La Herradura and Marina del Este

Use licensed local operators for Maro-Cerro Gordo routes, and ask about authorization, oxygen, guide ratios, boat pickup procedures, and the day's Plan B. Carry a DSMB and spool, especially around boat traffic and headlands. Shore entries can involve pebbles, slippery rock, and surge, so wear booties and abort if exit conditions deteriorate. In winter and early spring, plan shorter dives, longer surface intervals, and thicker exposure protection. For freediving, never train alone, use a buoy and flag, and avoid all protected no-apnea zones.

For a dive accident, call 112 first, then contact DAN Europe if available through your membership or operator. Do not self-transport a suspected decompression illness case unless instructed by emergency medical services. Local first response may route through coastal emergency services, Motril, Granada, Malaga, or a hyperbaric provider depending on triage and availability. Operators should carry oxygen on boats and at the dive center, but divers should verify this before booking, especially for remote or protected-area routes.

Maro-Cerro Gordo is a protected natural area and part of a Mediterranean protected seascape. Do not collect shells, organisms, archaeological material, or rocks. Do not touch, feed, chase, or harass wildlife. Maintain neutral buoyancy over invertebrate-covered rock, avoid fin contact in swim-throughs, and keep cameras and gauges from dragging. Private boaters should follow navigation and anchoring limits. Snorkelers and freedivers have the same responsibility as scuba divers, even in shallow coves.