West End Reef

Best time to dive

May to October; July to September

What you might see

• BarracudaPossible
• Flamboyant cuttlefishLikely
• Moray eelLikely
• NudibranchLikely

Sightings are seasonal probabilities, not promises - even in peak season nature does its own thing.

Certification & difficulty

Advanced Open Water - advanced conditions (currents/depth); dive within your training.

Snorkelling

Not a snorkel site - Limited - this is mainly a boat-dive reserve; snorkeling is possible in calmer inshore areas, but the West End reef itself is reached and dived by boat.

Safety notes

Boat traffic near the reserve entrance, occasional current convergence around the island tip, overhead swim-through/cavern environments requiring good buoyancy control.

Permits & fees

Illa de l'Aire has been a protected Marine Reserve since 2019 (~700 hectares) and is an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC) since 2010. A designated no-fishing diving zone runs from S'Algar to Biniancolla; recreational diving is a permitted activity within the reserve via authorized dive operators. No specific per-diver reserve fee was found in official sources.

Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.

Location

Nearest hub: Sant Lluís