GALICIA, SPAIN

A Dive Report with a Difference!

By Chris Gait




























We have now had a full year living here in Galicia running our guesthouse and diving in the Rias Baixas of Galicia NW Spain.

So this is my report on the diving here.

Located near Portugal and south of Finesterre, the Rias Baixas have their own microclimate that is a lot dryer and warmer than the northern coast of Galicia.
Similar to fjords, but formed by plate movement the 'rias' have a rocky coast line with sandy coves of white sand.
Across the entrances to the Ria de Vigo and Ria de Pontevedra lie large granite islands giving them protection from the Atlantic gales. These islands, along with the island of Salvora in the third Ria, Ria de Arosa, are marine national parks, harbouring masses of wildlife.

The diving.

There are over 400 wrecks from Roman to U-boot, archaeological sites, marine nature reserves, literally 100s of good sites. Here are a few starting in the north working southwards.

Area Gorda in the Ria de Arosa, three small headlands between sandy beaches, provide excellent shore dives. Large boulder fields on the seaward side are a haven to all kinds of fish and plant life. With a maximum of 10msw and easy access, these sites are ideal for that shake down dive or beginners. Easy access from the car park and a friendly hotel opposite with all facilities.
Area Bascuas, Ria de Arosa; Lies a wreck of a large steel fishing boat on a sandy bottom. Approx 12msw to sea bed, best done with the inflatable and is a good first wreck dive. It's an interesting dive as it is still fairly intact. Easy access from the car park and a bar opposite with all facilities.

Beluso and the Caballito de Bueu, Ria de Pontevedra; Beluso was the home port of Benito de Souto the last pirate! Here in the bay he learnt to smuggle all kinds of goods ashore! There are several ways of diving here. The shore dives through the kelp and on to a reef that runs to the Caballito (a large rock that looks like a horse, you'll need a lot of imagination to see it!). We also take the boat to the Caballito and explore the gullies of the reef. Numerous boats have come to rest on to this reef and every year new artefacts are discovered.

The Mourisca light house, Ria de Pontevedra; This is one of my favourites. The lighthouse is at the tip of a reef in 7msw. We drop into the water by the lighthouse following the reef out to the north where it drops to 22msw. The seabed is shingle here and is home to some large Rays. Keeping the reef on the left just follow it round and up. As the depth decreases you'll come across the foundations of an earlier lighthouse with some wreckage. Soon you'll be back at the base of the lighthouse an ideal place for a safety stop. Best dived on the flood to high tide for the best viz. On the nearby beach there is a little "chirringito" bar shack that cooks up delicious seafood snacks!

The Laguna, Ria de Pontevedra;
We call it the garden. As the name suggests it is a lagoon with a max depth of 4.5 msw. It is very safe and sheltered and that's why it is an absolute haven for sea life. If its photographic opportunities you want with near perfect viz, this is the place. If you swim slowly enough the small fry will use you as cover to move from rock to rock. At high water mackerel and bass come in to feed on the fry, darting in and out in silver flashes. If the tide is right you can get through the reef and explore the seaward side that drops to 16msw. There are showers on the beach and a beach bar. But no loos.




The Bateas, Rias de Pontevedra and Vigo;
There are 100s of these shellfish rafts. Each one with 100s of mussel ropes hanging from them.
Unlike conventional fish farms where the seabed around them is full of silt. The area below the bateas is covered in shells.
They make an interesting dive as each one is a separate eco system where a different species has taken up residence. On one dive we saw a shoal of rainbow trout, obviously escapees from a local farm!

The shafts of sun light shining through the ropes makes a very atmospheric dive.
The big cement blocks that hold them in place are home to some big congers.
Appox 20msw. Boat dive.






The cement wreck, Ria de Vigo; this is a well broken up wreck, but interestly the cargo of barrels of lime have solidified and the wooden barrels have wasted away leaving perfect moulds of the inside of the barrels! These are found on and near the reef that claimed the vessel. Searching through the kelp you'll find colourful wrasse and crabs. 16msw.

The IVY, Ria de Vigo; this is a 200 mtr merchant man that ran aground with a full cargo of iron ore. It has been salvaged and cut into three. Two sections have been re-floated and taken out of the bay to Nigran where they sank as artificial reefs. They are rarely dived, as there are strong currents. The third section is still where it came to grief by the small Estellas islands off Bayona. This is a very good dive as the wreck is recent and still in a reasonable shape. The dive usually starts at the reef 12msw and drops down to around 22msw.

Nearby there is a deep wreck at 40msw also fairly intact but I haven't managed to dive it yet.