Almuñécar, on Granada’s Costa Tropical, is moving closer to unveiling a striking new underwater attraction designed to boost year-round tourism while protecting marine life. The Parque Azul de Vida Submarina, an ambitious underwater park combining art, culture and environmental conservation, is expected to begin taking shape offshore in the coming months, with full completion in time for summer 2026.
With a budget of nearly €900,000, the project will transform part of the seabed just off Almuñécar’s coast into a submerged landscape of sculptures and artificial reefs. A total of 140 underwater structures will be installed at depths of between 15 and 25 metres, creating a network of dive sites aimed primarily at recreational divers.
According to Francisco Rodríguez, the councillor responsible for the project, the first sculptures are already being manufactured and will soon be placed on the seabed. He explained that the designs will reproduce emblematic elements of the town’s identity, including arches, mosaics and historical remains, reimagined for an underwater setting.
“These are figures that reflect Almuñécar’s heritage, but in a completely new environment,” Rodríguez said. “It is a way of bringing our history beneath the sea while creating something unique for visitors.”
The sculptures have been designed by Baschi Innovation 2021, S.L., and draw inspiration from the Phoenician, Roman and Islamic civilisations that have shaped Almuñécar over more than 3,000 years. Local officials say the park will serve not only as a tourist attraction but also as a submerged reminder of the town’s long and varied cultural past.
Tourism councillor Beatriz González Orce said the aim is to have the park ready before the second quarter of 2026. “Our objective is to complete it before then so it can become a key part of Almuñécar’s tourism offer,” she said.
Beyond its cultural appeal, the project has a strong environmental focus. The town hall has stressed that the submerged structures will function as artificial reefs, providing shelter and breeding grounds for fish and other marine species. Officials believe this could help improve marine biodiversity along this stretch of the Costa Tropical, while also reducing pressure on natural reefs.
The underwater park is also seen as a strategic move to strengthen tourism outside the traditional summer season. Diving tourism typically attracts visitors throughout the year, potentially benefiting local dive centres, hotels, restaurants and other businesses.
The Parque Azul de Vida Submarina forms part of the Green Transition and Sustainability Axis of the Almuñécar–La Herradura Sustainable Tourism Destination Plan. It is financed through Next Generation EU funds and is included in Spain’s Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, which supports sustainable tourism and climate-focused initiatives.
If successful, the project could position Almuñécar as a leading destination for underwater tourism in southern Spain, offering visitors a rare opportunity to explore history, art and marine life beneath the Mediterranean’s surface.
