"Sierra de las Aguilas y San Pascual" Municipal Nature Reserve is located in the town of Monforte del Cid (Alicante). These two enclaves occupy a total area of 384.06 ha and are delimited by a large agricultural area and the Bética mountain range.
"Pilarica-Sierra de Callosa" Municipal Nature Reserve is located in the town of Callosa de Segura (Alicante) and has an area of 143.44 ha. The most characteristic element of this landscape is the Sierra de Callosa, an impressive limestone mass that rises to a height of 578 m in the middle of an extensive plain.
Clot de Galvany Municipal Nature Reserve is located in the town of Elche in the province of Alicante. It comprises an area of 355.84 ha and owes its name to a natural pond that forms part of this magnificent wetland located on Elche’s coast.
It is characterised by the great diversity of environments that shapes a set of unique landscapes; from the wetland to the mountains and hills that surround it. Moreover, it has a dune system facing the coast with more than 5 km of beaches.
Almost on the outer limits of the Tabarca Marine Reserve, at the GPS point 38°09.231' N 0°25.902' W, the sounding line betrays the presence of a slab of rock, some 50 metres long by some eight metres wide, standing out on the bed of sand at a depth of 25 metres.
At a distance of about a hundred metres from the anchoring buoy of the La Llosa dive, and taking a course of some 100°, after a couple of minutes travelling along underwater, which it is best to do at the minimum depth to still be able to see the bottom, you come to what is known as The second Llosa. It is a huge vertical step which falls from some 32 metres deep to about 43 metres.
La Llosa is a submerged mountain with its peak some seven metres deep, situated a few hundred metres from the island of Benidorm, to which it bears a strong resemblance in its shape and layout. Its sides drop down steeply to a depth of 30 metres while on the western face the increase in depth is more gradual and gentle in the form of a slope.
Heading south out of the harbour at Altea, shortly after passing El Albir lighthouse, the wall of the coastline traces a curious form rather like the shape of an elephant’s head, beneath which is found the submerged cave of the same name, although this route continues further on to anchor opposite the entrance to another cave, known as Dwarf’s Cave.
At the heart of the Costa Blanca, where tourism is perhaps the most intense of the entire Region, it is pleasing to discover how its seabed is also among the most spectacular. So it is with the routes proposed in Altea and Benidorm, where it is possible to find little caves that never lose sight of daylight, islets full of underwater wildlife, an abundance of species only comparable in size and variety with destinations further from the coast, and endless thrilling satisfactions for lovers of marine nature.
This excellent dive is done on the north face of the Peñón de Ifach and is characterised by a rocky bottom formed by large stones. These are arranged in such a way that they create pretty and curious shapes against the light, although the name The Arches is taken from the arches that have formed in some of these enormous rocks and where undoubtedly, and if the visibility is favourable, the captivating environment that created them will amaze you.
At the foot of the Peñón de Ifach Nature Park, where the footpath starts, El Racó Cove is located, a delightful shingle beach. Its SSE orientation in the lea of the east winds, and the exceptional quality of its water, both in visibility and natural life, make it an ideal place for simple dives, which means it is also much frequented by divers who are learning.