# Snorkelling and diving from a charter boat in the Balearic Islands

> Balearic Islands: snorkel and dive sites by boat, park fees, anchoring rules, sea temperature by month (NOAA) and wetsuit advice. Sourced.

URL: https://catamaranindex.com/snorkel-dive/balearics/
Last updated: 2026-10-28
Author: Catamaran Index editorial team

Yes, as long as you anchor on sand or a buoy: the Balearic Posidonia decree bans anchoring on Posidonia seagrass, and Cabrera National Park needs an online authorisation to navigate, moor or dive, with buoys from €18.60 a day in summer for boats up to 12 m. The sea averages 14.3 °C in February and 26.2 °C in August (NOAA, 1991–2020 mean at our reference point); by our rule of thumb July to September are the months at 24 °C or more, when a rash vest or 1–2 mm shorty is enough, while February calls for a 7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving.

*Checked 28 Oct 2026 against 4 official and 0 secondary sources; sea temperature from NOAA ([sources](#sources)). Anything we could not confirm is labelled ([how to read the labels](#labels)). Park rules change: check before you go.*

## Snorkel and dive sites you can reach by charter boat in the Balearic Islands

| Site | Type | Where | What the source says |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Cabrera Archipelago Maritime-Terrestrial National Park** | national park | South of Mallorca | Navigating, mooring and diving need an authorisation, applied for online. A navigation permit is valid 12 months; at most 50 boats a day may use the park's mooring buoys. ([Govern de les Illes Balears (CAIB)](https://www.caib.es/sites/espaisnaturalsprotegits/es/10_at_navegar_fondear_o_bucear_pnmta_cabrera_/)) For scuba diving you must present the diving certificate of every diver; the authorised dive zones can change from year to year. ([MITECO (Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition), National Parks network](https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/red-parques-nacionales/nuestros-parques/cabrera/conservacion-biodiversidad/usos-compatilbes.html)) |
| **Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows** | protected areas | All Balearic waters | Decree 25/2018, art. 7.1: anchoring boats on Posidonia oceanica is prohibited as a general rule. ([Govern de les Illes Balears (CAIB)](https://caib.es/sites/cuidamposidonia/en/decree_posidonia/)) |

These are the sites we could document from official or labelled sources, not a full list. Fishing is a separate question: [fishing rules in the Balearic Islands](https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/balearics/).

## Sea temperature in the Balearic Islands by month

The sea is warmest in August (26.2 °C) and coolest in February (14.3 °C). ● marks our warm-water months (24 °C or more): July to September.

| Month | Sea surface (NOAA) | Air (NASA POWER) | Our wetsuit rule of thumb | Catamaran, avg per week (12 Knots, Mallorca) |
|---|---:|---:|---|---:|
| January | 14.8 °C | 13.8 °C | 7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving | €4,170 |
| February | 14.3 °C | 13.8 °C | 7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving | €4,232 |
| March | 14.5 °C | 14.6 °C | 7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving | €4,264 |
| April | 15.8 °C | 16.1 °C | 7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving | €4,559 |
| May | 18.2 °C | 19.2 °C | 5 mm full wetsuit | €6,312 |
| June | 21.5 °C | 23.4 °C | 3 mm full wetsuit | €8,337 |
| July | 24.7 °C ● | 26.5 °C | 3 mm shorty | €9,602 |
| August | 26.2 °C ● | 27.3 °C | rash vest or 1–2 mm shorty | €9,476 |
| September | 24.9 °C ● | 25.2 °C | 3 mm shorty | €8,090 |
| October | 22.2 °C | 22.1 °C | 3 mm full wetsuit | €5,432 |
| November | 19.0 °C | 18.0 °C | 5 mm full wetsuit | €5,231 |
| December | 16.3 °C | 15.3 °C | 7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving | €5,105 |

Of the months at 24 °C or more, the cheapest on 12 Knots' average weekly catamaran price for Mallorca is **September** at €8,090 per week ([12 Knots](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/mallorca/catamaran-charter/), checked 27 Oct 2026), with the sea at 24.9 °C (our comparison).

Sea surface: NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly mean for the 1/4° cell centred on 38.875° N, 1.625° E (Off Ibiza Town) ([NOAA PSL (NOAA/NCEI OISST v2.1)](https://psl.noaa.gov/thredds/catalog/Datasets/noaa.oisst.v2.highres/catalog.html), checked 28 Oct 2026); the sites above may be warmer or cooler, and shallow bays warm up faster. Air: our 10-year NASA POWER mean at Ibiza Town ([NASA POWER](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/docs/services/api/temporal/monthly/), checked 28 Oct 2026). Prices are asking prices that mix bareboat and crewed listings.

## Mooring, anchoring and park rules for your boat

- Decree 25/2018: no anchoring on Posidonia (art. 7.1); over Posidonia, only low-impact systems such as individual buoys or buoy fields, or the sand patches inside a buoy field (art. 7.2); the chain and other gear must not touch nearby meadows (art. 7.3); until buoys are installed, anchor only on sand (transitional provision 2). ([Govern de les Illes Balears (CAIB)](https://caib.es/sites/cuidamposidonia/en/decree_posidonia/))
- Cabrera: a buoy is booked from 18:00 on the first day to 17:00 on the last; if you book a bigger buoy than your boat needs you pay its rate. ([Govern de les Illes Balears (CAIB)](https://www.caib.es/sites/espaisnaturalsprotegits/es/10_at_navegar_fondear_o_bucear_pnmta_cabrera_/))
- Cabrera overnight limits differ between the two official pages: the regional procedure page says two nights in July and August and seven the rest of the year; the national parks page says one night in July and August, two in September and seven the rest of the year. ([Govern de les Illes Balears (CAIB)](https://www.caib.es/sites/espaisnaturalsprotegits/es/10_at_navegar_fondear_o_bucear_pnmta_cabrera_/); [MITECO (Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition), National Parks network](https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/red-parques-nacionales/nuestros-parques/cabrera/conservacion-biodiversidad/usos-compatilbes.html))

## Can I scuba dive from the boat? Permits and dive centres

- Cabrera: scuba diving needs the park's authorisation and each diver's certificate; authorised zones are reviewed every year. ([MITECO (Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition), National Parks network](https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/red-parques-nacionales/nuestros-parques/cabrera/conservacion-biodiversidad/usos-compatilbes.html))
- **[Not verified]** Whether you must dive with a dive centre elsewhere in the Balearics: not verified.

## Park and mooring fees

| Fee | Amount | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabrera buoy, white (boats up to 12 m), per day | €9.30 (1 Oct–30 Apr) · €18.60 (1 May–30 Sep) | official | [Govern de les Illes Balears (CAIB)](https://www.caib.es/sites/espaisnaturalsprotegits/es/10_at_navegar_fondear_o_bucear_pnmta_cabrera_/) |
| Cabrera buoy, yellow (over 12 to 15 m), per day | €20 (1 Oct–30 Apr) · €40 (1 May–30 Sep) | official | [Govern de les Illes Balears (CAIB)](https://www.caib.es/sites/espaisnaturalsprotegits/es/10_at_navegar_fondear_o_bucear_pnmta_cabrera_/) |
| Cabrera buoy, orange (over 15 to 20 m), per day | €35 (1 Oct–30 Apr) · €90 (1 May–30 Sep) | official | [Govern de les Illes Balears (CAIB)](https://www.caib.es/sites/espaisnaturalsprotegits/es/10_at_navegar_fondear_o_bucear_pnmta_cabrera_/) |

## Underwater visibility

**[Not verified]** We found no official or survey source for underwater visibility, so we give no figure. Ask the local dive centre on the day.

## What wetsuit do I need in the Balearic Islands?

From August's 26.2 °C our rule of thumb gives a **rash vest or 1–2 mm shorty**; in February (14.3 °C) a **7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving**. The month-by-month column is in the [table above](#sea-temperature).

Our rule of thumb for snorkelling, applied to the monthly mean: 28 °C or more: swimsuit or rash vest; 26–28 °C: rash vest or 1–2 mm shorty; 24–26 °C: 3 mm shorty; 21–24 °C: 3 mm full wetsuit; 18–21 °C: 5 mm full wetsuit; below 18 °C: 7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving. Divers lose heat faster and meet cooler water at depth: go one band thicker. People feel cold differently; this is a guide, not a source's advice.

| Mean sea temperature | Our rule of thumb for snorkelling |
|---|---|
| 28 °C or more | swimsuit or rash vest |
| 26–28 °C | rash vest or 1–2 mm shorty |
| 24–26 °C | 3 mm shorty |
| 21–24 °C | 3 mm full wetsuit |
| 18–21 °C | 5 mm full wetsuit |
| Below 18 °C | 7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving |

## See boats in the Balearic Islands

**[See catamarans for rent in Mallorca on SamBoat](https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=balearics&pos=snorkel)**

Check the park rules above and the boat's own kit (snorkel gear, dinghy, dive-ladder) with the operator before you book; listings and prices on SamBoat are SamBoat's own. We may earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you ([disclosure](https://catamaranindex.com/affiliate-disclosure/)).

## What we could not verify

- Which Cabrera overnight limit applies in 2027 (the two official pages differ).
- Fines under the Posidonia decree.
- Snorkel and dive rules in the Es Freus / Ses Salines reserve between Ibiza and Formentera.
- Underwater visibility.

## How to read the labels

- **[Secondary source]**: From a newspaper, NGO, guide or tour operator; not official.
- **[Not verified]**: We could not confirm it. We leave it open rather than guess.
- No label: Read in an official text: government, park authority, ministry or official tourism board.

Sea temperatures are NOAA's; the wetsuit column, the 24 °C warm-water mark and any sum or comparison are ours and say so. Park rules change and some are seasonal: check with the park, your charter base or a local dive centre before you go.

## Sources

- [Govern de les Illes Balears (CAIB): Decreto 25/2018, de 27 de julio, sobre la conservación de la Posidonia oceanica en las Illes Balears](https://caib.es/sites/cuidamposidonia/en/decree_posidonia/) (official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- [Govern de les Illes Balears (CAIB): Autorización para navegar, fondear o bucear en el Parque Nacional Marítimo-Terrestre del Archipiélago de Cabrera](https://www.caib.es/sites/espaisnaturalsprotegits/es/10_at_navegar_fondear_o_bucear_pnmta_cabrera_/) (official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- [MITECO (Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition), National Parks network: Archipiélago de Cabrera: usos compatibles](https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/red-parques-nacionales/nuestros-parques/cabrera/conservacion-biodiversidad/usos-compatilbes.html) (official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- [NOAA PSL (NOAA/NCEI OISST v2.1): NOAA High-resolution Blended Analysis: OISST v2.1 long-term mean monthly sea surface temperature, 1991–2020 (sst.mon.ltm.1991-2020.nc)](https://psl.noaa.gov/thredds/catalog/Datasets/noaa.oisst.v2.highres/catalog.html) (official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- [NASA POWER: Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources: Monthly API (T2M, WS10M)](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/docs/services/api/temporal/monthly/) (official), air temperature, pulled 28 Oct 2026.
- [12 Knots: Catamaran charter in Mallorca](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/mallorca/catamaran-charter/) (secondary, prices), checked 27 Oct 2026.

Method: [methodology](https://catamaranindex.com/methodology/#snorkel). Data: [JSON](https://catamaranindex.com/api/snorkel-dive/balearics.json).

## More on the Balearic Islands

- [Snorkelling and diving by charter boat: every destination compared](https://catamaranindex.com/snorkel-dive/)
- [Balearic Islands yacht and catamaran charter: prices, season and licence](https://catamaranindex.com/balearics/)
- [Best time to charter in the Balearic Islands](https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/balearics/)
- [Fishing rules in the Balearic Islands](https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/balearics/)
- [Do I need a licence to rent a boat in the Balearic Islands?](https://catamaranindex.com/licence-by-country/balearics/)
- [True cost of a week in the Balearic Islands: per person, all extras](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/balearics/)

## FAQ

### Can you snorkel and dive from a charter boat in the Balearic Islands?

Yes, as long as you anchor on sand or a buoy: the Balearic Posidonia decree bans anchoring on Posidonia seagrass, and Cabrera National Park needs an online authorisation to navigate, moor or dive, with buoys from €18.60 a day in summer for boats up to 12 m. The sea averages 14.3 °C in February and 26.2 °C in August (NOAA, 1991–2020 mean at our reference point); by our rule of thumb July to September are the months at 24 °C or more, when a rash vest or 1–2 mm shorty is enough, while February calls for a 7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving.

### How warm is the sea in the Balearic Islands?

By NOAA's 1991–2020 averages at our reference point (Off Ibiza Town), the sea surface is warmest in August at 26.2 °C and coolest in February at 14.3 °C. Months at 24 °C or more: July to September.

### Do I need a wetsuit to snorkel in the Balearic Islands?

By our rule of thumb (not a source's advice): a rash vest or 1–2 mm shorty in August and a 7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving in February; divers should go one band thicker.

### Do I need a dive centre to scuba dive in the Balearic Islands?

Cabrera: scuba diving needs the park's authorisation and each diver's certificate; authorised zones are reviewed every year. Not verified: Whether you must dive with a dive centre elsewhere in the Balearics: not verified.

### Are there park fees or mooring rules for boats in the Balearic Islands?

Decree 25/2018: no anchoring on Posidonia (art. 7.1); over Posidonia, only low-impact systems such as individual buoys or buoy fields, or the sand patches inside a buoy field (art. 7.2); the chain and other gear must not touch nearby meadows (art. 7.3); until buoys are installed, anchor only on sand (transitional provision 2). Cabrera: a buoy is booked from 18:00 on the first day to 17:00 on the last; if you book a bigger buoy than your boat needs you pay its rate. Fees: Cabrera buoy, white (boats up to 12 m), per day: €9.30 (1 Oct–30 Apr) · €18.60 (1 May–30 Sep). Cabrera buoy, yellow (over 12 to 15 m), per day: €20 (1 Oct–30 Apr) · €40 (1 May–30 Sep). Cabrera buoy, orange (over 15 to 20 m), per day: €35 (1 Oct–30 Apr) · €90 (1 May–30 Sep).

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