If there's one thing that genuinely sets Jávea apart from every other town on the Costa Blanca, it's the water. The bay here — flanked by Cabo de la Nao to the south and Cabo de San Antonio to the north — creates a naturally sheltered, crystal-clear stretch of Mediterranean that is quite simply one of the best places in Spain to get in, on, or under the sea. I've been living here for ten years, and I still catch myself staring at it like I did on day one.
September is, without question, the finest month for water sports in Jávea. The sea temperature sits at a blissful 24–26°C, the summer crowds have thinned out, the light is golden, and the water visibility for snorkelling and diving is at its annual peak. If you're planning a trip and wondering what to do in the water, this is your guide.
Boat Hire in Jávea: Everything You Need to Know
Renting a boat is the single best way to explore Jávea's coastline, and the good news is you don't need a licence for boats up to 6 metres with engines under 40hp. This opens up a huge amount of the bay to independent explorers.
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Find rentals →Where to hire: The main cluster of hire companies is down at Jávea Port, specifically along the Avenida del Puerto. Companies like Rent A Boat Jávea and Xàbia Nàutica offer well-maintained RIBs and small motorboats by the hour or full day. Prices in September 2026 run from around €80–€120 for a half-day on a licence-free boat, rising to €180–€280 for larger vessels that require a skipper or licence.
Where to go: Head south around the headland towards Cala Blanca and Cala del Portixol — these are only really accessible by boat and they are stunning. The water in the coves directly beneath Cap Prim is electric blue and so clear you can watch fish from the boat without getting in. If you push further south towards Granadella (technically just outside Jávea but well worth it), you'll find one of the most dramatic natural harbours on the entire Costa Blanca.
Practical tip: Start early. By 11am in September the bay gets busy with day-trip boats from Dénia and Calpe. If you're on the water by 9am, you'll have the coves almost entirely to yourself.
Snorkelling in Jávea: The Best Spots
Jávea is genuinely exceptional for snorkelling. The combination of rocky headlands, Posidonia seagrass meadows, and protected marine reserve status around Cabo de San Antonio means the underwater life here is incredibly rich — grouper, octopus, sea bream, moray eels, and clouds of small fish are all common sightings.
La Granadella: About 10 minutes south of the Arenal beach by car, this is arguably the best shore-snorkelling spot in the whole area. The cove itself is beautiful (though busy in August — far calmer by mid-September), and the rocks to the right as you face the sea hold huge amounts of marine life. Bring your own gear or hire from the small chiringuito on the beach.
El Portitxol: A protected cove accessible via a short walk from the Cabo de la Nao road. The water is shallow and transparent, and the seagrass beds here are a designated protected zone — you'll see sea horses if you're very lucky and very quiet.
Cala Blanca: Best reached by boat, but if you're a confident swimmer it's a short swim from the rocks near Cap Prim. The visibility here in September regularly exceeds 20 metres.
Snorkelling kit hire: Several shops near the Arenal beach rent full sets (mask, fins, snorkel) for around €10–€15 a day. Dive Planet near the port also sells and rents quality gear.
Scuba Diving in Jávea
The Cabo de San Antonio Marine Reserve — the protected waters on the northern side of Jávea's bay — is one of the most biodiverse dive sites in the western Mediterranean. Strict fishing restrictions since the 1990s mean the fish populations here are extraordinary by Spanish standards.
Dive Planet Jávea (based at the port) is the most established operator in town and runs guided dives, PADI courses, and boat trips into the reserve daily. Their instructors are excellent and genuinely passionate about the local marine environment. A single guided dive with equipment runs roughly €45–€60; a PADI Open Water course over several days costs around €350–€400.
Best dive sites: - La Araña — a rocky reef at 12–18 metres with resident grouper and octopus - Bajo de la Creu — a submerged rock pinnacle at 20–30 metres, excellent for larger species - El Descubridor — a deliberate artificial reef (a sunken boat) that has become encrusted with life
September and October are peak months for visibility and water temperature, making this genuinely the best time of year to dive here.
Kayaking & Paddleboarding (SUP)
For something more gentle, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) are brilliant ways to explore the coastline at your own pace.
Kayak Jávea operates from the Arenal beach and rents single and double kayaks from around €12–€18 per hour. Their guided kayak tours to Cala del Portixol (about 3 hours round trip, stopping for a swim) are particularly popular and run most mornings in September.
For SUP, several operators on the Arenal rent boards for €15–€20 per hour. The bay is generally calm in the mornings before the sea breeze picks up around midday, making early sessions ideal for beginners.
Jet Skiing & Motorised Thrills
If you want something faster, jet ski hire is available from the beach area near the Parador. Prices run around €60–€80 for 30 minutes. There are clearly marked zones where powered craft are permitted, away from swimmers — guides are provided with the hire.
Wakeboarding and water skiing are also available through some of the port-based operators during summer and early autumn.
Sailing in Jávea
The Club Náutico de Jávea is a proper sailing club with a long history in the bay. They run sailing courses for beginners (including week-long intensive courses) and rent Hobie Cats and small dinghies to those with experience. For those who simply want to enjoy the bay under sail, several skippered sailing trips depart from the port daily — a 3–4 hour sunset sail with drinks is a genuinely memorable experience, and companies like Velero Sol offer this for around €45–€60 per person.
Practical Tips for Water Sports in Jávea
- Best time of day: Early morning for calm water and empty coves; avoid 12pm–3pm when sea breezes can kick up chop
- Parking at La Granadella: Limited — arrive before 9am or use the upper car park and walk 10 minutes down
- Sunscreen: Use reef-safe sunscreen without oxybenzone — the Posidonia meadows are fragile and protected
- Marine reserve rules: No anchoring on seagrass, no fishing without a licence, respect the buoyed exclusion zones
- September bonus: Water sports prices often drop 10–20% compared to July/August rates
Stay Close to the Water
The best base for water sports in Jávea is a rental property near the Arenal beach or within easy reach of the port. Browse our holiday rentals in Jávea to find villas, apartments, and houses perfectly positioned for an active water holiday — and remember, booking direct with JV Properties saves you up to 18% compared to Airbnb or Booking.com. No middleman, no inflated fees, just more money in your pocket for boat hire.
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Whether you're here for a week or two, spending time on and under the water in this bay is one of those experiences you'll genuinely talk about for years. The Mediterranean doesn't get much better than this.
