House Reef - Medes Islands
Forget the boat dives for a minute. The House Reef at Medes Islands is a proper shore entry, usually straight off the main beach. We love that feeling of just finning out, no schedule, no engine noise, just you and the water. It’s shallow, capping out around 12 metres, but don’t let that fool you. You’re dropping onto a wall that’s absolutely packed. We’ve spent hours here just poking around the rocky crevices. Dusky groupers are everywhere, not shy at all. We’ve seen octopuses changing colours right in front of us, and the smaller stuff, like spotted dragonets and broadnosed pipefish, are always a treat if you take your time. Look for the elegant cuttlefish, they're often hovering over the low corals. It’s perfect for a relaxed dive, great for knocking off some of that nitrogen after deeper dives, or for getting back into the swing of things. Bring a good torch, even during the day, to really see into the cracks.
- Location
- Medes Islands, Spain, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 41.917625, 3.209375
- Type
- reef
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
Nearby Dive Sites in Medes Islands
- Abyss Garden (wreck)
- Aiguablava
- Aigua Xelida - 10-30m (reef)
- Amphores du frioul
- Andromède
- ANGELA - 8m (wreck)
- Arche du plannier - 10-30m (cave)
- Arroyo
- Atoll Plongée (reef)
- AUDIERNE - 16m (wreck)
- Badia de Tamariu - 5-25m (reef)
- Barda de Fitor (wall)
- Barda de l'Illa Negra (wall)
- Barda de Pere el Flaquer (wall)
- BARTOLO - 28m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to House Reef
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 House Reef
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