Cabo de Palos, Murcia, Spain

El Bajo de Piles

El Bajo de Piles is a smaller and shallower pinnacle just inshore of the Bajo de Fuera giant, in the same Cabo de Palos reserve. The summit is at 18 metres and the rocky shoulders descend to 38 metres on a sand floor. Because the site is closer to the coast and partly sheltered by the larger seamount, currents are normally weaker and conditions are appropriate for advanced open water and intermediate divers. The fish life carries the typical reserve density: large dusky groupers and brown meagre on the ledges, schools of dentex and white seabream around the summit, octopus, scorpionfish and conger eels in the cracks, and frequent passes of amberjack and barracuda in the blue. The walls hold small red and yellow gorgonia, encrusting sponges and pockets of red coral. With visibility regularly above 25 metres, El Bajo de Piles is a favourite second dive after Bajo de Fuera or as a stand-alone site.