Las Termas

The dive site at Portitxol Island in southern Javea, Spain offers a unique and restricted access experience for divers. Situated past the Cape of San Martin, divers can reach this location only by boat. This dive site is divided into two parts: the thermal baths and the baths of Neptune.

The dive along the wall at Portitxol Island offers a diverse marine life experience, including the opportunity to encounter sea bass, sea bream, and octopus. With a maximum depth of 17 meters and an average depth of around 7 meters throughout the route, this dive is suitable for divers of all levels, especially beginners. The shallow depth also contributes to low air consumption, allowing divers to spend ample time exploring the underwater wonders.

To start the dive, the boat will be anchored parallel and close to the island's wall. Descending to around 5 meters deep, divers will pass by various small rocks before reaching larger blocks. As they progress, the landscape transitions from rocky formations to sandy bottoms with scattered Posidonia seagrass, providing a contrasting backdrop. Along the way, divers will encounter overhangs, caves, and tunnels, creating an intriguing underwater landscape to explore.

One of the highlights of this dive is a small hole within the first block, where divers can observe sessile organisms like the bryozoan Myriapora truncata and the yellow sponge Clathrina clathrus (Interpretive Stop A). Exiting the cave, divers continue their dive parallel to the rocks, observing patches of Posidonia oceanica interspersed within the area. The journey continues through a tunnel approximately 3 meters long, offering a unique visual experience as they emerge into a different lighting perspective. Advancing further, divers will reach rock plates that form a continuation of the island's wall but with a less pronounced slope. At a depth of approximately 13 meters, large inlets, overhangs, and scattered sandy bottoms unfold, providing a haven for marine life less exposed to light (Interpretive Stop B).

Navigating through rounded rocks, divers will encounter a second inlet at the end of the island. Exploring further, they will find the entrance to a cave. Inside the cave, the remarkable clarity of the water, with minimal suspended particles, is striking. Looking towards the cave's ceiling, divers will notice hollow openings that allow light to penetrate from the surface. Exiting the cave, divers can briefly surface and rest in a small pool known as Neptune's Baths. After taking a break, divers can re-enter the cave to continue the tour in the opposite direction. Passing through the rock slabs and above the entrances at a shallower depth, divers will follow the wall for approximately 100 meters until reaching a depth of 7 meters, concluding the dive.

Portitxol Island dive at Javea is an exciting dive site suitable for beginners due to its relatively shallow depths and diverse marine life. With a visibility of 11 meters, divers can expect clear waters to explore the captivating underwater wonders of this unique dive location.