Illes Medes Scuba Diving

Home to some of the most spectacular underwater scenery in the Mediterranean, the Illes Medes is a natural habitat for over 1,350 species of marine life. Making this area of the Costa Brava one of the most sought after scuba diving spots in Spain.

The Illes Medes or Islas Medas (in Spanish) is a small and craggy group of islets for dives for all styles. These islands were declared a protected area by the Catalan Autonomous Government in 1983, becoming an important marine reserve in the Western Mediterranean.

Beginners diving no more than 10m (40ft) will be able to spot lobsters and octopuses, while more experienced divers can head out to the rich coral landscapes the thrive in deeper, cooler waters.

Expert divers can explore the caves dug by time out of the rock massif.  Caves like La Vaca (The Cow) feature a series of tunnels that house marine plants and fish, including large Groupers. The mouth of La Vaca is well lit and ideal for photography, while its inner reaches (dark holes) guarantees a thrill.

There is even a wrecked ship nearby, which is one of the divers’ favourite spots to explore. The Reggio Messina, intentionally sunk in 1991, is a short boat ride from the islands and is the largest diveable ship on the coast.

There is a limit on the number of divers that can visit the site, and a complete ban on fishing around this area.

Marine life survives in this area with the help of conservation and also the rich organic life which comes from the nearby inlet of of the River Ter (although this source can sometimes be responsible for a merky dive depending on the amounts of rain).

When diving this area keep a look out for the following species

• marine plants
• octopus
• bream
• lobster
• starfish
• dolphins
• whale sharks
• blue marlins