Museos Flotantes: Submarino S-61 Delfín y Patrullero Albatros III

In the marina of Torrevieja, two decommissioned vessels have been converted into museums: the submarine S-61 Delfín and the patrol boat Albatros III, one from the Navy and one from Spain's customs surveillance service, together telling the story of naval life from the inside.

The submarine Delfín

The S-61 Delfín, 57.75 metres long, entered service on 3 May 1973 and remained operational for thirty years, until its decommissioning on 10 September 2003. In that time it completed more than 2,500 voyages, logged over 30,000 hours submerged, and carried more than a thousand sailors over its career. Torrevieja presented the submarine with its battle flag in 1974, a connection that explains why the Navy donated it to the town council after retirement. It reached the port on 8 May 2004 and became the first floating museum of its kind in Spain; in its first decade alone it drew more than a million visitors. The interior route crosses several of its chambers, from the torpedo room to the control room, giving a physical sense of what weeks underwater in such a cramped space actually meant.

The patrol boat Albatros III

The Albatros III spent 33 years with Spain's Customs Surveillance Service, tasked with chasing smugglers along the Spanish coast, before joining Torrevieja's floating museums on 23 March 2006. At 32 metres long and capable of 30 knots, it represents a different side of maritime patrol, built for pursuit rather than military defence.

Admission is ticketed and covers both vessels, moored side by side. The visit pairs well with the Museo del Mar y de la Sal nearby, and with a walk along the Dique de Levante, which starts almost from the same harbour.