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Spain is a country in the Iberian Peninsula bordered by Portugal at the western end of the Mediterranean Sea. It is also surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and Cantabrian Sea. These nutrients rich waters ensure that the diving in Spain is not only diverse but also teeming with excellent marine biodiversity.
Some of the popular dive sites are not far from Spain's coastlines such as the Medas Islands marine reserve that has been established since 1983 sporting large pelagic fishes such as shoals of barracuda, jacks, eagle rays, bonito, and groupers.
In the south near the straits of Gibraltar; Granada, Málaga, and Cádiz sport warmer waters nearly all year round, which is suitable for beginner divers. There is a difference of water temperature here as you are going further away from the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean towards the warmer Mediterranean, which results to a unique and insanely rich marine biodiversity. Gentle giant mammals such as whales frequently visit the areas to feed on the plankton rich waters. Tarifa is at the most southern part and this is where all the marine action happens but these areas are reserved for advanced divers with experience in drift diving very strong currents.
Wreck divers would love the The Pecio del San Andrés wreck sunk in 1856, which is an old paddle steamship made of steel. Because of its age, the ship is not intact anymore and the remaining parts are the stern and paddle wheels but divers would always experience the classic way of water travel plus the proliferation of marine life in the area. There are more wrecks further north, with over 400 shipwrecks.
The government of Spain has been actively participating in marine conservations since 1983. Testament to this cause is the prolific marine biodiversity in the popular Medas Islands marine reserve.
Spain has a Mediterranean climate in the East Coast and Temperate climate in the North and Western coasts.
The water temperature hovers around 13°C/55F in winter and around 24°C/75F in summer.
Diving season is year round on the Mediterranean and between April to October on the Atlantic coast.
There are a number of entry points into Spain. Spain is a member of the Schengen Agreement so it is easy for those coming in from neighbouring European countries to just drive with their cars or take the train.
Most visitors would take air travel though as Spain has a lot of international airports. Its national carrier Iberia serves both international and domestic flights.
There are plenty of low cost carriers such as the Vueling, easyJet, Ryanair, Blue Air, and Jet2.com not to mention that they serve flights to the prestigiously designed airports of Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao.
In the mainland, it is common to take the buses, trains, taxis, and rental cars.
The general transportation system of Spain is excellent.
Use the following links for more information about;
- Decompression Chambers in Spain
- Foreign Travel Advice for Spain (UK Government)
- More about Spain (Wikipedia
El Hierro, Spain
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Fuerteventura, Spain
Most noted for its amazing climate, Fuerteventura was chosen among 500 European destinations by the Quality Coast[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=QualityCoast&action=edit&redlink=1] International Certification Program of the European Coastal and Marine Union as one of the most attractive tourist destinations for visitors interested in cultural heritage, environment and sustainability. The climate...
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Gran Canaria, Spain
Gran Canaria was formed by volcanic eruptions and, although there are no active volcanos any more, one can easily recognise the volcanic origin: Canyons, Cliffs, dark rock formations. The north of the island is mainly enjoying the winds and currents coming from the north....
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Ibiza, Spain
Ibiza is an island in Mediterranean sea, the 3rd largest in Balearic Islands. Ibiza is also known for its native name Eivissa. Catalan & Spanish are two major languages in Ibiza. Ibiza is known for its great night life, not to...
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La Palma, Spain
La Palma is one of the smallest of the Canary islands, also called “isla bonita”. It is famous for its rough volcanic landscape and the green forests, for the clear sky and the biggest telescope of the world in the observatory on...
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Lanzarote, Spain
The diving in Lanzarote is set in a very spectacular environment. The dramatic volcanic landscape on the surface continues underwater with lava flows and many caves and caverns to explore. The volcanic eco system sustains a great concentration of life ranging from...
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Mataró, Spain
Mataró is only 20 minutes from Barcelona, with a nice big beach and nice old commercial downtown, especially in La Riera, and Barcelona streeet. You can also go for a quiet walk in Mataró’s downtown, which also is city’s commercial center. Mataró...
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Santa Pola, Spain
With year round warm temperatures and an abundance of marine life, the Costa Blanca is not only a sensational and extremely popular tourism destination – it is a great place to learn or continue diving. The town of Santa Pola is located...
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Tenerife, Spain
The largest of the Canary Islands has a dramatic landscape above and below water with its volcanic origins creating an underwater world full of spectacular rock formations and a rich diverse marine life. Tenerife is the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands off...
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