La Trencada

Anchor at the ridge's midpoint and pick a direction based on current. The flat top spreads 10-12 metres wide at 12 metres depth — broad enough to wander laterally rather than just following the ridge. Heading northeast leads to the most productive section: a cornisa at 13 metres on the landward face where morays peer from crevices, cleaner shrimp station themselves at cavity entrances, and lobsters wedge into gaps between rocks. The southwestern end breaks into loose flat blocks at 13-14 metres, a more scattered landscape. A Posidonia meadow flanks the ridge throughout, its seagrass canopy swaying in whatever light current reaches this depth.

Stingrays use La Trencada as a breeding ground. The shallow ridges inside the Maresme conservation area provide the conditions pastinacas need during their reproductive season, and this site is one of the most reliable spots to encounter them. The other defining feature is the scorpionfish camouflage — the ridge's algae cover and reddish rock tones create a colour match so effective that spotting them becomes a challenge at any size. These are not species you find at every Maresme ridge in this concentration. The NE ledge compresses an outsized amount of life into a 13-metre-deep shelf that repays close inspection far more than swimming distance.

Bring a torch to illuminate the crevices along the NE ledge, where the best macro life concentrates in shadow. Visibility averages around 11 metres — adequate but not expansive, so close-range observation works better than trying to take in broad vistas. The site sits within the Maresme Special Conservation Area but no dive permit is needed. Blaumar and Mediterranean Dive both run boat trips from Port Mataró. La Trencada pairs naturally with a deeper first dive at El Negre — ask your centre about the combination. The shallow depth means extended bottom times with no Nitrox needed, making it practical even on a conservative profile.