Badia de Tamariu - Medes Islands

Badia de Tamariu is a brilliant surprise, a spot we head to when we want something a little different from the usual Medes Islands fanfare. It's not about dramatic walls or huge pelagics here; instead, it’s a calm, shallow bay that offers some truly rewarding macro opportunities and a chance to slow down. We love dropping in and letting our eyes adjust to the details. Look closely among the rocky crevices and the scattered seagrass, because that’s where you’ll find the real stars. We’ve had incredible luck spotting curled octopus peeking out from their dens and stout bobtail squid practically posing for photos. The spotted dragonets are a constant delight, too, scuttling across the sand. For us, the highlight often comes after sundown, when species like hake and dogfish become more active – a night dive here is a completely different world, especially when you catch the subtle glow of pearlfish. This site is perfect for photographers, particularly those with a keen eye for smaller critters, and newer divers will appreciate the calm conditions. It’s also a great spot to simply practice buoyancy without fighting a current. Our advice? Go slow, really slow. Take your time combing the nooks. You might just find a seahorse or a patch of vibrant red coral you’d otherwise swim straight past.

Location: Medes Islands, Spain, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates: 41.917240, 3.208469
Type: reef
Maximum Depth: 5-25m

Marine Protected Area: Litoral del Baix Empordà

Best Time to Dive in Medes Islands

The warmest water temperatures in Medes Islands occur in August, averaging 23.1°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 13.3°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 14.1°C
February: 13.3°C
March: 13.5°C
April: 14.4°C
May: 16.8°C
June: 20.5°C
July: 22.7°C
August: 23.1°C
September: 21.6°C
October: 19.4°C
November: 17.3°C
December: 15.0°C

Nearest Dive Centres to Badia de Tamariu

Marine Life in Medes Islands

Home to 78 recorded species including 56 reef fish, 8 sharks & rays, 5 octopus & squid, 4 whales & dolphins, 2 crabs & lobsters, 1 seagrass & algae.

Notable Species

hake (Merluccius merluccius) - Reef Fish
Moonfish (Mola mola) - Reef Fish
Capelin (Trisopterus capelanus) - Reef Fish
grey gurnard (Eutrigla gurnardus) - Reef Fish
Mediterranean tapeweed (Posidonia oceanica) - Seagrass & Algae
Black-bellied angler (Lophius budegassa) - Reef Fish
Atlantic Spotted Flounder (Citharus linguatula) - Reef Fish
dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) - Sharks & Rays
Thornback skate (Raja clavata) - Sharks & Rays
Mullet (Mullus barbatus) - Reef Fish
Pollock (Trachurus trachurus) - Reef Fish
lesser argentine (Argentina sphyraena) - Reef Fish
conger (Conger conger) - Reef Fish
Blue-white Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) - Whales & Dolphins
blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) - Reef Fish
Red Band-fish (Cepola macrophthalma) - Reef Fish
Gurnard (Trigla lyra) - Reef Fish
Soldier (Chelidonichthys cuculus) - Reef Fish
Jac (Helicolenus dactylopterus) - Reef Fish
Norway Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) - Crabs & Lobsters

Recommended Packing List for Badia de Tamariu

Based on average water temperature of 17.6°C, currents 14 cm/s.

Wetsuit (5-7mm) - recommended for 18°C water
Hood & Gloves (3-5mm) - helps retain warmth
Mask - essential for every dive
Fins
BCD - buoyancy compensator
Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories