
Playa El Chaparral is a shallow beginner-friendly shore dive on Spain's Costa del Sol near La Cala de Mijas, with a maximum depth of just 8 meters. This easily accessible site features a sandy bottom with scattered rock formations and patches of Posidonia seagrass close to shore. Despite its shallow profile, the site harbors a charming variety of Mediterranean species including cuttlefish, octopuses, sea cucumbers, and schools of juvenile fish using the shallows as nursery grounds. Small moray eels and blennies peer from the rocks, while mullet and bream swim overhead. The ultra-shallow depth and calm conditions make Playa El Chaparral perfect for try-dives, snorkeling, and new diver training.
Dive Playa El Chaparral with one of these PADI or SSI certified centers within 20 km.
Forecast from Open-Meteo, updated every 15 minutes
Sign in to share your dive experience
Sign InGreat spot for advanced divers. Currents can be tricky but the marine life makes it worth it.
One of the best dive sites in the region. Highly recommended.