Snorkelling in & around Palma de Mallorca

The water is perfect for swimming and cooling off after some sunbathing but the sandy beaches in these resorts means there is not much vegetation and therefore fish in the waters. Ideal if you just want to sit on the beach and go for a dip but a bit dull if you want to go snorkelling.

Luckily you don't have to travel too far from Palma city to find bays that are a little deeper and teeming with fish. Just past the S'Arenal holiday resort you will find a stretch of coast line that runs from Cala Blava down to Cala Pi, that is not only quieter but is also more interesting for swimming and snorkelling.

If you are driving east on the motorway from Palma take exit 13 which leads directly onto Carrer Cala Blava. If you don't have your own transport you can always catch the number 23 bus from Palma which runs along Carrer Cala Blava and stops at a couple of the beaches along the coast.

The coastline here is not sandy but is made up of sharp volcanic rock that can be a little sore on the feet, so bring some shoes as well as your fins. There are a few sections of the shore line that are smoother and are great for drying off in the sun when you come out of the water and because the area isn't sandy it's much quieter here than at the more well known beaches.

One of my favourite spots is the water below the hotels and apartments about a mile or two down the coast from Cala Blava. Here the rocks have formed a small bay and the shore doesn't shelf but drops straight from the edge of the rocks into water about 2m deep. The water is very clear and less greasy than at other busier bays. There are plenty of fish in the water and they don't seem to be too scared of humans so you can swim very close to them.

Snorkelling in the open sea is great but if you are a little nevous or it's your first time in the water with fish, then Palma Aquarium offer some interesting options. For €10 you can swim in the pool with the rays with a snorkel and mask. Anyone can try this and it is open all day.

A more adventurous option still only costs €10 but involves a SCUBA tank and regulator. The SCUBA gear stays on the surface while you use a weight belt to keep yourself on the bottom of the two metre deep fish tank. In the water with you is a guide, who makes sure you are safe, and a host of fish and rays. It is aimed at all ages as an introduction to diving and doesn't require any training or experience.

The tank option means your can experience breathing underwater and get up and close to the rays and fish. As one side of the tank is glass friends and family can watch you as you meet the fish.

There are so many options for diving and snorkelling around Mallorca and so many secretive little bays, that finding them is part of the fun, But if you want to know more about what's available have a look at our Diving Centres in Mallorca page.