Safety · Destination Guide
Mediterranean walls, coves, macro life, and easy marina logistics on Spain's Costa Tropical
Updated Apr 20, 2026 • 26 sources
La Herradura is accessible, but it still requires Mediterranean discipline: respect protected-area rules, use local sea-state judgment, carry visible surface markers, and treat cold water as a real risk outside summer. For any suspected decompression illness, call emergency services and DAN rather than self-driving to a chamber.
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.
Protected-area no-dive and no-apnea polygons
Scuba and apnea are prohibited in designated Maro-Cerro Gordo restriction areas, including Cerro Gordo Reserve and Playa Molino de Papel polygons. Outside prohibited zones, scuba in the protected natural area requires prior authorization from the competent authority, usually handled through local operators.
Cold water under sunny skies
Winter and early spring can look mild from shore, but water temperatures may require 7mm or semi-dry protection. Thermal stress is a real planning issue for repetitive dives and freedive surface intervals.
Boat traffic in summer
July and August bring more boats, paddleboards, kayaks, and swimmers around popular beaches and Marina del Este. Use DSMBs, visible floats, local briefings, and conservative routes.
Pebble entries, slippery rocks, and surge
Some coves have pebbles, rock shelves, or awkward entries. Wear booties or water shoes, keep hands off living rock, and skip exposed edges when surge builds.
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.
Do Not Do This
Avoid entering when protected-area no-dive and no-apnea polygons. Confirm local briefings before committing.
| Contact | Role | Phone | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 112 Emergencias | Spain-wide emergency number | 112 | 24/7 |
| Salvamento Maritimo | Spanish maritime rescue coordination | +34 900 202 202 | 24/7 |
| DAN Europe Emergency Hotline | Diving medical emergency advice and evacuation coordination support | +39 06 4211 5685 | 24/7 |
| Puerto Deportivo Marina del Este | Local marina office and harbor assistance | +34 958 640 801 | Marina operating hours, confirm locally |