Scuba Diving Costa Brava Spain: Shipwrecks

Scuba Diving Costa Brava:
Shipwrecks!

Love wreck diving?

Wreck diving is so exciting. I think it has something to do with films like “Never Say Never Again” and “The Deep”. Remember that feeling you get as it emerges out of the depths?

They are windows to the past. A chance to explore another life.

Ship wrecks are also fantastic artificial reefs. Fish love them. I guess it has something to do with all the places to hide. The fish on wrecks are usually pretty tame too as they are so used to seeing divers.

There are quite a few ship wrecks on the Costa Brava.

Reggio Messina

The Reggio Messina is the largest shipwreck (open to divers) on the Costa Brava (115 metres long). When its working life as a train transporter ferry was over, in 1991, it was going to be turned into a pleasure boat..but that idea was soon scraped and it was deliberately sunk to become a dive site.

The Reggio Messina is broken in three main pieces (stern, central area and prow)

Level of Aquatic life:

Poor

Diver Level:

experienced

Depth:

28-35 metres

Location:

Located just off the coast of the Montgri headland, in between L’Escala and L’Estartit. Can be reached by boat from either town in about 5 minutes

(Latitude: 42° 4.8' N / Longitude: 42° 4.8' N)

Dive Centres That Dive Here:

L’Escala

L’Estartit

Video of Reggio Messina wreck diving Costa Brava...

The Avenire (a.k.a Marmoler)

The 47 metre long Avenire’s other name comes from the marble that still lies in its hold (marmol is Spanish for marble). The Avenire was shipwrecked one fateful night in 1971, when the Tramontana was blowing fierce.

Despite being sank in a storm the Marmoler remained intact...and largely still is to this day (the only intact (well, almost) ship wreck on the Costa Brava). Not only is it practically intact but it sits upright on the seabed, as if still on its journey.

Level of Aquatic life:

Good

Diver Level:

experienced

Depth:

42-44 metres (although the bridge lies at 30 metres)

Location:

Located just off the coast of the Montgri headland, near Cala Montgo. Can be reached by boat from Cala Montgo in about 5 minutes

(Latitude: 42° 6.482' N / Longitude: 3° 11.363' E)

Dive Centres That Dive Here:

L’Escala

L’Estartit

Video of Marmoler wreck diving Costa Brava...

The Constantine

The Constantine was another victim of the Tramontana, that met its end on the small island of Illa Mateau near L’Escala (anyone else notice how bad L’Escala seems to be for ships?).

The Constantine lies in the shallows and so is quite smashed up, but the boilers are intact enough to make it recognisable as a ship.

Level of Aquatic life:

Good

Diver Level:

novice

Depth:

6-11 metres (accessible from shore)

Location:

You need to ascend a flight of steps to the beach...not so easy in full scuba gear ;o) before entering the water and heading off to the far end of the bay

(Latitude: 42° 6.829' N / Longitude: 3° 9.972' E)

Dive Centres That Dive Here:

L’Escala

L’Estartit

The Saint Prosper

The 106 metre long Saint Prosper was a cargo ship that sunk in 1939 when in collided with a floating mine!

Level of Aquatic life:

Poor

Diver Level:

experienced

Depth:

40-60 metres

Location:

Located in the Bay of Roses. Can be reached by boat in about 30 minutes

(Latitude: 42° 11.087' N / Longitude: 3° 11.162' E)

Dive Centres That Dive Here:

L’Escala

Roses

The Llanishen

The Llanishen was a British ship that met its end when it was torpedoed by the Germans in the First World War!

Level of Aquatic life:

Good

Diver Level:

novice

Depth:

10-17 metres (although a section of the ship, a distance from the main wreck, is at 45 metres)

Location:

Located in the bay of Es Caials (near Cadaques). Accessible from shore. Just swim straight out to the buoy that marks the Llanishen’s location

(Latitude: 42° 17.114' N / Longitude: 3° 17.877' E)

Dive Centres That Dive Here:

Cadaques

Video of Llanishen wreck diving Costa Brava (this isn’t a great video, but it was all we could find)...

Culip

There were actually 6! wrecks in Cala Culip. All ancient. The most famous of these, Culip IV and Culip VI were removed, but the other 4 wrecks can still be dived.

Level of Aquatic life:

Good

Diver Level:

novice (due to lack of current - but be aware that it is still at quite a depth)

Depth:

20-35 metres

Location:

Located in Cala Culip (near Cadaques). Accessible by boat and from shore

(Latitude: 42° 19.252' N / Longitude: 3° 18.646' E)

Dive Centres That Dive Here:

Cadaques

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