La Vaca
La Vaca is a group of well-lit cavities through the headland, 15 to 25 m deep and a favourite with photographers. A central tunnel divided by walls and columns opens to the outside, where gorgonians surround schools of fish. The darker, narrower caves at the Racó de la Vaca, in front of buoy 6, demand more experience. Position estimated from maps and place names, for orientation only.
Facts
- Region: Spain – Catalonia (Costa Brava, Medes Islands, Costa Daurada)
- Area: L'Escala, Medes & L'Estartit
- Depth: 15–25 m
- Level: intermediate
- Current: moderate
- Type: cave, reef
- Coordinates: 42.0502, 3.2236 (approximate)
- Highlights: well-lit tunnel through the headland, gorgonians and schools of fish, good for photography
- Permit: Inside the Medes Islands marine reserve (partial nature reserve). Diving is regulated: it is done with a centre authorised by the Parc Natural del Montgrí, les Illes Medes i el Baix Ter (the park publishes the list of authorised centres), diver numbers are limited and extraction of any resource is forbidden. Book ahead and check the current rules and minimum certification with the centre.
- Issuer / contact: Parc Natural del Montgrí, les Illes Medes i el Baix Ter (Generalitat de Catalunya)
- Phone: +34 972 75 17 01 / +34 972 75 20 04
- Email: pnmmbt@gencat.cat
- Address: Passeig del Port s/n, Espigó de Llevant, 17258 L'Estartit
- Tips: Do not enter the dark Racó de la Vaca caves without cave experience. Reach it by boat from L'Estartit with an authorised centre; book ahead because the daily quota is limited.