scuba diving

The Balfegó Group, which captures wild tuna to breed them and sell them to Japan, has launched a new ecotourism project: scuba diving surrounded by the Atlantic bluefin tuna, the world’s largest tuna species and a food delicacy. The ‘Tuna Diving Tour’ is located in L’Ametlla de Mar, on Catalonia’s Costa Daurada. Visitors sail by catamaran to the Balfegó Group’s giant bluefin tuna cages – situated in the middle of sea –, and then dive amongst 400 tuna, some of which are 2 metres long and weigh 250 kg. Each trip involves 20 visitors and they will receive a tour and learn about the process of catching and farming the endangered Atlantic bluefin tuna. The tour starts at 10 am, lasts two hours, and takes place every Sunday throughout the year.

Seven islets just one kilometre away from the town of L’Estartit on the Costa Brava form one of the most attracting diving areas in Europe. Twenty years of protection as a natural marine park have permitted a complete sea-bed recovery, which hosts hundreds of species such as groupers, lobsters or even red coral. Caves, sharper rocks and sand banks captivate thousands of scuba diving lovers each year. Thanks to Illes Medes, L’Estartit has evolved from a little fishing village to an international diving town where tourists from all around the world are regular visitors looking for its submarine views.

The Port Ainé ski resort offers diving under a frozen lake. This pioneer activity in the Lleida Pyrenees wants to be a complement to skiing and between 300 to 400 people are expected for this first season.

A new guide book has hit the shelves which maps out the bottom of the Illes Medes sea for potential scuba divers who wish to explore the area. The guide intends to give divers a preview of the seafloor, preparing them for their dives.