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Playa de Levante, fringed with skyscrapers, is one of Benidorm’s two main sandy beaches. Its golden sand, deck chairs and facilities make it one of the most popular beaches in the area. If sandy beaches are rarely good snorkeling spots, Playa de Levante is quite different: the seabed facing the beach is covered by huge stone slabs around which many fish find shelter.

School of salema in Playa de Levante
A school of salema over Playa de Levante’s slabs.

How to go snorkeling Playa de Levante?

Playa de Levante is a large sandy beach that borders the city center of Benidorm, a famous seaside resort on Costa Blanca. It extends for more than 2 km between Punta de Pinet, in the east, and Punta Canfali, in the west.

The beach is within walking distance of most neighborhoods of Benidorm. Decent snorkeling is found all along the beach, but its eastern part, which is more rocky and therefore richer in underwater life, is more recommended.

Several coves with good snorkeling are located near Playa de Levante: Cala Mal Pas, just behind Punta Canfali, and Cala Almadabra and Cala Ti Ximo, east of Punta de Pinet.

Levante Beach snorkeling map, Benidorm

Water entrance for snorkeling Playa de Levante

Water entrance is from a sandy beach. This beach can be quite exposed to wind and surf: do not enter the water if the sea is rough.

Playa de Levante snorkeling exploration tips

The eastern part of Playa de Levante is bordered by natural stone slabs, which begins a few meters from the beach. These slabs, many of them geometrically shaped, create an unusual seabed. At the end of the slabs area, some 30 to 70m from the beach, the rocky beds give place to an extensive sandy area .

Ornate wrasse
A colorful ornate wrasse at Playa de Levante.

Playa de Levante slabs and artifical rocks offer an abundance of cracks and small grottos, attracting around them many fish. Ornate wrasse, painted comber, and damselfish live here, where they can benefit from the shelter offered by the rocks. Sally-footed crabs are also common in this area.

Jellyfish in Playa de Levante
A purple jellyfish encountered over the sandy beds.

The rocky area also supports large schools of salema, grazing tirelessly on the microalgae that grow on the rocks. Different species of seabream are also common in Playa de Levante.

Above the sandy beds, two species of jellyfish are sometimes encountered: the purple jellyfish, quite common, and the beautiful fried egg jellyfish (Cotylorhiza tuberculata), much rarer.

Playa de Levante underwater
Playa de Levante hosts a very unusual relief.

Restaurants and accommodation nearby

A very large choice of hotels, restaurants, fast food and supermarkets is available within a 5 minute walk from the beach.

 

  • Level required Beginner
  • Maximum depth12ft/4m
  • Water entranceFrom a sandy beach
  • Visitor numbersMedium to high
  • Access costsFree
  • Restaurants nearbyYes

MAP Spot

These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life.

This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.