News
Wining and Diving in Cala Joncols, Spain
For me, the perfect ending to a full on day’s diving is being surrounded by friends, plenty of wine, eating, chatting and just chilling. During a recent diving holiday to Cala Joncols in Spain I found myself in this very situation with Euro-Divers manager Jan Boelen and his wife Martine. As we polished off the dregs of a surprisingly palatable Grenache Blanc Jan suggested that I should top up with a bottle of the house speciality wine that had been ‘brewed’ of all places underwater. At first I thought Jan was pulling my leg but out popped a bottle complete with barnacles and marine growth. In all my years of travelling I had never heard of such an unusual wine and wanted to find out more. By sheer fluke, my weeks holiday coincided with the ‘sinking’ of a new consignment of 300 bottles, so this gave me an ideal opportunity to photograph the whole production cycle from the initial submersion phase right through to the all important uncorking session at the Espelt vineyard near Gerona.
Jan had made arrangements for me to meet the main inspiration behind the whole project, MD of Espelt vineyard, Xavier Cepero i Yeste. Xavier said “We are people from the sea. We all know fishermen, the sea is all around us and we all dive. We can see the bay from the vineyard so I thought why not put the wine underwater.” Espelt have been operating for the past 12 years and are a family owned business. They have more than 20 hectares of vineyards and produce 4 reds, 4 whites, 4 desert wines and 3 sparkling varieties. Espelt is one of the most dynamic new companies in Spain with an annual growth rate of around 20% each year. Most of the wine is exported.
At the beginning of 2009 Xavier together with the owner of Cala Joncols Hotel, Manuel Gomez Fernandez, became joint partners in an underwater wine venture. Manuel, originally from Barcelona, is a qualified CMAS diving instructor. He has worked at the hotel since 1968 and eventually became the owner in 2000. Cala Joncols bay is way off the beat and track. The hotel is surrounded by olive groves, shrubs, flowers and overhanging plants. Most of the 35 rooms have a sea view, and the pebble beach is only a 30 to 40 metres walk away. There are no other shops, restaurants or bars within close proximity. A big percentage of Manuel’s clientele are scuba divers and outdoor enthusiasts coming from all over Europe, including the UK. Due to the hotel’s peaceful location I would recommend opting for the all-inclusive package.
Euro-Divers are the resident dive centre at the hotel, so naturally Jan was brought in to oversee the underwater wine operations. I watched the JCB hoist the 350kg crate over to the beachfront where Jan strapped on a single 500 litre lifting bag in preparation for the next stage. Jan told me the crate had been packed with a mixed variety of wines from reds to cava’s.
The dive boat slowly manoeuvred the now floating crate out the drop zone somewhere in the middle of the bay. Jan frequently used the protected bay for training and shore dives. He said it was particularly good spot for night dives where divers could always find morays, scorpions, nudibranches, anemones and even seahorses along the steep sided cliffs. In all Cala Joncols offers 18 dives sites inside the Cap de Creus natural park. Boat journeys are no more than 20 minutes each way.
I jumped into the water and watched Jan lower the crate gently onto the seabed 10 metres below. Putting on my diving instructor hat for just one moment, this would be the perfect example for a lifting bag training course. Maybe there could be new PADI distinctive speciality in the midst? How about underwater wine diver? There were a few silvery bream watching the show and a startled scorpion fish darted out of the way just in the nick of time as the crate landed. Jan told me there were quite a lot of ‘teething troubles’ during the early stages of the project. The first batches were dropped to a depth of 20 metres but they found that the water pressure pushed the corks inside the bottles. Moving the crate into shallower water resolved this issue. A number of bottles were ruined by salt water seeping in through the corks so screw caps were fitted instead. But being made of metal they ended up going rusty. After some experimentation silicon corks and plastic sparkling wine corks turned out to be the best option. They also had problems distinguishing between the different wines due to the fact that the labels kept flaking off. Jan suggested a simple colour coded tagging system which seemed to work quite nicely.
The bottles are left on the seabed for a period of around 6 months. Xavier told me that this was all guess work and it just happened that 6 months was okay. I visited Cala Joncols at the end of October so this particular crateful would spend the entire winter period right through to spring 2013 submerged underwater. There are several environmental factors affecting the wine bottles. Under standard factory controlled conditions red wine is stored at a constant temperature of around 14 degrees and white wine between 6 to 10 degrees. But the sea temperature in Cala Joncols bay drops to around 11 or 12 degrees in the winter and then steadily rises to a high of 19 or 20 degrees in the summer months. Weather conditions i.e. waves and surge will also disturb the bottles where normally there wouldn’t be any movement at all.
Judging by my calculations 300 bottles of wine at approximately 18 – 25 euro per bottle is around the 7,000 euro mark. So this works out to be a substantial investment. Jan said that last year they nabbed some sneaky divers trying to steal the whole crate off the seabed. As a deterrent Jan has fitted a lock and chain, which is connected to a large concrete base. They also removed the marker buoy from the surface so the wine was harder to find.
In February 2010 Cala Joncols hotel hosted a big wine tasting event. Experts from all over Spain were invited as well as members of the media. After much gurgling and spitting the underwater wines received a mixed response. Some liked the taste and others were not so enamoured. The reds fared well. The Cava’s – white and rose – were voted the best.
On my last non-diving day before flying back home I decided to visit the Espelt vineyard for my own personal wine tasting afternoon (Euro Divers regularly arrange visits for divers). They offer a full tour of the factory followed by the all important sampling session. I tried a number of reds, whites and sparkling varieties from the underwater batches and the standard processes (and still managed to walk out afterwards!) I found that the underwater wines definitely had a distinct taste. Xavier seemed to think that the wine aged faster underwater. Apart from the cork problem the difference in depth/pressure shouldn’t have any effect on the wine as it’s in a sealed glass bottle. So the fluctuating temperature and the water movement must be the 2 residing factors that change the taste.
The whites and reds cost 18 euro a bottle and the Cava is 25 euro. All the wines are around 14 percent proof. Xavier said “we are not looking to sell this wine to a wider market.” So for now the only place you can buy a bottle of especial vino subacuatico is at Cala Joncols hotel. For the past 2 years they have only sunk 300 bottles each year but the wines popularity is growing fast. To be honest I’m not sure whether this is due to the novelty factor or down to the taste of the wine itself. Xavier concluded “we’re just having some fun.”
To find out more about Euro-Divers Spain, visit www.euro-divers.com/diving/diving-spain.
To find out more about Cala Joncols Hotel, visit www.calajoncols.com.
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Ho Ho Ho! Vobster Quay’s recording-breaking charity Santa diving event returns on Sunday 15th December 2024 for another round of festive fundraising frivolities. Run in aid of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Help For Heroes, this ever-popular annual fundraising event aims to raise sack-loads of cash for these two very deserving charities.
Divers of all levels are invited to grab their Santa outfits – and as much festive cheer as they can muster – and head down to Vobster Quay near Mells, Somerset for a mass sponsored Santa dive in aid of charity. In previous years, the event has attracted divers from the far corners of the UK to join in the festive merriment for a final festive dive before the Christmas and New Year break. Back in 2015, the event smashed the world record for the most Santa divers with 188 divers taking to the waters donning their festive finery – a record that remains unbeaten to this day!
Vobster Santas isn’t just about setting records – it’s also about raising some serious cash for charity. Vobster Quay encourages all divers to get into the spirit of the season to raise much-needed funds for two very deserving charities – the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Help For Heroes.
Through individual sponsorship and online donations, divers can invite their friends, family and work colleagues to sponsor them to plunge into the balmy waters of Vobster Quay dressed in full festive finery. Since the very first Santa dive in 2007, the event has raised over £52,000 for charity. “It’s been over 17 years since the very first charity Santa dive took place at Vobster Quay and every year the event just keeps getting bigger and better” enthused Vobster Quay owner, Amy Stanton.
“Vobster Santas is a great way for divers to say a massive thank you to the both the RNLI and Help For Heroes – two very deserving charities close to our hearts. We’re immensely proud of all that Vobster Santas has achieved and hope that even more divers will join this year’s event on Sunday 15th December. I’m confident that we can make Vobster Santas 2024 the biggest yet!”.
Divers wishing to participate can get involved by simply registering their attendance at
www.vobster.com/event-vobstersantas.php.
Blogs
Dive into Adventure at Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa: The Ultimate Diving Destination in the Maldives
Tucked away in the remote northern Haa Alifu Atoll, Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa is a premier destination for anyone seeking an unforgettable underwater experience. With over 30 dive sites to explore, divers of all levels can witness the unique and mesmerising beauty of the underwater world. Whether you’re a seasoned diver or new to the sport, Hideaway offers an exceptional diving adventure that is not to be missed.
Explore the Beauty Beneath the Surface
Hideaway is perfectly situated near some of the most spectacular dive sites in the Maldives. The dive school and team at Hideaway offer a very personalised experience to ensure each diver gets an interactive, immersive experience.
Email: reservations@hideawaybeachmaldives.com / Call: +960 650-1515 / Website: www.hideawaybeachmaldives.com
Unique dive spots such as Theefaridhoo Thila (Heaven and Hell) as one of the 50 best dive sites in the whole of the Maldives, known for its beautiful soft coral gardens.
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As the resort is located next to a channel which gives guests surprise visits from eagle rays, manta rays, guitar sharks and more.
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One of the standout features of diving in the Haa Alifu Atoll is the abundance of rare and exotic marine species. The area is known for sightings of whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, and a variety of colorful reef fish. Diving at Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa offers a rare opportunity to encounter these creatures in their natural habitat, creating lifelong memories for guests.
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Whether you’re exploring deep coral gardens, dramatic overhangs, or vibrant reef walls, each dive offers something new and exciting. The visibility in the Maldives is exceptional, often exceeding 30 meters, making it ideal for both underwater photography and general exploration.
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Diving for All Levels
At Hideaway, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to experience the thrill of diving. That’s why we cater to divers of all levels, from beginners to experienced professionals. Our professional dive center, led by expert instructors, offers a range of courses and guided dives. If you’re new to diving, you can start with an introductory course that will teach you the basics of scuba diving in a safe and controlled environment.
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For more experienced divers, we offer advanced dive courses and guided excursions to some of the more challenging dive sites. Our instructors are knowledgeable and passionate about the local marine life, ensuring that every dive is not only safe but also informative and enjoyable.
Email: reservations@hideawaybeachmaldives.com / Call: +960 650-1515 / Website: www.hideawaybeachmaldives.com
Exclusive Diving Offer
To make your stay even more unforgettable, Hideaway is offering an exclusive diving package designed to enhance your experience both above and below the water. When you book a minimum 7-night stay, you’ll receive:
- 35% discount on room rates.
- Complimentary diving: 3 dives per person for 2 guests, allowing you to experience the beauty of the Maldives underwater world.
- Free meal plan upgrade: enjoy a complimentary upgrade from Bed & Breakfast to Half Board, or from Half Board to Full Board. Guests who prefer the White Platinum Plan (WPP) can avail it at a discounted rate.
This incredible offer provides the perfect opportunity to experience world-class diving while enjoying all the luxury and comfort that Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa is known for.
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Combinable Offers for Even More Value
This diving offer can also be combined with our Anniversary and Honeymoon offers, allowing you to create the perfect celebration package. Whether you’re celebrating a milestone or simply seeking a romantic getaway, this offer ensures that you can enjoy the best of both worlds – luxurious accommodations and unforgettable diving adventures.
Email: reservations@hideawaybeachmaldives.com / Call: +960 650-1515 / Website: www.hideawaybeachmaldives.com
Terms & Conditions
- This offer is available exclusively for bookings made through the official Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa website using a specific booking code.
- The offer cannot be combined with other promotions available on the website or through other channels, nor can it be redeemed for cash.
- All dives are subject to weather conditions, ensuring the safety and enjoyment of all guests.
- Black-out dates: This offer is not available from 24th December 2024 to 9th January 2025.
To book this exquisite offer, use the Promo Code: SCUBA24FD
Email: reservations@hideawaybeachmaldives.com / Call: +960 650-1515 / Website: www.hideawaybeachmaldives.com
Hideaway is not just a resort; it’s a sanctuary for those seeking peace, adventure, and luxury. With spacious villas, private pools, and world-class dining options, the resort offers everything you need for a perfect holiday. From tennis, golf, gym, cycling to the exquisite underwater activities, unique dining options, Hideaway has something for everyone. And for diving enthusiasts, it provides an unparalleled opportunity to explore some of the most beautiful dive sites in the world.
Email: reservations@hideawaybeachmaldives.com / Call: +960 650-1515 / Website: www.hideawaybeachmaldives.com
Our dive center is fully equipped with state-of-the-art gear, ensuring that every dive is safe, comfortable, and enjoyable. Our instructors are passionate about the underwater world and are eager to share their knowledge with you, whether it’s your first dive or your 100th.
Email: reservations@hideawaybeachmaldives.com / Call: +960 650-1515 / Website: www.hideawaybeachmaldives.com
The Ultimate Dive Adventure Awaits
If you’re looking for an unforgettable diving holiday in the Maldives, look no further than Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa. With over 30 dive sites, unique marine life, and exclusive offers, we provide the ultimate underwater experience. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply seeking adventure, our diving package offers exceptional value and incredible memories.
Book now through our official website to take advantage of this exclusive offer and prepare for the dive adventure of a lifetime.
Email: reservations@hideawaybeachmaldives.com
Call: +960 650-1515
Website: www.hideawaybeachmaldives.com
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