A super yacht charter in the Balearic Islands presents the perfect opportunity to discover a world of wonder in the crystal blue depths. There are over 80 dive sites around the islands for all levels of diver. Charterfleet selects some of the best diving spots.
Formentera
The Balearic archipelago near the eastern coast of Spain has the four main islands of Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera. The latter is the smallest inhabited island and is just a few kilometres away from its more famous neighbour, Ibiza. Formentera can only be reached by boat so your super yacht charter is the ideal vessel for making new discoveries. Because it is isolated, this beautiful little island has been well preserved, making it an untouched gem in the Mediterranean Sea for diving vacations. This is the stuff of paradise… silky white sand beaches and impossibly clear waters all shrouded by dramatic cliffs. The crystalline turquoise water means that visibility for diving is flawless, with up to 50 metres possible on a good day. Ask your captain to head for the coastline between San Antonio and Port De San Miguel. There is an entrance to a bay surrounded by cliff tops, drop anchor here and enjoy two dives that are conjoined – The Pillars of Hercules and the Caves of Light. The Pillars of Hercules is filled with pillars that look man-made but were formed by the erosion of the sea. The Cave of Light will reveal a tiny vault in which you can surface. Here the sun light streams into the cave lighting up the rocky innards of the cliff in spectacular fashion.
Big Cheese
Moving on to Majorca, the largest island ideal for a Balearic Islands yacht charter, ask your captain to make for the Marine Reserve of Cala Ratjada, one kilometre from Cala Ratjada harbour. The reserve was established in 2007 and the highlight of the 11,000 hectares is the rugged rocky formation protruding out of the sea known as the ‘Big Cheese’. Ninety per cent of this big chunk of rock lies beneath the waves and on the northern side you can dive up to 30 metres down. The distinctive name comes from the fact that the rock is perforated with numerous tunnels running from north to south, evoking a big Swiss cheese filled with holes. Divers can communicate with each other through the holes and behold a wide range of sea-life all around. The many tunnels and mild sea currents make it ideal conditions for barracudas, groupers, morays eels as well as scorpion fish, common dolphin-fish and cuttlefish.
Cove de Jeroni
In recent years the island of Majorca has tried to evolve from it’s longstanding reputation as the Spanish home of low rent mass tourism, as evidenced in the sprawling hotel and entertainment developments on the island’s south west coast. Concerted efforts have been made to diversify and add some upmarket tourism into the balance. Majorca has a beautiful interior and coastline and the east coast has over fifty secluded, picturesque coves. Ask the captain of your super yacht to head for the Cabrera Islands near to Cala Millor and Cala Bona. Once at the right coordinates the captain should drop anchor at the base of a steep cliffthat descends into the sea to a depth of 23 metres.
The Cove de Jeroni, or Jeronimo, is found by entering the nearby cave where you will do a safety stop, and then surface. You emerge into a cavernous space that is dancing with the iridescent reflected light from the sea and sun. Floating in this huge serene inner lake and gazing up at the natural cathedral inside is the highlight of this dive. Illuminated on the vaulted ceiling are countless stalactites and the pressure from the waves creates a magical misty atmosphere. Bring your camera here to capture an incredible scene.
Pont d’En Gil Cavern
Majorca’s little sister Menorca is an island that boasts more than 25 different dive sites surrounding its 216 kilometres of irregular coastline. Some of great spots include the Reefs of Cala Blanca, Gran Canyons and the Lighthouse – all of which contain a mesmerising array of marine life and impressive wall structures and caves.
Like the other Balearic Islands, Menorca is also much vaunted by divers for its astonishing underwater visibility. The island was declared a UNESCO Reserve of the Biosphere in 1993 and biodiversity remains in relatively good health here. Request that your captain take your chartered luxury yacht to the coordinates for diving the Pont d’En Gil Cavern – this is an essential dive by any diver’s standards. At 220 metres long it is the longest cavern dive in the Balearics, and because daylight is always visible and there is a constant supply of fresh air, any level of diver can behold the glorious display of stalactites, stalagmites and cascades in this extraordinary geological masterpiece.
Cove de Jeroni
In recent years the island of Majorca has tried to evolve from it’s longstanding reputation as the Spanish home of low rent mass tourism, as evidenced in the sprawling hotel and entertainment developments on the island’s south west coast. Concerted efforts have been made to diversify and add some upmarket tourism into the balance. Majorca has a beautiful interior and coastline and the east coast has over fifty secluded, picturesque coves. Ask the captain of your super yacht to head for the Cabrera Islands near to Cala Millor and Cala Bona. Once at the right coordinates the captain should drop anchor at the base of a steep cliffthat descends into the sea to a depth of 23 metres.
The Cove de Jeroni, or Jeronimo, is found by entering the nearby cave where you will do a safety stop, and then surface. You emerge into a cavernous space that is dancing with the iridescent reflected light from the sea and sun. Floating in this huge serene inner lake and gazing up at the natural cathedral inside is the highlight of this dive. Illuminated on the vaulted ceiling are countless stalactites and the pressure from the waves creates a magical misty atmosphere. Bring your camera here to capture an incredible scene.