Illa Negra

A dark island rises from the sea just south of Cap de Begur. The route opens on the south side at a wide overhang where white seabream and bogue cluster — busy water from the first kick, not a slow build. A small cavern follows, its ceiling sponge-furred. The wall slopes gently to sand at 19m, and here the second island appears: a detached rock mass on the sandy floor between 13m and 21m, coralligenous-covered with green Halimeda algae. Peer into its holes and scorpionfish, small groupers, and morays watch back from the dark. Past the second island, a vertical wall is hung with white gorgonian fans. The final section traces the photogenic yellow-anemone overhangs before a last cavern brings you back to the start. Under guide, the circuit reads as a comfortable 45-55 minutes on air with depth distributed across the multilevel structure.

When tramontana shuts down Cap de Begur and fog cancels the boat to Furio Fito, Illa Negra stays open. The island sits in the lee of the cape, reliably sheltered. That dependability is its real claim — Begur Dive frames it as the all-levels alternative, and a 2022 Quim Villapol video logs exactly that scenario, with the group ending up here "without complaining one bit". The second island rock has no equivalent at neighbouring sites: a standalone habitat where species concentrate in a small footprint. The white gorgonian wall and yellow anemone overhangs add visual variety that most single-feature dives do not offer. For night diving, the local operator gives Illa Negra a specific endorsement that does not extend across the rest of the area.

Boat access only, under 10 minutes from Platja d'Aiguablava. Begur Dive runs the standard boat dive at 39 EUR or a full-equipment package with guide at 69 EUR; night dives are 54 EUR (2026 rates). The site is outside any marine reserve, so no permit or fee applies — note that the Reserva Marina de Ses Negres further north prohibits scuba inside its boundary, but does not affect this site. Bring a torch for the overhangs and the cavern interiors. Carry an SMB and a compass as standard for any boat dive in this area; navigation under guide is straightforward, but the gear stays on. The sandy patches at 19-21m are where rays bury themselves, so keep good trim and stay off the bottom near sand.