Tascó Gros

The circumnavigation begins on the north wall -- a vertical face shared with Carall Bernat where red and white gorgonians carpet the rock from 15 metres down to a platform of large blocks at the base. Groupers materialise from the cavities between the blocks, shadowing divers along the wall as damselfish and anthias pulse through the gorgonian branches. Rounding to the sheltered south side, the character shifts: calmer water, fish aggregating against the slight current, and the entrance to the 5-metre channel connecting to Tasco Petit. Dutch diver logs describe spending over 50 minutes looping the entire island, threading through the rocks, finding slipper lobsters in crevices and nudibranchs blanketing the stones.

Tasco Gros is the adaptable dive of the Illes Medes. Its large diameter gives guides something most Medes sites lack: real route choice. A group of Open Water divers can work the shallow channel and south side at 5-18 metres and still encounter the same groupers and gorgonians that deeper profiles reveal. An advanced team can run the full circumnavigation at 25-30 metres and scan the blue for barracuda and eagle rays on the exposed side. This flexibility means the site suits a mixed-ability boat better than any other rock in the archipelago. Where Carall Bernat rewards commitment to depth and Tasco Petit demands respect for current, Tasco Gros simply gives you options.

The north wall is the scenic highlight -- start there while air is full and attention is fresh. Below the thermocline, divers report a noticeable temperature drop, so a hood or thicker exposure suit pays off on deeper profiles. The channel between the two Tascons at 5 metres is an excellent safety stop location, rich enough in life to hold your attention while offgassing. If your guide offers the option to cross into Tasco Petit territory via the channel, take it -- but be aware that conditions on the Petit side can be significantly more current-exposed.