Spain – Atlantic North (Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Basque Country)

Spain's green north coast is Atlantic cold-water diving: rocky reefs with kelp, octopus, conger eels, lobsters and spider crabs, and some deep wrecks. Galicia's Illas Cíes and Ons lie inside the Atlantic Islands National Park, where diving needs a written authorisation, with wrecks such as the Achondo in the Ría de Vigo and the Galdstar off Viveiro. In Asturias the Gijón clubs dive the Estaño, Antromero and Cabo Peñas coast. Cantabria is the best documented: Isla de Mouro at the mouth of Santander Bay has a dozen named dives with arches, tunnels and caves, and the deep Skotland and Río Miera wrecks lie offshore. In the Basque Country the Ratón de Getaria offers cliff and shoal dives with a sunfish cleaning station. Sites come from operator and tourist-board pages; positions are estimates, and many sites on this coast have no published depth or description.

Facts

• Best season: June to September for the warmest water and best visibility; Cantabrian operators say April to September
• Water temperature: About 13-17 °C on average in the Ría de Vigo (PADI); a drysuit is advised for the deep wrecks
• National park permit: Diving in the waters of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park (Cíes, Ons) needs a written authorisation
• Wrecks: Deep wrecks (Skotland, Río Miera, Galdstar) are advanced or technical dives

Season

• Best months: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
• Acceptable: Apr, May, Oct, Nov
• Poor: Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
• Water temperature: 13–17 °C

PADI puts June to September as best in the Ría de Vigo, with water averaging about 13-17 °C. Cantabrian operators recommend April to September, with visibility over 15 m in spring and summer.

Dive sites (26)

Galicia

• Achondo wreck (Estelas–Cíes) – 24–38 m, advanced
• Aries wreck (Ría de Arousa) – 14–25 m, intermediate
• Bateas (mussel rafts) – Ría de Aldán – intermediate
• Galdstar wreck (Viveiro) – 35–45 m, advanced
• Illa de Ons (Atlantic Islands National Park) – intermediate
• Illa de Rúa (Ría de Arousa) – beginner
• Illas Cíes (Atlantic Islands National Park) – east side – intermediate

Asturias

• Antromero (Gozón) – 12 m, beginner
• Cabo Peñas (Peñas and El Corviru) – 25 m, intermediate
• Cabo Torres (Gijón) – 12 m, beginner
• Las Gemelas (Estaño, Gijón) – 12 m, beginner
• Los Cañones (Estaño, Gijón) – 16 m, beginner

Cantabria

• Cabo Menor (Santander) – 12–20 m, intermediate
• Isla de Mouro – El Túnel – 10–12 m, intermediate
• Isla de Mouro – La Cala – 3–9 m, beginner
• Isla de Mouro – La Catedral – 15–16 m, beginner
• Isla de Mouro – La Norte / El Coso – 28–30 m, advanced
• Isla de Mouro – Las Cuevas – 18 m, intermediate
• Isla de Mouro – Los Cañones / La Plaza de Toros – 18–25 m, intermediate
• La Corbera (Isla de Mouro) – 16–25 m, intermediate
• Skotland wreck (Santander) – 42–47 m, advanced

Basque Country

• Diana I wreck (Port of Bilbao, Punta Lucero) – 32 m, advanced
• Getaria – Ksandra (sunfish cleaning station) – 14–22 m, intermediate
• Getaria – Laminarias (Ratón de Getaria) – 21–32 m, intermediate
• Getaria – Los Bajos (Ratón de Getaria) – 13–25 m, intermediate
• Mina Mary wreck (off Bermeo) – 37–40 m, advanced

Operators (9)

• Buceo Rías Baixas – dive centre, Aldán (Cangas), Galicia
• Buceo Islas Cíes – dive centre, Vigo, Galicia
• Centro de Actividades Subacuáticas Costa Lugo (Buceocostalugo) – dive centre, Ribadeo / Viveiro, Lugo
• Deep Team A Coruña – dive centre, A Coruña, Galicia
• Club Alpha Escuela de Buceo (Alpha Buceo Gijón) – dive centre, Gijón, Asturias
• Escuela de Buceo Mourosub – dive centre, Maliaño (Camargo), Cantabria
• Buceo Pedreña – dive centre, Pedreña (Marina de Cudeyo), Cantabria
• Buceo Getaria (Buceo Ksub S.L.) – dive centre, Getaria, Gipuzkoa
• Buceo Euskadi – dive centre, Mutriku, Gipuzkoa

Routes (6)

• Ratón de Getaria boat dives (Buceo Getaria)
• Isla de Mouro dives (Mourosub)
• Santander wrecks and Mouro (Buceo Pedreña)
• Cabo Peñas double dive (Alpha Buceo Gijón)
• Cíes and Ons dive trips (Buceo Rías Baixas)
• Galdstar wreck dive (Costa Lugo)

Site positions are estimates from the nearest coast or published location text and are for orientation only — never for navigation. Dive with a local centre, follow protected-area rules and check current conditions.