing village in the north has picturesque coves that offer ideal conditions for snorkelling. The coves offer magnificent panoramic views, crystal clear water, rocky shores and a seabed of fine sand. Especially for beginners, the bays are perfect as they are protected from dangerous currents and strong surf. The seagrass beds alternating with the sandy bottom create an impressive underwater landscape. There is a lot to discover here. It is also possible to leave Cala Portinatx at the edge to discover more.
Diving – the adventure in the depths of the sea
Ibiza is known as the ideal place for diving. The long coastline and crystal clear waters attract divers from all over the world. Rock platforms, wrecks and underwater caves invite divers to explore and discover. Ibiza also has one of the largest concentrations of Neptune grass or Posidonia. This indicates that the water is particularly clean and clear. Posidonia has been of great importance to the ecosystem for 100,000 years, ensuring excellent water quality. The water temperatures range between 14° and 28°. So you can have underwater adventures in Ibiza all year round. Gliding through the clear waters of the island, you get the feeling of weightlessness that stays in your memory.
Ibiza stands out because there is no shortage of dive sites compared to other islands. It is the best place to start a diving adventure. Throughout Ibiza, there are different diving schools that offer every level. From absolute beginners, to advanced divers and those who want to become instructors themselves – there is something for everyone. You can sign up for specialised diving courses with equipment, which cost on average 200-300 euros. You can also book guided diving tours where the instructors show you the most beautiful spots in the water. This is especially suitable for beginners who have had little or no diving experience. On these tours you will always get help as soon as you have problems with the equipment or diving. Advanced divers can be taken out to sea by boat on other tours or dive trips and can dive more independently. The boat and the diving instructors always remain within reach, but here it is possible to explore nature by yourself. Professionals can also get their money’s worth on dives in Ibiza. For them, there are boat trips into deep water, where the level of difficulty is much higher. There are also opportunities to get a guided tour, but the focus here is mainly on being self-sufficient. Another option is private diving trips, which are designed individually for the client. The respective wishes and ideas are tried to be met as closely as possible. For divers with experience, a dive to the Don Pedro shipwreck, which is 47 metres deep on the seabed, is a good option. The breathtaking flora and fauna impressed the divers very much every time. Scorpion fish and moray eels are particularly easy to observe here. In addition, the Mariana offshore platform is a former fish farm. Today, various underwater creatures cavort around and can be admired.
For many, these tours are about the thrill and testing one’s limits. In contrast to snorkelling in bays, diving is a lot more elaborate. For one thing, you need more equipment to get air in the depths of the sea. Also, you have to go further out to sea by boat. Safety is guaranteed at all times during the excursions. If there is a problem, someone can always help the person concerned. Even in the rare cases where there are incidents with animals, the well-trained guides are there to help. However, most incidents happen due to overestimation and misjudgement of situations. To avoid this, one should approach the adventure calmly and responsibly at all times.
