Marine life
Costa Brava, this enchanting name refers to the Catalan coast that face the Mediterranean Sea for 256 kilometers. It starts from the French border and extends as far as Blanes, at the river Tordera. This coastline offers a wide range of diving sites from many cities such as Roses, Barcelona, Escala, Estartit, Palamos, Tossa de Mar, Mataro and Sant Feliu de Guíxols. These places of tourist interest during the summer period also attract divers who are curious to discover the aquatic richness of its waters and the typical reliefs of the Mediterranean. Diving spots are often accessible by boat because of their location along the coast, in creeks, around uninhabited rocky islets or near steep cliffs. There are no less than 4 natural reserves on the Costa Brava, three of which are open to scuba divers. Let’s discover together the best dive sites of the Mediterranean cost of Spain:
Where to dive in the Catalan Coast
Cap de Creus
It is the largest marine reserve of Catalonia. It opened in 1998 and quickly became a reference on the Costa Brava. There are magnificent reefs, rocks covered with large red, violet and yellow gorgonians, dry and underwater caves. This park is also a haven for underwater species and it allows to discover all the richness of the Mediterranean fauna and flora. In large numbers there are groupers, dentists, barracudas and nudibranchs. It is not uncommon to see one or more whales on the surface.
The Formigues Islands
It forms a group of 16 islets of bare rocks between Palamós and Palafrugell. The shallow seabed from 10 meters to 50 meters has an interesting relief made up of large rocks and caves that offers many hiding places to an abundant colony of multicolored gorgons. You can also dive on the wreck of the tug Boreas in the vicinity.
Medes Islands
Those silands are an archipelago protected since 1983 and located only 1km from Estartit. There is no fishermen in those waters and it is then and ideal place to observe the great diversity of Mediterranean species.
When should we leave?
The tourist season focuses mainly on the months of July and August. If you want to enjoy calmer conditions, you should try to go there in of May, June or September, October. Furthermore, some of the species can only be observed at certain periods. Thus, the best period to dive with nudibranchs and moon fish is from April and May.
Diving conditions
The visibility in the Mediterranean Sea is often good and ranges from 15 to 40 meters.
Marine currents are not very strong except on some specific diving sites on the open sea. You will be able to check the most suitable dive sites with your dive center after booking.
Levels required: Beginners and experienced divers will find on the Costa Brava an ideal place for their diving trip in spain.
The temperature of the water varies from 14 ° C in February to 26 ° C in August.
What to see in scuba diving?
Diving in Spain
and more particularly on the Costa Brava is the opportunity for every diver to discover the beauty of the typical reliefs of the Mediterranean and to be amazed by a rich, varied and colorful fauna. In this aquatic garden composed of posidonia fields, red coral, giant and multicolored gorgonian, live, in perfect harmony, many different species of fish. There are of course groupers and sars, emblematic fishes of the Mediterranean sea but also many other species such as eagle rays, sting rays, barracudas, capons, wolves, morays, congers, tunas, moon fish, scorpion fish, sea brean, girelles, dentists, cuttlefish, octopus, red mullets, saups, sea spiders, sea cicadas, lobsters and more.
