The diving around Ibiza is better than the island's reputation suggests, and the reason is the same seagrass that makes the swimming clear: visibility commonly runs 25 to 30 metres and sometimes touches 40. There is one headline dive, a set of gorgonian walls off the islets, and a permit rule that catches independent divers out.
The Don Pedro
A cargo ferry about 145 metres long that struck a rock leaving Ibiza port and sank on 11 July 2007. It lies on its port side on sand, with the bottom at around 45 to 47 metres and the upper structure considerably shallower.
It is regularly described as the largest wreck in the Mediterranean accessible to recreational divers, which makes it the reason a lot of people bring their kit here at all.
You need Advanced Open Water as a minimum, a Deep Diver qualification to go below 40 metres, and a wreck specialty plus a substantial logbook before any centre will take you inside it.
The other sites
Ses Bledes, about six miles off San Antonio, has gorgonian sea-fan walls dropping to around 50 metres and is the best of the deep diving.
Sa Conillera is the beginner's site, maxing out around 20 metres, on an uninhabited islet that doubles as a bird reserve. Es Vedra has sea fans on its walls.
The Cathedral is a shallow stalactite cave at about 15 metres, torch needed. Cova de sa Llum, the cave of light, sits between Port de Sant Miquel and San Antonio. Tagomago has a site with two Roman anchors at around 38 metres.
The permit, which is the part people miss
No special licence is needed to dive in Spain beyond a recognised certification. But diving inside a marine reserve requires an administrative authorisation from the Balearic fisheries department. Four of the reserves sit exactly where the good diving is: the Freus between Ibiza and Formentera, the north-east coast around Tagomago, Ses Bledes and Es Vedra.
The permit is personal and non-transferable and needs current certification and insurance. Booking through a licensed Ibiza dive centre covers you, because the centre holds the group permit. Diving independently means applying for your own.
Season and conditions
Operators run from May to October, with water between about 18 and 26 degrees across that window. Diving is possible year-round with a thicker suit, and the visibility in winter is often better than in August.
Quick answers
What is the main dive on Ibiza? The Don Pedro wreck, off Ibiza Town.
How deep is it? The bottom is around 45 to 47 metres; the upper structure is shallower.
Do you need a permit? Inside the marine reserves, yes. A dive centre's group permit covers you.
Is there diving for beginners? Yes, Sa Conillera and the Santa Eulalia reef.
What is the water temperature? About 18 to 26 degrees from May to October.
How good is the visibility? Commonly 25 to 30 metres.