Mar Menor and Isla Grosa

kashurst

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For the forumites in the south costa blanca area:
just come back from messing about around the Mar Menor and surrounds. The clean up operation on the Mar Menor continues to work really well. Water clarity has improved again since early June. Visibility is the best I can remember in 10 years. Very very few jelly fish and only the non-stinging brown ones. (I think the rest have all gone on holiday to the Balearics :p)

PS if anyone has lost a big parasol it's in 5m of water, 100m W of Isla Meyor del Baron. Boat drifted over it whilst anchored - quite surreal. I was hoping the table and chairs might be with it but someones already had them.

Stopped off at Isla Grosa this morning and noticed there are now mooring buoys on the sheltered west side by the reef thing. Is it still OK to anchor there? What weight of boat will the buoys take - I couldn't see any markings.

Had a bit of a scary moment this morning on the way home...............



It rained. (incredibly rare around these parts in summer) Unfortunately not very much so I will have to wash the boat instead, bu@@er.
 
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We were tied to one of the buoys yesterday, there are about 25 and available foc on a first come basis, they are pretty substantial, I suspect good for 20m+

The water was beautiful and crystal clear as you approached the island, however we got within 50m and an official rib approached us and very politely outlined the rules. Boats on buoys or anchor further out and no access beyond a 25 metre radius of you boat, this includes any dinghy, paddle board or even swimming - so basically anywhere close to the island is prohibited. This is in force March to October while the islands bird life are rearing young - swimmers disturb the small fish that they feed on.

As you mentioned the water quality in the Mar Menor is better again this year - exceptionally clear in places although as temperature has increased the jelly fish are on mass - albeit the non stingers.
 
We’ve spent the day in the far north of the Mar Menor and the jelly fish were everywhere. The wind picked up a bit so we’re now just on the north side of the big island. Water slightly greener but no jelly fish and lots of people swimming. Not tempted to get a free parasol :)
 
My 'no jellyfish' comment may have been a bit premature. There seemed to be fewer in the south part but there are certainly plenty in there!



They've put nets all along the beaches but there are still some inside the nets.


Incidentally, the small fishing boat came and anchored within feet of us despite there being no other boats for miles..
 
That's a lot of jellyfish. Does anyone know where they all come from? They can't have just grown, can they? When I was there in July there were hardly any, clearly now its jellyfish soup.
 
That's a lot of jellyfish. Does anyone know where they all come from? They can't have just grown, can they? When I was there in July there were hardly any, clearly now its jellyfish soup.

They bloom like that around Mallorca from time to time, last week it was looking like their numbers were about to increase dramatically, I think it's the same type of jelly fish as in the video above too.

I'm assuming it's a seasonal or conditions based thing, I'm guessing they all 'hatch' and grow at the same time.
 
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