Cantabria

Spain

The dive spot it's a group of four island and usually there is strong currents. In a standar dive, you could go around half an island, and the boat recovers you on the other side, so you don't have to worry about the return trip.

I've only been there by boat, with the local dive club. You embark with them at the port, since they don't have any infrastructure

Isla de los conejos is also known as Isla de los conejos - Suances.

Suances

Isla de los conejos

It's the easiest dive of the area. The bottom is sand and rocks, and there is very few fish life, but the vegetal life it's very colorful and diverse

I've been there only by boat, trough the local dive club. They embark you on the port

Punta Ballota is also known as Punta Ballota - Suances.

Punta Ballota

A rock near the cliffs that rise upon the water. The rocky sea floor, rises from about 20 metres, gently onto 8 or even less, depending on in wich part of the island you are (cliff part is shallower). Very near a underwater and coastal natural reserve (Oriñon and surroundings).
Normally, you dive around the island (that`s make it a good orientating dive), from one part to another. Be careful with the currents!
Big dive for newbies and children.
You can see big groups of pilchards, big rock fishes (sometimes; this is a heavely harpoon hunted place), and many rare rock inverts, specially just under the island; particularly good for photography.

By boat from Castro Urdiales

Isla Cotonera is also known as Cotonera Island.

Isla Cotonera

Up in the small seashore hill, an old fort stands.
In the Napoleonic wars, Castro Urdiales was under siege, so people on the village, throw to the sea all their ammunition, including, guns cannons, cannon balls...
The dive refers to this objects, scatered on the rocky sea floor, in a really easy dive, that youngsters and first time divers will love.
Congers, octopuses and breams will make the dive more amusing, with the cannons all around, mimeting with the ecosystem.
Only a thing; as it is so near the city, sometimes, "suspicious" changes on the water, will appear.
Be careful with the rock walls.

Castro. By boat: 10 minute trip from the marina.

Los Cañones

A sunken log boat called "Setares II", on a flat silty ground. The accident happened during the winter of 1957 or  early 1958, during a night storm.
It was discovered years ago.
Nowadays is partially covered with silt, this is why the visibility is sometimes poor. Try not to remove the sea floor with the flippers!
Here you can see enourmous conger eels and big blue lobsters, aswell as John Dorys and schools of other fishes.
Beware of the sometimes hard currents, and of the depth.
Is recommended dry suits because of the cold water at the bottom.
Here they traine the AOW from the PADI clubs of the Getxo marina.

By boat from Getxo Marina. A good boat tryp that takes 20 minutes.

La Gabarra

A rocky reef, with tall walls of rock, covered with all shorts of life, quite interesting for macro-photography, and zooming.
At the top of this walls, a thick layer of red algae, as well as some kelp plants.
Between the labyrinth of walls, some big grain sand bars.
Not a lot of big fauna, but you can see occasionally, rays, sea basses and serranids.
Ideal for training, and first dive.

From the Getxo Marina, a trip of more or less 15 minutes, by boat.

La Calita

El Pozo Azul

A sea mountain that rises from 40 metres up to 18 or 20 metres, vertically. It is situated far from the coast (Meñakoz pebble beach), and is quite difficult to find.
Visibility ok, and in the walls and little caves of the rock, you can see giant conger eels, lobsters, yellow corals and quite a lot of inverts, as well as sometimes pelagic animals.
Beware of sudden strong currents!
At 40 metres, the floor is a fine sand extension.

By boat from Getxo Marina or from Plentzia docks.
A quite long time (more or less 25 minutes).
Quite difficult to find the sea mound with the GPS.

Meñakoz is also known as Meñakotz.

Meñakoz





Mina Mari is also known as Mina Mary, El Fanequero.

Mina Mari

Night dive.A beach with a very easy access, and  very easy level.
A lot of facilities around.
In winter, a dry suit will be needed (or recommended!).
The dive starts in the artificial dock, and goes down gently, into a fine sand bottom.
Red mullets,Scorpionfishes, rare crabs, electric rays, cuttlefish, octopuses, squids and many animals will be seen in this relaxing dive.
Quite near, in the new docks, there is a PADI dive center.

From shore; in the middle of Guetarian fisherman`s village

Guetaria Beach is also known as Getaria.

Guetaria Beach

A very easy dive, due to the fact, that this part of the "Raton" (rock), is protected from the Galician winds.
 A lot of invert life, including sea fans, lobsters and octopuses. A lot of rock fishes, and eventually, from June to September, schools of big Mola Mola fishes.
Beware of fishing nets,rods and boats! We are very near the marina!
In addition, big anchors of the seventeen century ships that were involve on the famous battle between French army and Spanish armada, can be seen.

Only a short boat tryp from the Guetaria marina. Turn left from the marina, and then turn again left.
If you want to, you can hire the local diving center services.

Raton de Guetaria is also known as Raton.

Isla de los conejos

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Isla de los conejos