Safety · Destination Guide
Mediterranean walls, grouper-filled islets, and Costa Brava villages in one easy land-based trip
Updated Apr 20, 2026 • 34 sources
Costa Brava diving is accessible, but it is still Mediterranean boat diving in a protected area with cold-water seasons, current, overhead-looking swim-throughs, variable visibility, and strict conservation rules. The safest trips use local guides, conservative depth choices, and flexible site planning.
Check wind, current, visibility, and route before every dive. Descend on the buoy line when briefed, carry a DSMB, monitor no-decompression limits, and stay within your certification. Treat La Vaca, Dofi, and other tunnel sites as guided swim-throughs, not cave-training playgrounds. Normal recreational diving should not continue into areas where daylight is lost or where the route exceeds your training. Reggio Messina and deeper walls require strong buoyancy, gas planning, and comfort in reduced visibility.
Emergency response uses Spain's 112 system and maritime rescue through Salvamento Maritimo. The nearest commonly referenced hyperbaric facility for Costa Brava diving is at Hospital de Palamos. Serious cases may involve local EMS, maritime rescue, the operator, and dive-insurance medical teams. DAN Europe provides a 24/7 emergency medical line for insured divers and general dive emergency coordination.
Do not treat Medes caves as casual overhead dives
Responsible-diving guidance warns against recreational penetration where daylight is lost or beyond normal depth limits. Bubbles and fins can damage ceiling life, and narrow passages are not training shortcuts.
Currents can surprise divers on exposed points
Sites such as Carall Bernat can have current even in summer. Follow the guide, descend on the line when briefed, and carry a DSMB.
Cold water lasts longer than the beach season suggests
Air temperatures can feel springlike while the sea is still cold. Pack thicker neoprene for April, May, October, November, and any winter diving.
August pressure affects permits, parking, and restaurants
High season is convenient but busy. Book Medes boats, accommodation, rental cars, and dinner tables in advance, especially for family groups.
The Medes Islands are famous because protection works. Follow the briefing, do not feed fish, do not touch groupers, gorgonians, corals, sponges, or Posidonia, and maintain neutral buoyancy before approaching walls. Photographers should avoid bracing, kneeling, or forcing wildlife into the open. Cave bubbles can damage ceiling organisms, and careless finning can break slow-growing coralligenous communities. Use reef-safe sun practices and never leave plastic or fishing line behind.
Do Not Do This
Avoid entering when do not treat medes caves as casual overhead dives. Confirm local briefings before committing.
| Contact | Role | Phone | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency services Spain | General emergency medical, fire, police, and rescue dispatch | 112 | 24/7 |
| Salvamento Maritimo | Spanish maritime rescue for incidents at sea | +34 900 202 202 and VHF Channel 16 | 24/7 |
| Hospital de Palamos | Nearest referenced hospital and hyperbaric support for Costa Brava diving | +34 972 60 01 60 | Emergency hospital services 24/7; confirm hyperbaric activation through EMS |
| DAN Europe emergency hotline | Dive accident medical advice and insurance emergency coordination | +39 06 42115 685 | 24/7 |
| Montgri, Medes Islands and Baix Ter Natural Park office | Park information and protected-area administration | +34 972 75 17 01 | Office hours |