San Nicolás
Menorca has served as a meeting point for different cultures throughout history, with numerous ports along its coastline. The natural port of Ciutadella, in particular, has been a refuge for ships traveling across the Mediterranean. Off the coast of the Castle of San Nicolás, divers can explore the remnants of shipwrecks, with scattered amphorae lying on the seabed. It is important to note that the amphorae should not be touched, but they can be captured in photographs.
To begin the dive, divers will set off from the port of Ciutadella and head south, anchoring in the designated area near the coast. The dive starts with a descent and a northward swim through a small tunnel, leading to a sandy area at a depth of 12m. From there, divers should navigate southward, maintaining close proximity to the sandy area, to observe the scattered remains of the amphorae. During the return dive, the tunnel should be on the right, and around 50 meters later, divers will turn towards the coast. Here, a large rock formation provides a habitat for various marine species, such as seabreams, damselfish, groupers, combers, moray eels, mullets, wrasses, scorpionfish, octopus, and slipper lobsters. Additionally, divers may encounter sea cotton-spinners, red starfish, and golden anemones amidst the ocean grass-wrack.
This dive is particularly suitable for beginner divers and those looking to explore underwater archaeology. Whether you are seeking a training experience or simply enjoy discovering historical remnants and cave formations, this dive site near San Nicolás is an ideal choice. Plan your dive at this captivating location, where natural beauty and archaeological wonders converge.
Diving Conditions Score for San Nicolás
Decent conditions, proceed with caution.
The score is based on a calculation of the current weather and sea conditions.
Dive Site Overview for San Nicolás
Depth
14m
Visibility
20m
Experience Level
Weather Conditions for San Nicolás
Wave Height
0.52m
Wind Speed
8.7 m/s
Water Temp
24.4°C
Visibility
41.14km
Cloud Cover
0%
Wave Period
4.6s
Air Temperature
32.3°C
Precipitation
0 mm
Dive Score Chart for San Nicolás
Best time to dive: 7:00 with score 8.212653846153845/10. Water conditions: Waves 0.56m, Wind 5 m/s.Best night dive time: 23:00 with score 7.925886524822694/10.
Chart showing hourly dive conditions including wave height, wind speed, water temperature, and visibility throughout the day.
Optimal diving conditions at San Nicolás are affected by daylight hours. Sunrise occurs at 06:00 and sunset at 18:00, which impacts visibility and water temperature for scuba diving and snorkeling.
Score: 8.2/10
Waves: 0.56m (4.55s), Wind: 5 m/s
Score: 7.9/10
Waves: 0.44m, Wind: 3.3 m/s
Seasonal Analysis for San NicolásAlpha
Historical patterns and best seasons for diving at San Nicolás
The dive score combines all factors to rate overall diving conditions throughout the year. Higher scores indicate better diving conditions.
Monthly Dive Score Analysis - Seasonal Diving Conditions
Higher values indicate better diving conditions
Seasonal DiveScore Chart
This chart displays monthly diveScore data throughout the year, showing seasonal patterns. The data is presented as a bar chart with an overlaid line graph.Dive scores range from 1 to 10, with 10 being optimal conditions.
Higher values indicate better diving conditions
Best Season for San Nicolás
Winter
Winter offers the best overall diving conditions with calmer seas and better visibility, despite cooler temperatures.
Best Months for San Nicolás
Ideal Conditions for San Nicolás
Water Temp
27.0°C / 80.6°F
August
Visibility
14.7m / 48.2ft
January
Wave Height
1.1m / 3.6ft
January
Wave Period
8.0s
January
Seasonal Insights for San Nicolás
San Nicolás shows typical northern hemisphere patterns with July being the warmest month (27.2°C) and January the coldest (7.3°C). The calmest conditions typically occur in January with average wave heights of 1.1m and wave periods of 8.0s. The most comfortable wave conditions are in January with a low wave steepness ratio, creating gentler swells. January offers the longest wave periods (8.0s), creating more comfortable and predictable conditions for boat entries and exits. Ocean currents are slowest in January (0.5m/s) and strongest in January (0.5m/s). January is usually the driest month with 0.0mm of precipitation. For beginners, the best time to visit would be during January to March, when ocean conditions are calmer with long-period waves and currents are typically weaker. Experienced divers might enjoy the challenges and potentially better visibility during the shoulder seasons, with moderate currents that can improve marine life encounters.
Last updated: 1 min. ago - Jun 21, 2026