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el Salpatxot

3.9 — based on 19 community signals
4.4 12 species 43 contributors

El Salpatxot is a protected dive site within Spain's Medes Islands marine reserve, offering year-round diving in a controlled marine sanctuary.

⭐ Best for beginners.

🐢 MPA · Reserva Natural Parcial C Mari… updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
MPAFamily-friendlyPhotoFriendly

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Best months
Year-round

Top operators here

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Map

This spot Operators Airport Nearby spots
el Salpatxot location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
4.4 kn
Wave
0.36 m
Water
26°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: W (17%)
Now: WNW (293°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 0.21m

Today: High 15:00 (-0.46m), Low 05:00 (-0.56m)

+-0.4 m-0.7 m
▼ 05:00 · -0.56m ▲ 15:00 · -0.46m ▼ 23:00 · -0.57m ▲ 02:00 · -0.56m Now -0.5m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV5.55 · mod Air PM2.53 · good 07:31 19:50
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 11.2 0.46 6 0mm
09-20 6.1 0.18 6 0mm
09-21 5.4 0.42 6 0mm
09-22 7.5 0.76 6 0mm
09-23 6.6 0.26 6 0mm
09-24 8.1 0.42 5 0mm
09-25 7.9 0.3 5 0mm

About this spot

El Salpatxot sits within the Reserva Natural Parcial de la Marina de les Medes, a marine protected area that safeguards the waters around Spain's Medes Islands. This designation means the site operates under strict environmental rules designed to preserve the reef ecosystem and marine life. The reserve status attracts divers seeking pristine conditions and healthy underwater habitats. Access to el Salpatxot requires respect for reserve regulations. Divers must follow local guidelines for protected areas, including designated entry points and site-specific protocols. The marine sanctuary model has proven effective at maintaining biodiversity compared to unprotected sites, making this an attractive destination for conservation-minded divers. The spot has documented species observations recorded by the diving community, with multiple video contributions showing the site's underwater character. This body of user-generated data provides real-world perspective on what you'll encounter. The year-round accessibility means you can plan a trip without strict seasonal windows, though local conditions and reserve visitation rules may influence your actual diving windows. While exact depth and visibility metrics for el Salpatxot remain fluid, the protected status and active community engagement suggest reliable conditions worth exploring. Check directly with local dive operators near the Medes Islands for current conditions, reserve entry requirements, and guided dive availability.

📖 Guide: Diving in Spain: 91 Sites From Kelp Forests to Barracuda Walls

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Dive types

ReefShore

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type C/F · 230V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 48%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 1084km · ~249kg · €4

From your departure country

United States
Origin score: 77/100
  • Visa: Visa-free · 90 days max
  • Flight: 7h · direct
  • Jet-lag: 6h east · 4 days recovery

FAQ

When is the best time to dive el Salpatxot?

El Salpatxot is accessible year-round. However, visitation to the Reserva Natural Parcial de la Marina de les Medes may have seasonal or daily access limits. Contact local operators in the Medes Islands area for current entry windows and optimal conditions.

What is the depth and difficulty level?

Exact depth specifications for el Salpatxot are not standardized in available data. Difficulty depends on your certification level and local conditions. Consult dive operators near the Medes Islands—they'll match you with appropriate sites based on your experience.

What marine life can I expect?

The site has 12 documented species observations from the diving community. The marine reserve designation protects habitat and biodiversity. Community videos provide visual reference for what divers have encountered. Expect conditions consistent with a protected Mediterranean reef ecosystem.

Do I need permits or certifications to dive here?

El Salpatxot is inside a marine protected area, so access follows reserve regulations. You'll likely need appropriate dive certification (check with local operators) and must obey reserve entry rules. Visit in advance or contact Medes Islands dive shops to confirm current permit requirements.

Operators near this spot

Dive centres, kite & surf schools within 10 km, sourced from OpenStreetMap.

Nautica Borrat

1.2 km
Dive centre

Costa Brava Divers

1.3 km
Dive centre

Aqua Sports

1.3 km
Dive centre
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-21:00+

MedAqua - Kayak Snorkeling

1.3 km
Dive centre

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Verified marine species observations

19 records · 19 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Cotylorhiza tuberculata

Scyphozoa · Cepheidae
OBIS
Last seen:
22 Sept 2018
×1records

Eurydice

Malacostraca · Cirolanidae
OBIS
Last seen:
6 Apr 2015
×1records

Rhizostoma pulmo

Scyphozoa · Rhizostomatidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jul 2011
×1records

Glycera alba

Polychaeta · Glyceridae
OBIS
Last seen:
27 Mar 2009
×1records

Petrosia (Petrosia) ficiformis

Demospongiae · Petrosiidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 2008
×1records
Depth:
15–35 m

Paradoneis lyra

Polychaeta · Paraonidae
OBIS
Last seen:
16 Jun 2005
×1records

Polybius vernalis

Malacostraca · Polybiidae
OBIS
Last seen:
23 Nov 2004
×1records
Depth:
7 m

Alloteuthis media

Cephalopoda · Loliginidae
OBIS
Last seen:
9 Jun 2001
×1records
Depth:
115 m

Neorossia caroli

Cephalopoda · Sepiolidae
OBIS
Last seen:
28 May 1997
×1records
Depth:
309 m

Parexogone hebes

Polychaeta · Syllidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jul 1996
×1records

Decapoda

Malacostraca
OBIS
Last seen:
1 May 1994
×1records

Alpheus glaber

Malacostraca · Alpheidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Apr 1994
×1records

Data: 187,991 observations from OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Inmersión Salpatxot en el centro de buceo Diving Les Illes (Costa Brava)

Green Diving Spain

Scuba Diving in the Medes Islands (L'Estartit, Spain)

José Miguel TORRES CÁMARA
💬 1 top comments
  • Beautiful pictures🥰… this is my next dream diving spot… reminds me of Gozo… and Azores

    @papperlapapp · 👍 0

N°115 - Diving, Islas Medas - El Salpatxot Spot

4K3mins
💬 2 top comments
  • Super!

    @Pat8813 · 👍 1
  • Amazing adventure 😎

    @robodrone5662 · 👍 1
Visibility (month-by-month)
Best: Sep (100/100) Worst: Nov (0/100) Now: Sep (100/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

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