6 sites · down to 92 m · 1 suitable for an intro team
Cave diving in Andalusia
- Sites6
- Max depth92 m
- For intro teams1
- Dive centres3
Diving and fills
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Fills nearby
- Fill stationNerja Dive Resort (La Herradura)Air and nitroxRoute ↗
- Fill stationDifferent Scuba SchoolAir, nitrox, trimix, O₂ (for its own tec and CCR diving); fills for visitors: askRoute ↗
- Fill stationSea DiverAsk (runs nitrox courses)Route ↗
Why come here
In the Sierra de las Nieves around Yunquera lie deep karst springs and sumps such as Zarzalones, which goes down to -92 m. These are mostly exploration dives for full cave divers, often after a long carry, and oxygen-poor air has been measured in the air chambers of the Minilla. After winter rain the springs discharge violently, so diving happens mainly in summer; water temperature and visibility in the sumps have not been published. The area has been a national park since 2021, and for cavities in the park you request authorisation from the Junta de Andalucía at least 15 working days ahead. On the coast near La Herradura there are sea caves, but in the protected Maro-Cerro Gordo area you may no longer enter caves under a roof.
Don't miss
- Surgencia de Zarzalones: according to the Andalusian sump blog the most important submerged cave in Andalusia, where Neolithic pottery was found in an air gallery.
- Surgencia de la Minilla: a seasonal spring that drops a lot in summer, with a last air gallery between the sumps about 3 m wide, 6 m high and 100 m long.
- Cueva del Jarro: a large cavity in the Punta de la Mona cliff, named after the many amphorae on the bottom, with black coral and anthias around -30 m.
On a rest day
- Yunquera fir forest: Walk through the forest of pinsapos, the Spanish fir, in the Sierra de las Nieves National Park close to Yunquera.
- Ronda: The town on both sides of the El Tajo gorge, joined by the Puente Nuevo bridge.
- Caminito del Rey: A walkway along the cliffs of the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes gorge, high above the river.
- Cueva de la Pileta: A cave near Benaoján with prehistoric paintings, visited with a guide.
All 6 sites
1 closed not shown ·
| Site | Max depth | Type | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alfaguara del CinojalPermission neededSidemount · Full cave | 46 m | Sidemount | Full cave |
| Cueva del GatoPermission neededSidemount · Full cave | – | Sidemount | Full cave |
| Cueva del JarroBackmount · Open water / no overhead | 30 m | Backmount | Open water / no overhead |
| Surgencia de la MinillaPermission neededSidemount · Full cave | 23 m | Sidemount | Full cave |
| Surgencia de ZarzalonesPermission neededNot known yet · Full cave | 92 m | Not known yet | Full cave |
Certification requirements, configurations and trimix depths are estimates for planning. Always check them locally and dive within your training.
Map
Dive centres and fill stations
3 dive centres, fill stations and instructors
Dive centre
Nerja Dive Resort (La Herradura)
Av. Marina del Este, Edif. Canoa, Local 13.0.8–13.0.9, 18697 La Herradura
- Air and nitrox
- Sidemount · PADI
- Dive, kids and freediving gear
Dive centre
Different Scuba School
Office: Calle Alhambra 16, bajo, Armilla (Granada); dives from La Herradura / Marina del Este (Almuñécar)
- Air, nitrox, trimix, O₂
- CCR, Trimix
- Cylinders, stages, rebreathers and scooters (per the website; ask)
Dive centre
Sea Diver
C. de Alfredo Corrochano 121, 29006 Málaga
- Ask
- Full cave, Sidemount · IANTD
- Dive equipment
Order: partners first, clearly marked as partner; then dive centres by distance from Yunquera and independent instructors by name. Not a recommendation: check what they offer yourself.
On this list, or should you be? Get a free partner card →Where to stay
Find a place near Yunquera, Ronda, Málaga, Almuñécar
Villages that work well as a base for the caves in this region. Find a place for your team:
- YunqueraBooking.com ↗
- RondaBooking.com ↗
- MálagaBooking.com ↗
- AlmuñécarBooking.com ↗
The links to Booking.com are affiliate links: if you book through one, DiveTripPlanner earns a small commission. You pay the same.
Practical info: rules, fills and emergency numbers
Emergencies
- 112. DAN Europe: +39 06 4211 5685. Hyperbaric chamber (24/7): Hospital Vithas Xanit Internacional, Avenida de los Argonautas s/n, 29630 Benalmádena — emergency +34 900 407 407, general +34 618 800 116.
Access and rules
- Sierra de las Nieves (Zarzalones, Minilla, Cinojal): national park since 2021. For cavities in the natural park, request authorization from the Junta de Andalucía (Delegación Territorial Málaga) at least 15 working days ahead; max. 10 people per group and 1 group per cavity per day (BOJA 94, 19-05-2021). How this applies to sump diving: ask the park or Yunquera town hall.
- Cueva del Gato (Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, Monumento Natural): entering the cave only with authorization from the Junta de Andalucía.
- Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo (Nerja–La Herradura): scuba diving only with authorization from the environment ministry (arranged by the dive centre); no entering caves under a roof; moor only on the buoys; no diving in the reserve zone.
Gas and fills
- Fills: no fill station known in the Sierra de las Nieves; technical centres in Málaga (IANTD) and La Herradura (trimix, CCR) — ask about fills in advance.
Water and season
- Season: the Sierra de las Nieves springs run hard after winter rain; sump diving happens mainly in summer. Water temperature and visibility in the sumps are not published.
- Altitude: Minilla ~725 m, Cinojal ~650 m, Zarzalones ~450 m — set your computer for altitude where needed.
Rest day
- Rest day: swim in the Charco Frío at the Cueva del Gato (summer, paid); canyon descent in the lower Zarzalones (ask about permits).
News
No recent news found about the caves in this region.
Searched automatically, last on 13 Nov 2026.
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