Logistics · Country Guide
Mediterranean reserves, Atlantic islands, and cold-water north coasts in one country
Updated Apr 26, 2026 • 18 sources
Use this travel brief to set arrival flow, local transit, and gear movement before you lock your itinerary.
Spain is easy to enter through major international airports, then split by region. Use Barcelona or Girona for Costa Brava, Alicante or Region de Murcia for Costa Blanca and Cabo de Palos, Malaga or Almeria for Andalusia and Cabo de Gata, Palma, Ibiza, or Menorca for the Balearics, and island airports or inter-island ferries for the Canaries. Madrid works as a national connector but is rarely the nearest dive gateway unless you are building a rail itinerary.
Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport
MAD • LEMD
15 km to central Madrid • About 30 to 60 minutesutes to city or rail connections
Spain's main long-haul gateway and rail/flight connector for divers continuing to coastal regions.
Transport: Metro, Rail, Airport taxis, Ride-hailing, Car rentals, Domestic flights
Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport
BCN • LEBL
95 km to L'Estartit area • About 90 minutesutes to 2 hourss by road to many Costa Brava dive towns
Main gateway for Barcelona, Costa Brava, and Mediterranean rail or road trips.
Transport: Airport buses, Rail, Taxis, Car rentals, Private transfers
Girona-Costa Brava Airport
GRO • LEGE
55 km to L'Estartit area • About 45 to 75 minutesutes by road
Regional gateway closest to many Costa Brava dive bases.
Transport: Car rentals, Private transfers, Seasonal buses
Use high-speed rail for Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Malaga, Seville, and some northern routes, but rent a car for coves, dive centers, ferry ports, and national parks. In the Canaries, each island usually rewards a car unless you stay beside a dive center. In the Balearics, buses work for main towns, while coves, early dives, and ferry-day logistics are easier with pre-booked transfers or rentals.
Spain is in the Schengen Area. EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens can usually enter with a valid passport or national ID card. Many other visitors can enter visa-free for short stays, while some nationalities need a Schengen visa. Standard short-stay rules are normally up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and passports for non-EU travelers generally need sufficient validity beyond departure plus recent issue date rules. Spain and EU systems are changing with EES and ETIAS, so verify official requirements for your passport before booking non-refundable travel.
Spain has mature dive retail and service hubs in Barcelona, Costa Brava, Valencia, Alicante, Murcia, Malaga, Mallorca, Ibiza, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote. Rental gear is easy in resort areas, but cold-water north trips, technical setups, camera housings, and freedive suits should be confirmed in advance. Airlines and ferries vary on baggage rules; carry computers, masks, regulators, certification, and insurance proof in hand luggage whenever possible.
Euro (EUR)
Cards are widely accepted in cities, resorts, hotels, dive shops, and most restaurants. Carry some cash for small ports, parking, rural cafes, ferry kiosks, tips, and occasional park or shuttle logistics. Island and remote-cove plans are easier when you do not rely on one payment method.
ATMs are common in cities, airports, resorts, and island towns. Availability can thin out near remote coves, small fishing villages, nature parks, and some ferry-day destinations, so withdraw before heading to Cies, Ons, Cabrera, El Hierro villages, or secluded north-coast bases.
230V • 50Hz • C, F
Bring adapters for non-European plugs. Boats, liveaboard-style trips, and small island apartments may have limited charging space, so pack a compact power strip and waterproof battery storage for cameras and torches.
Communications
Spain has strong mobile coverage in cities, resort coasts, and major islands, with 4G and 5G common in populated areas. Expect gaps in remote coves, steep Canary valleys, rural Galicia, exposed north-coast cliffs, and national-park islands. Many dive centers use WhatsApp for schedule updates, weather calls, and document checks.
Language
Spanish is the national language. Catalan is widely used in Catalonia and the Balearics, Basque in the Basque Country, and Galician in Galicia. Dive operators in major hubs often speak English, French, German, or Italian, but north-coast and rural logistics are smoother when you can handle basic Spanish phrases.
Insurance
Dive insurance is strongly recommended and may be required for reserve authorizations or operator check-in. Carry proof that covers scuba, freediving if relevant, hyperbaric treatment, evacuation, and missed-trip costs. EU health cards help eligible travelers access public healthcare but do not replace dive accident, evacuation, or equipment insurance.
Packing list
Pack by region. Mediterranean summer often works with 3mm to 5mm exposure protection, while spring, autumn, northern Spain, and long multi-dive days may need 5mm to 7mm, hood, or vest. Bring SMB, torch for swim-throughs, booties for rocky entries, reusable bottle, reef-safe sunscreen, wind layer, seasickness medication, and printed certification or insurance copies.