I decided to snorkel in this gravel cove located on a rock platform that was once an ancient Roman quarry and which houses a famous cave on one side.

According to legends, the Berbers pirates that devastated Alicante during the 16th century, entered through the cove and reached the core of the 'Cabeçó d'Or' mountain to keep their treasures safe there.
It's also known that the sea lions, before their disappearance in these lands, took refuge in this cave.

*Advice: if you are going to snorkel here for the first time, I recommend you to be careful because there are a couple of siphons that suck a lot when there is some swell and it can be dangerous.

This young Mediterranean octopus ('Octopus vulgaris') I'm introducing to you, felt a little bit threatened when I approached it and that's why its skin turned completely white (it's the octopus's way of communicating anger or fear).

Spanish legislation allows to capture adult specimens as long as you not exceed 3 daily pieces or a total of 5 kg., as long as you have a valid license, it has to be done in free lung underwater mode, respecting minimal size of the animal (forbidden under 1 kg.) and respecting also the hunting ban periods, in some cases or cities.

Hunting down these small young specimens under 1 kg. is prohibited and entails fines; neither should you try to catch them or take them out of the water to take selfies, as I have seen some people do.

Just enjoy watching them and respect the beautiful and smart creatures they are.

свернуть