AVVENIRE
Protected Area
El Montgrí-Les Medes-El Baix Ter
Why dive here
With 44+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, ocean sunfish (mola mola) and sea turtles - AVVENIRE offers some of Costa Brava's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 11-24°C, warmest July, August, September.
The Avvenire, sunk in a pea-souper fog in '71, is a proper Costa Brava classic. We always appreciate a wreck with a bit of a story, and this one, originally sailing from Viareggio, certainly has that. She ran aground hard, then went down fast, and now sits in two main sections, just shy of the shore near L’Escala. Drop down and you're immediately struck by the sheer amount of life that's made this 47-metre motor vessel home. Dusky groupers eye you from shadowy nooks, their scales catching the light as they slowly shift position. The hold is our favourite part to explore, a dark cavern where conger eels often lurk, their heads protruding from pipes and crevices. We’ve had some fantastic dives here when the visibility is good, around 15-20 metres, and the sun pierces the surface, illuminating schools of damselfish that shimmer above the deck plates. Keep an eye out for nudibranchs on the bow section; there’s a surprising variety if you slow down and look closely. It’s a solid dive for advanced open water divers who enjoy penetration and a bit of history.
Safety Notes
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
AVVENIRE Wreck History
Year Sunk
1971
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
grounding
The MV Avvenire was an Italian motor vessel that met its end on Spain's famously rugged Costa Brava. In May 1971, while on a passage from Viareggio to Barcelona, the ship sailed into a thick bank of fog. Blinded by the poor visibility, the crew was unable to avoid the treacherous near-shore rocks close to the town of La Escala. The Avvenire ran hard aground, and the sea quickly overwhelmed the stricken vessel, sending it to the bottom.
Lying in extremely shallow water, the remains of the Avvenire are now scattered across the rocky seabed where it sank. The depth is listed as 0m, indicating that parts of the wreckage may be at or near the surface, making it an excellent site for snorkelers and novice divers. Over the decades, the relentless wave action has broken the ship apart, but divers can still identify large sections of hull plating, machinery, and other debris. The twisted metal has been fully reclaimed by nature, now forming a vibrant artificial reef encrusted with marine life and home to schools of local fish.
Nearest Dive Centres to AVVENIRE
Dive shops near AVVENIRE
DIVE PARADIS
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Mateua Dive
Scuba Alegre
Xaloc Dive Center
Diving center La Sirena
Reviews for AVVENIRE
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for AVVENIRE
AVVENIRE Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for AVVENIRE, sourced from Copernicus Marine satellite data
August Averages
Sea Temperature
23.67°C
75°F
Current Speed
2.83 cm/s
Direction: NE (45°)
Salinity
37.94 PSU
Data sources: Copernicus Marine Service (EU)
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