Medes Islands

The seal of l’Estartit

Located just a mile off the coast in front of L’Estartit beach, The Medes Islands archipelago is part of the Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter Nature Park.

The Medes archipelago has seven islets and a surface area of about 23 hectares. The Medes Islands are today one of the most important marine flora and fauna reserves in the western Mediterranean, as well as being a popular scuba diving destination.

Twenty years of protection have brought about a spectacular recovery of the wealth of the seabed, the marine environment and the islands themselves.

Companies operating in the area offer attractive trips in glass-bottomed boats around the islands and along the equally stunning Montgrí coast. The wide range of water and underwater activities available must comply with the regulations that have enabled the preservation of this natural space.

Scuba-diving paradise

The Medes Islands ecosystem is deservedly classified as the best natural reserve in the western Mediterranean.

The diversity of depths provides dives for all levels. In the shallow areas, we find a dense mantle of well-lit seaweeds and over a hundred brightly coloured species. At depths below 10-15 metres, we find light-deprived seaweeds, great rocks surrounded by coral, starfish, gorgonia, octopus and lobster. Below 20 metres we enter a darkness of coral and miniature forests of bright colours inhabited by over 600 species of fauna. The different depths provide diving opportunities for everyone from professional divers to absolute beginners, and all will enjoy the colourful spectacle of underwater marine life.

Numerous caves and tunnels indicate that the limestone archipelago was attached to the Montgrí Massif over ten thousand years ago. Nowadays caves around the Medes Islands and the Montgrí coast provide outstanding opportunities for expert divers: Vaca, Sardina, Dofí Nord caves and Pedrosa tunnel, among others.

Near the islands, we find the Reggio Messina, the largest ship that divers can visit on the Costa Brava, sunk deliberately in 1991. The Avenire, also known as the Marmoler, sunk near Cala Montgó cove in 1971 with a cargo of marble in its hold, is the only wholly conserved underwater ship in the area.

The Natural Park offers visitors marine and underwater itineraries to experience an exceptional marine environment with coralligenous formations, seagrass meadows, and underwater caves and tunnels.

Espai Medes: a journey to the bottom of the sea

Espai Medes is the Marine Interpretation Centre of the Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter Natural Park

The Port of L’Estartit is home to the Espai Medes, a leading exhibition centre dedicated to the promotion and appreciation of the Medes Islands. It fosters knowledge, emotional connection, and a sense of identity with the maritime culture of L’Estartit.

Flora and fauna

The Medes Islands are currently one of the most important flora and fauna reserves in the western Mediterranean, as well as one of the most valued destinations in the world of scuba diving thanks to the richness of their seabed.

Not-so-limited wildlife?

Within the Natural Park, 38 natural habitats have been identified—17 of which are considered of European interest, and 4 are prioritized for conservation. A total of 189 bird species have been recorded, including the peregrine falcon, kestrel, red-billed chough, Montagu’s harrier, Bonelli’s eagle, European shag, and yellow-legged gull. The area is also home to numerous fish species such as grouper, sea bass, gilthead bream, dentex, sardine, and bluefin tuna. Coral reef communities, including red gorgonians, red coral, and sponge mosaics, coexist with valuable marine seagrasses like Posidonia oceanica, along with various types of algae.

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A strongly conditioned vegetation

The Mediterranean climate brings long periods of drought, often coinciding with the hottest part of the year—summer. In addition, the terrain has a low capacity to absorb water, which quickly drains through numerous cracks when it rains. For this reason, certain plants like the prickly pear and ice plant store water reserves, enabling them to survive in the driest areas. The dominant tramuntana and garbí winds carry sea spray containing salt, which is deposited on the islands, where species like sea purslane grow. This plant expels excess salt through its leaves. Other plants, such as sea carrot and sea fennel, also tolerate high salinity well.

Moreover, the area’s plant composition has been altered by the human introduction of exotic species such as tree of heaven (Ailanthus) and agaves. The large amount of nutrients from gull droppings also promotes the growth of certain edge species like mallows, which are found in abundance in the area.

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Medes Islands