Since 1998, a natural park, both terrestrial and marine, extends from Rosas to Cap de Creus. The emblematic dive of the place is Maça d’Oros, exceptional at all times of the year. It has a particular flavor: one encounters all species here, in a place still relatively uncrowded.Enjoy it, it might not last! But for now, the best guardian of the place is the weather. Cap de Creus, accessible from Colera, Llança, Port de la Selva, Cadaques, Cala Monjoi, Cala Jóncols, or Rosas, is the most advanced point of the Costa Brava. It experiences opposing winds and currents that, in stormy periods, clash mercilessly. Sea lovers know that these conditions bring a mass of nutrients, favoring the concentration of fish and the life of fixed animals like gorgonians. After the fury of winter, when summer and autumn arrive, the dives are exceptional. They take place on a rocky ridge between two islands, Maça d’Oros and Encalladora. The line of rock collapses at 40 meters then rises again. That’s where it all happens.
The reproduction of the seabreams
Those seeking depth will be mistaken. What matters is the water temperature. Fish are like us, they love warm water and daily comfort. In summer and autumn, the largest concentrations are between 5 and 25 meters. In April-May, you can encounter gatherings of seabreams (grey breams Spondyliosoma cantharus), coming to reproduce. You will discover a struggle for life: the seabreams make their nests for laying eggs, the wolves lie in wait. It’s an animal scene that few divers have the opportunity to experience. In this area, there are more than 30 dive sites. Besides Maça d’Oros, we also mention the Pointe du Chat (Cap Norfeu) with its dizzying drop-offs and the Pointe des 3 Frères, which offers a unique playground for all levels, from beginner to advanced diver. The structures of Cala Montjoi and Cala Jóncols, for seclusion, rejuvenation, and forgetting your smartphone, offer unique sites in the Mediterranean!
Alain Foret
Find the full report on the Costa Brava:
- The Costa Brava, a concentrate of the Mediterranean.
- L’Estartit and the Medes Islands, a world-renowned destination.
- The south of the Costa Brava: from Llafranc to Blanes.
Testimonials
Xavier Xuereb, MF2: “It is a destination that few know. It is to be savored: fish schools in abundance, relatively close to the divers, while being in a wild environment. Without fins, you witness the spectacle: both a great variety and a great quantity of fish. For me, it’s magical!”
Vincent Guidotti, N3: « I’ve been diving in Cadaqués since my childhood. Maça d’Oros and El Gato (Pointe du Chat, Cap Norfeu) are THE dives of the area. And, off the beaten path, there is the Caials creek, sheltered from the tramontana and totally peaceful. It’s a shore dive, accessible from a concrete pontoon, which allows diving on the shipwreck of the Llanishen at 12 to 18 meters deep. Ideal to do at night, this site allows you to see large slipper lobsters, lobsters, hermit crabs, moray eels… and a large school of breams that accompany you throughout the dive. It’s easy, serene, and magical! »