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Diving In Spain - A Guide
Diving is unlike anything else except, perhaps, going into space, but better. And Spain provides many interesting dive sites. With over 4000km of coastline Spain offers a choice of sites for beginners to the most experienced of divers.
Combining both adventure and sport scuba, diving in Spain is fun and promotes awareness about nature conservation.
It is possible to dive all year round in Spain however the warm Mediterranean waters of southern Spain offer a more comfortable experience and there are many companies along the here that are more likely to speak English than in the less touristy areas of Spain.
Of particular note are the Illes de Medes, a series of protected since 1983, small islands off the coast of the Costa Brava. Here you will find over 1000 species of marine and animal life. Alongside is Dolphin Cave, a 15m dive site.
The Pecio del San Andrés is a paddle steamship made of steel, which sank in 1856 during a storm. Although its official name is el Miño, it is more commonly known among divers as El San Andres. Just parts of the wreck are left, notably the stern and paddle wheels.
Other general highlights are the abundance of Moray eels, Wrasse, soft corals, scorpion fish and octopi along the coastline of the Costa del Sol.
The Atlantic coast is less popular for divers due to the less developed tourism in the area but still offers some great dive sites. The waters here are colder and English is less widely spoken however the areas of San Sebastian and La Coruna are the main dive centres on this coast.
The Balearic and Canaries are good dive locations with Tenerife being the jewel of the islands where Stingrays , Sharks, Baracuda and Octopii can be seen as well as some spectacular geological formations.
Visibility in all dives sites is good to very good.
Spanish Law states you must be over 16 years of age to engage in scuba diving activities in Spain. Some autonomous regional governments have passed their own laws to relax this limit - but please do check with local dive centers before booking and ensure you have adequate insurance to cover you for this activity.
Best time to dive:
Summers are hot, Spring and Autumn mild. The best time for diving is May to September, although the Canaries offer great year-round diving.
Spain has a huge variety of diving sites, here are the most popular:
Places to Dive in Spain:
COSTA BLANCA:
Costa Blanca South: The area of Santa Pola / La Marina, located 30 minutes south of Alicante offers wreck and reef diving, deep diving and a range of courses. An added plus in this area is the Island of Tabarca situation 20 minutes by boat from the main costline, however diving within this marine reserve will require a special permit.
Costa Blanca North: Located in Javea, dive schools will take you to a number of the 10 sites located just off the coast.
COSTA BRAVA:
Located around the area of Estartit, Medes Islands Nature reserve there are a number of dive sites to explore. Further along the coast, the area of Rosas, Cap de Creus Natural park offers a unique location between 2 different coastal types and has a number of relatively unspoilt dive sites offering dramatic underwater scenery.
COSTA DEL SOL:
Marbella and the surrounding areas of Fuengirola, Torremolinos and Benalmadena are situated in the heart of Spain's Costa del Sol. Dive centres here offer PADI courses and train all divers from entry level up to and including Dive Master. Dives sites include Torreblanca reef, Nerja and Tarifa.
ALCUDIA:
In Alcudia there is a British owned dive centre with English, German and Spanish speaking instructors, offering a full range of PADI courses up to and including Instructor.
There are facilities including classrooms and heated training pools based in Porto Pollensa (Club Pollentia) Playa De Muro (Esperanza Complex) and a booking centre in Alcudia Mar. Open water and guided shore dives are some are among the packages offered. M
COSTA TROPICAL:
Salobreña, Motril, Almuñécar, La Herradura, Nerja or Calahonda
Suitable, safe and interesting dive spots are the locations and both courses and fun dives are available. Located close to Granada and Malaga airports, this area is great for holidays where some of the party dives and others don't as there are so many other water sports and tourist attractions on land, it makes the perfect holiday for all.
MENORCA:
Menorca offers a range of diving, from Caves and wrecks to beginners and padi courses. Along the beautiful coastline there are many different types of courses, day and course dives on offer.
ALMUNECA:
Located in a beautiful location on Granada's tropical coast. There are 9 dives sites in the area in total including Punta de la Mona, Marina del Esta, Tres Picos and Cantarrijan. With shore diving, open water and a variety of courses available, this area is a great location for a dive holiday.
COSTA AZAHAR:
You will find 8 dives sites, including the island columbrettas, located around the area of Oropesa.
CABO DE GATA:
Las Negras is a beautiful fishing village located in Cabo de Gata - Nijar Natural Park. With it's crystal clear waters this area is great for not only diving but snorkelling aike.
LLORET DE MAR:
Situated just North of Barcelona, the area of Lloret de Mar is popular with British tourist. A number of dives as well as other watersports including water skiing are readily available here. Close proximity to Girona airport makes this area easily accessible even for just a short break or weekend stay.
ALMERIA:
LA MANGA:
Situated in the South east corner of Murcia, La Manga, Cabo de Palos offers a wide range of dives including recreation and Tech diving as well as courses and dives are offered to wrecks, reefs, caves and submerged pinnacles of volcanic rock. 8 main dives sites are offered as well as deeper dive sites for the more experienced. The added benefit for divers here is that the Mediterranean lying to the east has summer water temperatures of 26-28C
About the Author
Julie Suttle has lived and worked in Spain with various estate agents for 4 years. Using her experience in her roles within the property industry, she is now a director of www.spanishholidaysdirect.com a Spanish property rental site offering you a wide choice of rental properties throughout spain. Also offering a low cost way to advertise your Spanish holiday home to 1000's of potential holiday makers.