DIVING IN SPAIN
Diving wise, Spain is considered as the Caribbean of Europe. The variety
of its dive sites is tremendous. You can find from cold water diving
similar to for example, the Canadian East Coast to all year around warm
water diving in the Canary Islands (off the west coast of Africa) and of
course, Mediterranean diving.
Conditions vary therefore depending where you dive and in which time of
year you dive, except in the Canary Islands where the conditions are
very similar all year round. There are plenty of Dive Centers along its
coasts, specially around the Mediterranean. Most diving certifications
are welcomed and most Dive Centers are associatted to International
Diving Organisations. The most commonly found are (in alphabetical
order): ACUC, FEDAS/CMAS, PADI and SSI.
In case of emergencies, Spain has a good hyperbaric chamber and
emergency transportation system. Since November 1997 you must have a
Diver's Accident Insurance to dive in Spain. If you do not have one,
most dive centers will be able to sell you one. The most popular one is
the RDI (Real Divers Insurance). The benefit of this insurance is that
it is valid for a year from the date you purchase it and it is also
valid worlwide, so even if you purchase it in Spain, it will continue to
cover you wherever you dive for a full year, including your own country.
It cost aproximately $US 35 a year.
Some of the most popular dive sites in Spain are:
Medas Islands, in L'estartit (Girona) in the North Eastern coast of
Spain. Water temperature varies from around 12 degrees centigrades in
the winter to about 22 degrees in the summer. Visibility is usually good
(15 - 20 meters), except when it rains, that the water turns muddy.
Undoubtly the most popular spot in continental Spain. Is a Marine
Reserve and it has excellent and varied dive and accomodation services.
Columbretes Islands in Castellon, located in the Mediterranean Sea,
almost in the middle of the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Water
temperature varies from around 14 centigrades in the winter to about 24
degrees in the summer. Visibility is usually very good (20 to 25
meters). They are far from the mainland, so make your arrangements
beforehand through one of the Dive centers in the area. Diving is not
allowed during January and February.
Tabarca Island Reserve in Alicante, in the Mediterranean Sea, almost in
the middle of the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Water temperature varies
from around 14 centigrades in the winter to about 24 degrees in the
summer. Visibility is usually very good (20 to 25 meters). Special
permits are required to dive in the Tabarca Island reserve, so make your
arrangements before hand through one of the Dive centers in the area.
Balearic Island. Several Islands set in the middle of the Mediterranean
Sea. Some of the more popular ones are the well known Mallorca or Ibiza
Islands. Water temperature varies from around 12 centigrades in the
winter to about 24 degrees in the summer. Visibility is usually good (15
to 25 meters). Very good dive center and accomodation services and
excellent after diving dry activities.
Calabardina, near Aguilas in Murcia in the South Eastern Mediterranean
coast of Spain. Great and abundant sea life. Water temperature varies
from 14 degrees in the winter to over 24 degrees in the summer.
Visibility varies depending on the weather, from 5 meters to 25 meters
is possible. Plan ahead for accomodations, especially in the summer
months, as there are not too many hotels in the area as yet and is a
very popular spot with spanish divers.
La Herradura, near Granada in the Southern Mediterranean coast of Spain.
Water temperatures varies from 12 centigrades in winter to about 20
centigrades in the summer. Visibility varies depending on the weather,
from 5 meters to 25 meters is possible. Excellent area for macro
photography. Good Dive Center structure but plan ahead for
accomodations, especially in the summer months, as there are not too
many hotels in the area as yet. For those that like to mix activities,
this place offers the possibility of combining snow skiing with scuba
diving trips in the winter, as it is located at aproximately one hour
car trip from Sierra Nevada, one of the best snow skiing places of
Europe.
Canary Islands. The closest thing to the Caribbean that Europe has to
offer. A group of Islands belonging to Spain set in the Atlantic, off
the western coast of Africa, about a 3 hour flight from Madrid. Great
diversity of diving and plenty of sea life. Water temperatures varies
from 18 centigrades in winter to about 24 centigrades in the summer.
Visibility is usually good, in the 15 to 25 meters range. Very good Dive
center and accomodations structure, however, one of Islands that is most
popular with divers, called El Hierro, hardly has any accomodations
available, so if you are planning to go to El Hierro, plan ahead for
accomodations. If your Travel Agent can not help you find accomodations
in El Hierro, contact one of the local Dive Centers before you come and
they will try to help you finding accomodations.
These are only some of the most popular dive sites of Spain, but there
are many more. You can also do some very interesting dives in Northern
Spain, in the Cantabric Sea (part of the Atlantic), such as for example
The Cies Islands, etc.
When you consider the many other things that Spain has to offer, perhaps
you should also discover Spain as a diving (and much more)
destination...Many Europeans have already done so.
Juan Rodriguez
ACUC Europe
Tel: +34 91 7668412
Fax: +34 91 7668651
web: http://www.acuc.es