Diving centre celebrates 30 years as expert praises Murcia’s underwater wonders. Photo Credit: Planeta Azul
Planeta Azul, a locally famed diving centre, is now celebrating its 30th anniversary in Cabo de Palos, and its director, diver Miguel Ángel García Gallego, has stated that Cabo de Palos is, “by far, the best diving spot in Europe.” The glowing review is especially significant coming from García Gallego, an experienced professional who has dived all over the world, including in the Arctic, Antarctica, and the Pacific Ocean.
Celebrating 30 years of underwater exploration
García Gallego made the meaningful claim on a local radio programme, “Más de uno Murcia”, calling the Region of Murcia’s coastline an “oceanographic blessing”. According to García Gallego, the seabeds are particularly rich because of the currents entering through the Strait of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea, mixing and causing an increase of nutrients. The expert states that this causes a “constant parade” of different kinds of marine wildlife, including cetaceans like sperm whales and fin whales.
Cabo de Palos, a prime spot for diving: Why Murcia’s seabed attracts so much marine life
The Region of Murcia is home to two large marine reserves, located at the three main capes: Cope, Tiñoso, and Palos. Cabo de Palos is unique in that it includes special submerged reefs where, according to the diver, “the greatest explosion of marine life in the Mediterranean takes place”.
Interestingly, García Gallego also states that the area has the highest concentration of shipwrecks in the Mediterranean due to historical causes. He cites the Sirio, which National Geographic described as “the Titanic of the Mediterranean,” with 550 casualties, and some fifty German U-boats from the two World Wars off the coast.
Planeta Azul celebrates three decades of a stunning coastline
Planeta Azul, celebrating three decades of diving, is regarded as the best diving destination in the Mediterranean due to the “extraordinary beauty and conservation of its seabed, the abundance of marine life and its numerous shipwrecks”, according to the official website. In addition, the centre is presenting its Avelo diving system, which is more lightweight and provides “extraordinary freedom of movement”. Planeta Azul in Cabo de Palos is the first centre in Europe to certify this system, and the public will be able to try out the state-of-the-art diving gear from November 6 to November 9.