Formentor Island

The island stands in front of Formentor beach, and the dive begins above the water: a big cave opens in the island's rock, in plain view from the boat. The route enters at about 6m on the island's wall and follows it down gradually to 18-20m, past moray eels and nudibranchs on the rock. At about 14m the wall opens into a large arch, and the way through is up: divers swim up and out through the big hole at the arch's top. The wall carries on, and on the way back the route finishes through a small hole known as the eye of the needle.

Barracuda in schools, octopuses, groupers, cuttlefish, squid, scorpionfish and schools of breams can be found along the wall.

The features that define this dive sit in the upper part of the wall. With the wall from 6m and the arch at 14m, both signature moves, the climb through the arch and the threading of the little hole on the way back, fall inside Open Water depth, while the run down to 18-20m is Advanced Open Water ground. Passing the arch means changing direction, an ascent in the middle of a descent profile, and meeting the closing hole on the return keeps the route and the guide's plan in play from entry to exit.

The dive is run by boat, and the big cave in the island's rock is the landmark from the water. The closing passage is a small hole, met on the return route. Current is reported at the exposed headland beyond the island, so settle the turn-around with the guide before entering. Cap de Formentor, the headland itself, is a separate dive with a bottom at 50m, and the operator that runs it limits participation to divers with deep certification and dive experience.