If abundant sea life, caves and swim-thoughs appeal, then you need to dive the Illes Medes, in the Mediterranean Sea

A warm temperate sea, the Mediterranean has very limited communications with other seas. The strait of Gibraltar - the gateway to the Atlantic - is both narrow and shallow. At the Eastern end is the Suez Canal through which a slight current takes Red Sea water into the Med. Since the Suez Canal opened in 1869, several species of Red Sea fish have spread into the Mediterranean.

The Illes Medes are a marine reserve which has some of the best diving in Spain. These tiny islands are reached by boat from L'Estartit, Costa Brava.

Water temperatures range from 14 ^oC to 24 ^oC in September. In summer you'll need a 5 mm wetsuit, in winter a 7 mm wetsuit or drysuit.

More Information

More diving details will be added here shortly. Meanwhile these books give information on sea-life, the Mediterranean and Spain.

The Mediterranean Sea

by Angelo Mojetta, Swan Hill Press, 2005, Paperback.
A guide to the underwater life of the Mediterranean Sea. It includes practical advice for divers and has illustrated biological information on important species of fish.
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Sea Fishes and Invertebrates of the Mediterranean

by Lawson Wood, 128 pages, New Holland Publishers (UK), 2002, Paperback.
Compact guidebook to 289 species. Designed for divers, snorkellers and underwater photographers.
Buy from Amazon.co.uk...

Fishes of the Sea: The North Atlantic and Mediterranean

by John and Gillian Lythgoe, MIT Press, 1992, Hardback.
Photographic and descriptive guide to the fish species that inhabit the North Atlantic and Mediterranean.
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The Mediterranean

by Ernle Bradford, Penguin Books, 2000, Paperdback.
Ernle Bradford spent almost 30 years sailing into nearly every corner of the Mediterranean and here he tells its fascinating story.
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How to Eat Out in Spain: How to Understand the Menu and Make Yourself Understood

by Ana Vazquez, 1997, Paperback.
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