Spain
aerial view of Valencia from Pope Luna’s Castle

Spain

Spain is a tourist magnet and is now the second most visited country in the world after France. Its marine environments are equally rich and boast incredible rock formations, ancient shipwrecks, and unique aquatic lifeforms. From world-class dive sites and marine reserves, to romantic Catholic basilicas and imposing Moorish fortresses, the country’s natural and man-made heritage offers travelers endless adventures.

Geography of Spain

Spain occupies a large part of the Iberian Peninsula, which it shares with its smaller neighbor Portugal. It stretches south from the Pyrenees Mountains to the Strait of Gibraltar (with the latter separating it from Africa). On the east side lies the Mediterranean Sea, where Spain's Balearic Islands are situated.

The country is known for its snow-capped mountains, large monuments, and sophisticated cities. Rivers run to the coast, which make it great for farming, and at the center of the country is the Meseta, a broad central plateau found half a mile above sea level. A large fraction of the region is used for cattle ranching and grain production—the same setting that inspired Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes.

The Balearic Islands

Known as Islas Baleares in Spanish, the Balearic Islands are situated in the western Mediterranean Sea near the eastern Spanish coastline. Consisting of the four main islands of Menorca, Formentera, Mallorca, and Ibiza, the islands are a popular tourist destination, with Ibiza, in particular, being a party hotspot.

Formentera

Formentera is an isolated little island that can only be reached by boat. Its crystalline waters offer up to 50 feet of visibility, making it ideal for diving. At Formentera, you’ll find The Pillars of Hercules, which flank the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar. You can also explore the Cave of Light, where you can surface in a tiny vault and watch the sunlight stream into the rocky innards of the cave.

Big Cheese

This reserve stretches 11,000 hectares long, and is set apart by its rugged rocky formation that protrudes out into the sea. Called the Big Cheese, the site gets its name from the rock’s perforation of tunnels, giving it the appearance of a huge block of Swiss cheese. The mild sea currents and several tunnels attract barracudas, groupers, and morays eels. You’ll also witness scorpion fish, common dolphin-fish, and cuttlefish swimming in these waters.

Pont d’En Gil Cavern

Diving in Spain wouldn’t be complete without visiting the Pont d’En Gil Cavern. It’s 220 metres long, making it the longest dive site in the Balearics. Since it stretches far and wide, the cavern has a constant supply of daylight and fresh air so you can behold its magnificent display of stalactites, stalagmites, and cascades.

The Canary Islands

Located in the Atlantic Ocean just off the African coastline, the Canary Islands is an autonomous community of Spain. It consists of eight main islands and numerous smaller islands and islets.

La Catedral

La Catedral contains one of the Canary Islands’ most impressive landscapes. Off the coast of the peninsula, you’ll spot an enormous mass of twisted lava formations, including caves, arches, and vertical dykes. The spot is popular among those who plan to go deep sea diving in Spain because of its rocks and caves. If you’re planning a dive, pack a strobe light so you can properly photograph the view underwater. Advanced divers can descend up to 40 meters for a better view of the structure.

La Restinga

As Europe’s southernmost harbor, La Restinga is ideal for diving as divers can replenish their supplies and visit nearby restaurants. On El Hierro, you’ll find a marine reserve that houses turtles, tuna, dolphins, and whale sharks. After an underwater volcanic eruption in 2011, various marine life moved to La Restinga, making it popular among divers.

Catalonia

Situated in the north east corner of Spain on the border with France, Catalonia is known for its rich culture, sumptuous cuisine, and world-class cities. Its natural wonders, historic wrecks, and marine life are equally intriguing and attract numerous divers each year.

Costa Brava

Costa Brava is a famed 160-kilometer long coastline in Catalonia. The area is home to various dive sites, such as the Reggio Messina wreck, Pedra de Deu, and La Pedrosa. The nearby Formigues Islands is famed for its shipwrecks and was the site of a historic Medieval battle.

Los Ullastres

Los Ullastres is home to three diving spots: Ullastres I, II, and III. There you’ll find the most spectacular pinnacles in the area. The depths range from 19-180 feet, making it suitable for divers of all skill levels. When you take the plunge, you’ll see colorful walls of soft corals. Typical inhabitants of this area include mackerel, tuna, groupers, barracuda, stingrays, and eagle rays.

Costa Del Sol

The “Coast of the Sun” can be found in the southern autonomous community of Andalusia. Known for its perennially sunny weather, annual sunshine hours can reach 3,000 hours. The warm weather and great visibility make diving and snorkeling great all-year round.

Gibraltar

Gibraltar lies at the entrance of the Gibraltar Straits, where the Atlantic Ocean mixes with the Meditteranean Sea, producing a unique mix of flora and fauna. Here you’ll find wrecks dating back to the time of Napoleon and World War II. Schools of boxfish, damselfish, octopus, and cuttlefish abound.

Tres Picos Almunecar

Los Tres Picos takes its name from three large pinnacles rising from the seabed, which translates to “three peaks” in English. Considered to be one of the best dive sites in Spain, the dive begins with a jump into the sea from the rocky shoreline. From there, you’ll plunge into a wall face covered in bright orange coral. The peaks are teeming with various marine life, including octopus and fish.

Costa Blanca

The “White Coast” stretches over 200 kilometers (120 miles) in the province of Alicante. Divers who venture beyond the coast (and the throngs of British and German tourists) will encounter an enchanting plethora of marine life.

Medes Islands

The Medes Islands are a protected marine reserve that features the largest species of flora and fauna in the Mediteranean. Depending on your skill level, you can explore areas with depths ranging from 22-49 feet. From below, you’ll be greeted by caves and tunnels covered in red, purple, and violet corals. Expect to see barracuda, giant groupers, scorpionfish, lobsters, and morays during your dive, too.

Murcia

Murcia is the capital of the region of Murcia and is the seventh largest city in Spain. Divers can expect more than 300 days of sunshine each year and great visibility.

Cala Renona

Want to go on a beach dive with a twist? Cala Renona is a dive spot with a gently sloping bottom that turns into a maze of gullies and rocks teeming with marine life. If you make it to the bottom, you’ll be greeted by an underwater cavern penetrated by light. And you’ll have octopus, nudibranchs, and scorpionfishes to keep you company.

Marine Life

  • Spotted Eagle Rays - The spotted eagle ray can grow up to 11 feet long, making it one of the biggest eagle rays. Unlike other stingrays that stay motionless on the ocean floor, the spotted eagle ray is a foraging predator that feasts on fishes and invertebrates. As the name implies, it is covered in spots and other markings. You can spot them all-year round when you go diving in Spain.
  • Pilot Whales - Pilot whales are the second largest species of whales after the orca. Social by nature, they live in communal pods that usually include about 10 to 20 other pilot whales. The pods follow a leader or “pilot” when traveling, which is where the mammal gets its name.
  • Manta Rays - Manta rays are the largest species of ray that populate tropical, subtropical, and temperate ocean waters. Manta rays have large, flat, and diamond-shaped bodies with triangular pectoral fins. They also have two fins protruding from their head. Even though they are a highly threatened species, you can still spot them while diving in Spain sometime in September.

Other Attractions

Spain’s above-ground attractions are legendary and hardly need an introduction. If you’re looking for major cultural attractions to immerse yourself in, check out these gems:
  • Sagrada Familia - Barcelona starchitect Antoni Gaudi followed an architectural style called Art Nouveau. Criticized by some and revered by many, his fanciful and otherworldly buildings have become cultural landmarks in Catalan. The Sagrada Familia has been in construction since 1883 but it remains unfinished to this day. The Roman Catholic minor basilica features iconic signature mosaics and modernist flourishes.
  • The Alhambra - The Alhambra is a magnificent Moorish fortress and is one of the most well-preserved Islamic structures in the world. The royal palace belonged to the Nasrid dynasty, when An-Andalus represented the epitome of Islamic culture and civilization during the Middle Ages. Inside the Alhambra complex you’ll see towers, walls, gardens, and a mosque. Its intricate stone carvings, graceful arches, and serene courtyards are truly a sight to behold.
  • Guggenheim Museum - American architect Frank Gehry was ahead of his time, and he used the blocks of limestone and sheets of titanium to reimagine the concept of modern architecture. The result: the Guggenheim Museum. Gehry used the city’s industrial and seafaring heritage as inspiration in designing the structure, and no photo has done the museum’s giant, curved, boat-like shape any justice.

How to Get There

By Air
If you’re coming from Europe, traveling to Spain by air is your best option. Book a flight from Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, Barcelona–El Prat Airport, Palma de Mallorca Airport, or the Málaga Airport.

Iberia is the country’s national carrier but other low cost airlines include Vueling, EasyJet, and Ryanair.

By Sea
If you’re coming from the United Kingdom, you’ll need to take a ferry service from Portsmouth and Plymouth to Santander and Portsmouth to Bilbao. These are operated by Brittany Ferries and the journey often takes 24 hours. If you’re coming from France, you can get to Spain by taking a high-speed train that connects Paris with Barcelona and Madrid. Travel time is usually around six hours.

Best Time to Visit

If you’re planning a trip to Spain, schedule it during Spring (March to May) or Fall (September to November). During this time, you can expect fewer crowds and cheaper accommodation rates. On top of that, you won’t have to worry about snow or ice. Overall, September to November are considered to be the best times to dive in Spain due to the pleasant temperatures and fewer tourists.

Required Trainings & Certifications

There aren’t any required trainings or certifications for those who want to go diving in Spain. But if you want to get the most of the dramatic landscapes and marine life, you can take a PADI Deep Diver and PADI Underwater Naturalist course so you’ll feel more comfortable during deep dives. And if you want to record your excursions, you might want to consider taking a PADI Digital Underwater Photographer course.

Miscellaneous Information

Currency
Just like other European Union countries, the currency in Spain is the Euro.

Languages
Castilian Spanish is the official language of Spain, but other co-official languages include the Basque language (Euskera), Galician, and Catalan.

Time Zone
Spain observes Central European Summer Time (GMT+2).

Driving Side
In Spain, the driver sits on the left side of the car and drives on the right side of the road.

Calling Code
People from other countries can reach a number in Spain by dialling the country code 34 after the IDD.

ISO 3166 code
ISO 3166-2:ES is the listed code in the ISO 3166-2 standard.

Internet TLD
.es is the Internet top level domain for Spain.