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Águilas snorkel guide: Shallow pools and seaweed-loving wrens at La Carolina
An exciting route through four coves, with a stone arch and damselfish along the way
Tucked away within a coastal setting of four coves, La Carolina in Águilas is a lovely spot for snorkelling, with a route along the right-hand side that's well worth following.
After entering the water, you'll come across a rocky platform that stays knee-deep for a while, before a stone barrier running parallel to the coast leads onto a sandy stretch where mullet are commonly spotted.
Following the wall further along, large stones start to appear, some of them breaking the surface here and there, before giving way to an area carpeted in Posidonia seagrass. Another wall follows, where a small arch almost reaches the surface and makes for one of the route's more memorable sights.
Rounding the rocky outcrop beyond it brings you to a shallow pool where you can stand, with clouds of damselfish darting about and wrens busily gathering strands of seaweed to build their nests during the breeding season.
The wall here is thickly covered in red algae, including Asparagopsis, an invasive species originally from Australia. Other creatures cling to the rock too, among them the sea anemone, also known as the sea tomato for its deep reddish colour. It's a striking sight, though best admired rather than touched, as it does sting.
Carrying on, the stones underfoot get progressively larger and the wall grows steeper and more vertical, dropping below 4 metres in places. This stretch, leading up to the reefs at the point, is best suited to those with freediving experience.Just before reaching the point, large boulders appear, and this is usually a sensible spot to turn back towards the start. As always, it's worth keeping an eye on conditions, as the easterly Levante wind is common in the area and can make things tricky for anyone in the water.
GPS: 37°22'30.8"N 1°37'40.9"W
Getting there: Via the RM-333. Plenty of parking and restaurants nearby.
Level: Easy / Advanced
Orientation: North-facing, sheltered from the Lebeche wind.
More information about Águilas including beaches, what to see, what's on and tourist information can be found on ÁGUILAS TODAY
