Cabo de Palos, Murcia, Spain

Naranjito Wreck

The Naranjito, named after its cargo of oranges, is one of the most popular wreck dives on Spain's Mediterranean coast. The Spanish merchant ship Sirio had been afundada in 1946 carrying Valencia oranges destined for northern Europe and rests on its starboard side on a sand bottom between 30 and 42 metres. The 70 metre hull is intact enough that the deck, bridge and cargo holds remain recognisable, draped in encrusting sponges, yellow cup coral and small gorgonia. The structure is a magnet for marine life and frequently shelters dense shoals of cardinalfish, resident dusky groupers, large conger eels, lobsters and scorpionfish, while the open water around the wreck attracts barracuda, amberjack and bonito. Visibility ranges from 15 to 30 metres depending on conditions. Because of depth and the protected status of the reserve, the dive is advanced only and penetration is not allowed. The Cabo de Palos and Hormigas Islands marine reserve, declared in 1995, is one of the best-recovered fish populations of the western Mediterranean and a benchmark for the regional government of Murcia. Water temperature ranges from 14 C in February to 26 C in August. Dive operators are concentrated in the village of Cabo de Palos at the tip of the Mar Menor lagoon and access to the reserve is regulated by daily quotas on the most popular sites such as Bajo de Fuera and the Naranjito wreck.