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Right on the border between Murcia and Almería, south of Águilas, lies Los Cocedores, a beautiful beach that offers up two different snorkelling routes depending on what you fancy.

 

Families with children will probably prefer sticking close to the shoreline, gliding over a rock platform covered in algae where you can stand up at any point along the way. Those after a bit more adventure can head further out towards the platform's edge, where Posidonia seagrass begins to take over before giving way to a bright stretch of sand with depths reaching around 3 metres.

 

Along the way, rock formations crop up at depths of 2 to 6 metres, so anyone keen to explore them properly should already have some freediving experience under their belt.

 

For most snorkellers, though, the best bet is to stay close to the platform, where the water's shallower, the light's better and there's more marine life to spot, or at least more that's easy to see. Keep an eye out for combers and octopuses, along with shoals of annular seabream and saddled seabream weaving through the rocky areas.

 

Before rounding the headland and losing sight of the cove, it's worth turning back and hugging the shoreline even more closely on the way, as there's plenty more life tucked away among the rocks and crevices of the platform still to discover.

 

It's best to avoid heading out into open water altogether, as there are no marker buoys in the area and it's a route regularly used by boats.

 

GPS: 37°22'29.9"N 1°37'45.7"W

Getting there: Via the RM-333 (on the Murcia-Almería border). Plenty of parking and restaurants nearby.

Level: Easy / Advanced

Orientation: South-facing, sheltered from northerly winds.

 

Click for Águilas Tourist Information Office.

Click the link to see full information about the municipality of Águilas in English: ÁGUILAS TODAY