Aquatica Illes Medes
SSI Diamond ITC in L'Estartit since 1996, specialising in small-group, low-impact diving in the Illes Medes Marine Reserve from a campsite-based dive school.
SSI6 services5 languages
Pota del Llop
Also known as: La Pota del Llop, Pota de Llop, Wolf's Paw
A north-east gorgonian wall on Meda Gran dropping to 50 m, weather-gated and less-dived than its neighbours.
Last updated October 2026
The dive
The rock formation named for the wolf's paw silhouette above the waterline sits on Meda Gran's north-east tip, and the dive it gives reaches around 50 m. The descent lands on a gorgonian-carpeted wall from around 20 m, with red Paramuricea clavata across the face and the upper ledges offering a macro stop for nudibranchs on cooler stretches. The route runs the wall. Past 25 m the gorgonian cover thickens, large fans described by local centres as stretching as far as you can see. The wall keeps going past 40 m. At the deepest point a small cave opens, and from inside a short chimney rises back up the rock, the structural feature that separates this dive from Pedra de Déu next door. The cave sits at a depth and in an overhead setting that park guidance advises recreational divers to avoid, so it marks the place to turn, not to enter. The return climbs the wall. Because the site sees far fewer dives per season than the south-facing Medes points, groupers and octopuses tend to hold their ground rather than retreating into crevices, and dentex pass on hunting runs without the reflex flight that crowds produce.
Illustration: Parc Natural del Montgrí, les Illes Medes i el Baix Ter — Generalitat de Catalunya
What makes it special
Two things set Pota del Llop apart from the other Medes wall sites. The cave-and-chimney is one: Pedra de Déu has denser gorgonian canyons, Carall Bernat has the open-water pinnacle and the grouper clusters, Pota del Llop has the overhead feature. The other is traffic. North-east exposure closes the site routinely, and the lower dive frequency changes the wildlife dynamic. The wall also continues deeper than park guidance for recreational dives, and what the group does there is the centre's call on the day.
Know before you go
Conditions decide whether the dive happens, and they decide it late. Build flexibility into any Pota del Llop booking, centres swap to a sheltered Medes alternative when north or east wind builds, sometimes on the morning itself. Set a maximum depth on the boat, not at the wall. The base at 50 m is deeper than park guidance for recreational dives, and what the group does is the centre's call on the day. The cave-and-chimney is overhead and lies where daylight is lost, so leave it out of the plan and look from the wall. The upper wall is the macro stop on the way back up. The Medes are a regulated marine reserve; most visitors dive with a local centre, which arranges the day. Ask yours what the reserve asks of divers before you go.
Why Dive Pota del Llop
What makes this dive site stand out.
- Wall to 50 m
Wall drops past 40 m to a sand base around 50 m, beyond standard recreational limits
- Cave and chimney at depth
Small cave near the wall base opens into a short chimney rising back up the rock face
- Gorgonian wall
Paramuricea clavata covers the vertical face from around 20 m down
- Weather-gated access
North-east exposure means tramontana or levante closes the site, often on short notice
- Less habituated wildlife
Lower traffic than south-face Medes sites; resident fish hold ground differently here
Depth & Profile
20m
Min depth
50m
Max depth
25–40m
Typical range
WallCaveRockSand
Location
42.0490°N, 3.2262°E
Conditions & difficulty
Temperature
13°C – 24°C
Visibility
10–25m
Current
Variable
Best season
July-September
April-November is the area dive season, but the site is most reliably accessible July-September when north-east winds are less frequent.
Cost
Dives here are booked as part of a centre's boat-dive package.
Checked May 17, 2026
AdvancedMin cert: Advanced Open WaterNitrox recommended
Advanced Open Water is the level the dive itself asks for on the upper wall. The profile toward 50 m sits beyond recreational limits and is not a recreational dive. The reserve's own entry requirement is shown in the regulations module.
Summary
Advanced throughout. The wall descends past recreational depth limits and the cave-chimney adds an overhead component.
Safety considerations
What can go wrong here, and what divers do about it. Conditions change - take the briefing from the operator on the day.
- Depth: Wall continues to a sand base around 50 m, past standard recreational limitsAgree maximum depth on the boat before entry. The centre sets the plan on the day.
- Overhead: Small cave near the deepest point opens to a short chimney rising back up the rockPark guidance advises recreational divers against caves where daylight is lost. Admire it from the wall and keep to the open water.
- Current: Exposed north-east position picks up current with tramontana or levanteStay close to the wall and shotline. Boat captain calls go/no-go on the day.
- Surface and boat traffic: North and east winds close the site, often on the morning of a planned diveBuild flexibility into the booking; centres swap to a sheltered Medes alternative when needed.
- Cold and exposure: Gorgonian colonies cover the wall and break on fin or equipment contactHover rather than settle. Maintain a 1-2 m standoff. Tuck dangling gauges and torches.
Marine Life
Dive Centers
View allBook a guided dive at this site.
Calypso Diving Estartit
Family-run PADI centre in L'Estartit, run by Peter and Jacqueline Lane for nearly 40 years, with PADI Green Star and four other environmental credentials.
PADI5 services8 languages
Costa Brava Divers
PADI 5 Star centre on L'Estartit seafront with stay-and-dive packages, four daily boat dives between Illes Medes and Montgrí, plus tec diving.
PADI6 services5 languages
El Rei del Mar
Family-run PADI 5 Star Resort and SSI centre in L'Estartit since 1990, with two 30-diver boats running hydraulic lifts to the Illes Medes reserve.
PADI / SSI5 services5 languages
La Sirena
Long-running L'Estartit dive centre (founded 1969) running a four-boat fleet to the Illes Medes reserve and Montgrí coast, with SSI training and a strong family/snorkel programme.
SSI5 services4 languages
Les Illes Hotel & Diving
Family-run hotel and dive centre in L'Estartit since 1985, with two dedicated boats and four daily departures to the Illes Medes reserve.
PADI / SSI / CMAS6 services5 languages
Oceansub Estartit
Owner-led PADI centre on Carrer Salines in L'Estartit, capping each guide at 5-6 divers across the Illes Medes, Montgrí, and Cap de Begur.
PADI5 services5 languages
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Rules and permits
- Park fee: €5.30 per dive (2023 tariff).
- Conduct: no touching, no feeding, no taking anything, no lights on animals.
Dive centres in Catalonia must require insurance from every diver on their dives, and must be able to offer a policy to anyone who has none.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Pota del Llop cancel so often?▾
The site sits on Meda Gran's north-east tip, directly exposed to tramontana from the north and levante from the east, the two winds that most often close diving on the Costa Brava. Either one builds surface chop quickly on this face and the boat does not run. Because those winds are common, the site dives far less per season than south-facing classics like La Vaca or Carall Bernat. Even confirmed bookings can be swapped to a sheltered alternative on the morning.
How deep is the wall at Pota del Llop?▾
The wall drops past 40 m to a sand base around 50 m. The upper section, roughly 20-30 m, carries the densest gorgonian cover and is the part the dive itself asks Advanced Open Water for, in calm conditions. The base is deeper than park guidance for recreational dives, and what the group does is the centre's call on the day. Agree your turn depth on the boat before descent.
What is the cave like at Pota del Llop?▾
A small cave opens near the deepest point of the wall, and from inside a short chimney rises a few metres back up the rock face. It sits at a depth and in an overhead setting that park guidance advises recreational divers to avoid, so it is something to know about, not a dive objective. Look at it from the wall and keep your own plan in open water.
Is the marine life better here than at other Medes sites?▾
Different rather than simply better. The site's weather-gating means it sees fewer dives per season than the daily-traffic sites, and the resident groupers, dentex, and octopuses tend to be less habituated to divers. Photographers willing to commit to a deep, weather-uncertain dive get cleaner natural-behaviour encounters. The trade-off is that the boat does not always go.
Do I need Nitrox for Pota del Llop?▾
Centres strongly recommend EAN32 for time below 25 m and most operators assume you have it before booking. Ask yours what the group's plan is on the day.
Can I see eagle rays or sunfish here?▾
Possibly, not reliably. Older Spanish-language centre pages mention eagle rays at the site, and very occasional summer sunfish sightings are part of the wider Medes wall picture. Neither species is a statistical bet on any single dive. Treat both as a pelagic bonus, a reason to look into the blue at the wall edge, not a reason to choose the site.
How do I plan and book a dive at Pota del Llop?▾
Book through a dive centre working the Medes, well ahead in summer, since the centre arranges the reserve side and the pre-dive briefing. Keep the day flexible: north and east winds often move the dive to a sheltered site on the morning. Advanced Open Water is the level the dive itself asks for; the reserve's own entry requirement is shown in the regulations module.
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