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A scuba diver explores the ocean with a spear. Perfect for adventure and marine themes.
📷 Stuart Pritchards · Pexels

la Vaca

3.8 — based on 15 community signals
4.4 12 especies 43 colaboradores

La Vaca is a protected dive site within Spain's Medes Islands marine reserve, accessible year-round with strong community documentation.

⭐ Best for beginners.

🐢 MPA · Reserva Natural Parcial C Mari… updated 4 months ago
Dificultad
Principiante
MPAPhotoFriendlyShore entry

De un vistazo

Actividad
dive
Dificultad
beginner

Mejores operadores aquí

Ver todos los operadores ↓

Mapa

Este spot Operadores Aeropuerto Spots cercanos
Mapa de ubicación de la Vaca © Google · Datos del mapa © Google, colaboradores
Abrir en Google Maps

Condiciones hoy

Condiciones

Open-Meteo
Viento
5.3 kn
Olas
0.3 m
Agua
25.9°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: W (19%)
Now: WNW (289°)
Marea (7 días)
amplitud: 0.21m

Próxima: Baja a las 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
Sáb 19Dom 20Lun 21Mar 22Mié 23Jue 24Vie 25
UV5.8 · mod Aire PM2.54 · good 07:31 19:50
Día Viento Olas UV Lluvia
09-19 11 0.44 6 0mm
09-20 5.2 0.2 6 0mm
09-21 5.6 0.4 6 0mm
09-22 7.9 0.42 6 0mm
09-23 6.6 0.24 6 0mm
09-24 8.1 0.22 5 0mm
09-25 7.9 0.32 5 0mm

About this spot

La Vaca sits within the Reserva Natural Parcial de la Marina de les Medes, one of Spain's most carefully managed underwater environments. The site benefits from strict protection that keeps the ecosystem healthy and vibrant. Located in the Medes Islands, this spot draws divers seeking pristine conditions and reliable marine encounters. The reserve status means access is regulated to preserve the habitat. This protection has created consistent dive conditions and robust populations of Mediterranean species. The site's year-round availability makes it accessible for divers planning trips across all seasons. Community documentation—three videos and twelve recorded species observations—shows active diver engagement with La Vaca. These records provide real-world insight into what you'll encounter below. The Medes Islands as a whole are known for dramatic underwater topography and rich biodiversity, typical of this protected corner of the Catalan coast. Before booking, confirm current access requirements with local operators, as marine reserve rules can affect entry procedures and group sizes.

📖 Guía: Buceo en España: 91 Lugares Desde Bosques de Algas hasta Paredes de Barracudas

Tipos de buceo

Arrecife

Esenciales del viaje

Todo lo que necesitas antes de hacer la maleta — checklist, sol, logística.

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 · 47%
  • GPS
Información de sostenibilidad
🌍 CO2 footprint MAD ↔ 594km · ~137kg · €2

Desde tu país de salida

Estados Unidos
Puntuación de origen: 77/100
  • Visado: Sin visado · 90 días máx.
  • Vuelo: 7h · directo
  • Jet-lag: 6h este · 4 días de recuperación

Preguntas frecuentes

Can I dive La Vaca year-round?

Yes, La Vaca is accessible year-round. Mediterranean water conditions vary seasonally, so visibility and comfort change throughout the year. Check with local dive operators for current conditions before planning your trip.

What marine life is there?

Twelve species observations have been recorded at La Vaca. The protected reserve status supports healthy fish populations and typical Mediterranean fauna. Specific species details are documented in the community observations—check these videos and logs for recent sightings.

Is La Vaca hard to reach?

La Vaca is within the Medes Islands marine reserve. Access is regulated to protect the habitat. You'll need to arrange dives through authorized local operators who understand current permit requirements and reserve rules.

What makes this site special?

La Vaca's protected status means stricter conservation rules keep the ecosystem intact. This translates to reliable biodiversity and consistent conditions. The Medes Islands reserve is one of Spain's premier diving destinations.

Operadores cerca de este spot

Centros de buceo, escuelas de kite y surf en un radio de 10 km, desde OpenStreetMap.

El Rei del Mar

2.5 km
Centro de buceo

Diving Center La Sirena

1.7 km
Centro de buceo

Nautica Borrat

1.7 km
Centro de buceo

Aqua Sports

1.8 km
Centro de buceo
Horario: Mo-Sa 09:00-21:00+

Costa Brava Divers

1.8 km
Centro de buceo

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Observaciones verificadas de especies marinas

41 registros · 39 especies · fuentes: OBIS, GBIF

Capulus ungaricus

Gastropoda · Capulidae
OBIS
Última observación:
11 nov 2015
×1registros
Profundidad:
137–138 m

Gracilechinus acutus

Echinoidea · Echinidae
OBIS
Última observación:
11 ago 2015
×1registros
Profundidad:
150 m

Magelona mirabilis

Polychaeta · Magelonidae
OBIS
Última observación:
6 abr 2015
×1registros

Euchone rubrocincta

Polychaeta · Sabellidae
OBIS
Última observación:
6 abr 2015
×1registros

Corymorpha nutans

Hydrozoa · Corymorphidae
OBIS
Última observación:
6 abr 2015
×1registros

Striarca lactea

Bivalvia · Noetiidae
OBIS
Última observación:
22 jun 2014
×1registros

Anomia ephippium

Bivalvia · Anomiidae
OBIS
Última observación:
17 nov 2013
×1registros

Bela zonata

Gastropoda · Mangeliidae
OBIS
Última observación:
3 abr 2012
×1registros

Protodorvillea kefersteini

Polychaeta · Dorvilleidae
OBIS
Última observación:
3 abr 2012
×1registros

Eupolymnia nebulosa

Polychaeta · Terebellidae
OBIS
Última observación:
3 abr 2012
×1registros

Ircinia oros

Demospongiae · Irciniidae
OBIS
Última observación:
1 ene 2010
×1registros
Profundidad:
0–20 m

Dardanus arrosor

Malacostraca · Diogenidae
OBIS
Última observación:
3 jun 2008
×1registros
Profundidad:
89 m

Datos: 187.991 observaciones de OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) y GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Scuba dive at La Vaca - L'Estartit Spain

simon klaver

L'Estartit La Vaca Spain 2022 SD 480p

Andrew and Sam Wilkinson

Diving Costa Brava - L'Estartit - LaVaca (Spain)

Simon Gyger

Local knowledge

OpenStreetMap Notes
  • "Belongs to Wecamp chain, also on the other side of the road #OsmAnd"

    anonymous · 2025-09-01
  • "the house numbers here seem incorrect, the buildings across the side street have numbers 21 and 23 via StreetComplete_ee 61.1"

    Derkades · 2025-08-22
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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