Safety · Destination Guide
Cold-water Atlantic reefs, kelp forests, wreck history, and island day boats from Galicia's green coast
Updated Apr 20, 2026 • 25 sources
The main safety themes are cold water, Atlantic swell, changing visibility, ferry and boat traffic, and national park rules. The main conservation themes are no-take behavior, careful buoyancy over kelp and maerl, no anchoring outside permitted zones, and no disturbance of wildlife or archaeological material.
Use local operators for site selection, especially around Cies, Ons, A Coruna, and Costa da Morte. Carry a DSMB and spool, stay clear of ferry channels and mussel rafts unless diving them with an operator, and expect site swaps when wind or swell changes. Manage cold stress with adequate neoprene or a drysuit, warm surface intervals, and conservative repetitive-dive profiles. Freedivers should use trained buddies, floats, lines, and instructors. Snorkelers should avoid surge zones, slippery rocks, and offshore winds.
For emergencies in Spain, call 112. For maritime distress, use VHF Channel 16 or Salvamento Maritimo emergency contact routes. If decompression illness is suspected, stop diving, administer oxygen if trained and available, keep the diver hydrated and warm if conscious, contact emergency services and your dive insurer, and do not attempt to self-clear symptoms. Vigo has hospital hyperbaric medicine services, but availability and routing should be confirmed through emergency services rather than by self-transport.
Cold water is the default
Do not pack like this is southern Spain. Water commonly sits around 13°C to 17°C, and Cies can feel close to 15°C even in summer.
Atlantic swell can rewrite the day
Site swaps, ferry delays, cancelled dive boats, and rough exposed coastlines are normal planning variables. Build slack into the itinerary.
National park rules are real
Cies and Ons have controlled visitor access, anchoring rules, no-take conservation rules, and authorization requirements for scuba or lead-weighted underwater activity.
Boats, rafts, and fishing gear
Rias Baixas water users share space with ferries, private boats, mussel rafts, fishing lines, and harbor traffic. Use DSMBs, floats, and local guides.
Inside the Atlantic Islands National Park, do not collect shells, rocks, plants, animals, archaeological material, or geological material. Do not disturb, chase, feed, capture, or kill wildlife. Underwater fishing, spearguns, harpoons, and weapons are prohibited in the protected context. Maintain buoyancy over kelp, maerl, sponges, and rocky reefs. Avoid anchoring on sensitive seabeds. Treat seahorses and pipefish as strictly no-touch encounters, and keep cameras and fins away from fragile habitat.
Do Not Do This
Avoid entering when cold water is the default. Confirm local briefings before committing.
| Contact | Role | Phone | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain emergency number | Police, fire, ambulance, and coordinated emergency response | 112 | 24/7 |
| Salvamento Maritimo | Maritime search and rescue | +34 900 202 202 and VHF Channel 16 | 24/7 |
| Xunta de Galicia Atlantic Islands authorization support | Visitor authorization information for Cies and Ons | 012 from Galicia or +34 981 900 643 | Monday to Friday 08:00 to 20:00, excluding regional public holidays |