Diving in Mallorca

The SW Calvià coast defines the Mallorca dive agenda. Off this shoreline, the Reserva Marina de les Illes del Ponent has been recovering fish populations since 2004. At Isla del Toro, dusky groupers approach to arm's length at 15-20m on a slope protected from fishing pressure for over two decades; at the Malgrats islands, barracuda schools patrol an exposed headland wall to 35m. A ten-minute boat crossing from Sant Elm brings divers to Sa Dragonera's island reserve: a second protected ecosystem with a varied perimeter running from beginner-friendly north-cape shallows to a 50m wall at the south cape. These two reserves anchor most guided diving out of the SW.

The rest of the island divides by character. Palma harbour's four intentionally sunk cargo ships at 28-35m stand out in a Mediterranean context — large, penetrable hulls close to a city port. In Pollença bay, Cave of Jeronimo's stalactite air chamber, where divers surface beneath formations lit by blue-reflected light, is the definitive dive of the north. The Cap des Freu rock landscape and the La Mula submerged pinnacle in the NE concentrate big barracuda schools. Boulder-and-sand calas in the SE close the range with shore-entry dives and resident lobsters, stingrays and cuttlefish.

Balearic reserve diving requires a personal, non-transferable authorisation for each diver. Obtain one online before departure, or confirm with your operator that the fee is included in the dive price — most SW Calvià centres bundle it. The 2026 daily rate is 5.24 EUR; a weekly pass at 15.71 EUR makes sense for multiple reserve days. Five separate reserve perimeters touch Mallorca's coast, and the rules apply per perimeter only: sites outside all five need no permit at all.

El Toro and the Malgrats carry the most detailed capacity rules. El Toro runs six buoyed dive points with a cap of 12 divers per visit; the full island ceiling is around 290 divers per day. In July and August, popular morning slots book out — arrange through a centre and ask specifically about the dive point and the group size. Night diving is not permitted in the El Toro or Malgrats special zones.

Several local operators serve the island across five coastal hubs, from Santa Ponsa and Port Adriano in the SW through to Cala Ratjada in the NE and Portocolom in the SE. The Palma Bay wreck cluster requires no permit and is a year-round option for advanced divers.

Limestone coastline with sea caves, arches, tunnels and vertical walls; Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows in sheltered bays and coves