Saint-Mandrier Plongée - Medes Islands
The Medes Islands always deliver, but Saint-Mandrier Plongée is one of those spots we talk about long after the dive. It’s not just the sheer number of species, over 360 recorded, it’s the way they show up. We’ve seen blue sharks cruise by, slow and deliberate, a real thrill. But for us, the magic is often in the smaller stuff, the stuff you have to look for – glycerine worms waving from sandy patches, the intricate tubes of sand masons. Dive Saint-Mandrier Plongée and expect to spend a good portion of your bottom time with your nose close to the substrate, spotting painted combers darting between rocks and the occasional scorpionfish blending perfectly into the background. Keep an eye out into the blue for the bigger pelagics, especially the various seabream and bogue schools that shimmer in the sunlight. This site really shines for divers who appreciate both the wide-angle drama and the quiet hunt for macro life. Our tip: go slow, pick a section, and really explore the nooks. You’ll be rewarded.
- Location
- Medes Islands, Spain, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 43.082348, 5.921148
- Maximum Depth
- 10-25m
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 Saint-Mandrier Plongée
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 Saint-Mandrier Plongée
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