Scuba Diving in Spain - Medes

As we reached 10m a Grouper swam lazily along to meet us. He seemed to curl a lip, as though expecting a titbit, but was more curious than anything - swimming gently beside us as we started out on the dive. We admired the reef, the coral and the wildlife and reveled in the clear warm water. So nice to be free of the dry suit. So nice to see other people's buddies!

It hadn't exactly been a tough day. We'de been getting used to the warm weather and nursing first night hangovers and we hadn't done the shake-down until about 4pm. Still diving is diving, so after a quick shower it was down the bar for some apres-plonge and then on to a hearty meal.

Next morning we headed out to the islands. The Medes Islands were first protected in 1983 and by 1990 had become established as a marine reserve and "no take" zone. That makes them the jewel of Spain's coast. Bigger fish come to maturity without being hunted by spear-fishermen and shoaling fish hug the islands safe from nets but providing food for their natural predators.

We got to enjoy them all! Most dives brought us close to large Groupers and, if you could drag your eyes from the walls of purple Gorgolian coral, you could watch shoals of sardines light up the blue in silver firework flashes.

Slipping into an easy routine we would rise in time for a dive at nine am then relax until another at four. The big gap made it a great holiday to bring non-diving partners and kids on. It's a Spanish beach holiday but the "diver" misses kids breakfast and tea. For every-one else it was a chance for a lazy late breakfast, a long lunch, a trip to the ice-cream shop or, in some cases, all three. By the time we left, one or two wet suit zips were beginning to groan.

The diving was relaxing with plenty to see and calm conditions. A lot of the most memorable dives centred around the dolphin cave system - an easy set of caves marked by a statue of a dolphin at one entrance. It's lucky to kiss it as you pass and if you know the place to blow you can amaze your friends by making bubbles come out of the top. Well, your more excitable and easily pleased friends anyway. As well as the main tunnel through to the dolphin, a side tunnel took lead off to "the cathedral" a beautiful wide open underwater cave with two huge arched "windows". A favourite place for some of the biggest Groupers on the islands.

Further along the wall, another cave contained an ancient stalagmite fused with it's stalactite and yet another opened up into an air chamber with breathable air. This one was, according to Frank, home to an "enormous" conga eel. We only saw a small one but, as the girls all say, "big" depends on what you're used to!

Afternoon dive done, there was just time to stow kit as the boat returned to the harbour. Then off for showers, aperitivos and then food. Claire did a fantastic job organising the restaurants and each day ended with full, happy divers rolling themselves off the bed.

The only exception was the evening we did a night dive. Night diving is one of my favourites and this one came with a gentle swell that almost rocked you to sleep as you finned along. Frank had described the local slipper lobsters but they have to be seen to be believed. I found a pair as we poked about among the boulders. As soon as they saw me the scuttled off, looking for all the world like giant submarine cockroaches. Followed up with plenty of hot chocolate laced with brandy that night I dreamed of the gently rocking swell under the sea.

It all passed too quickly! There we were on the last night with no diving in the morning. What else could we do but party? A barbecue round at the big villa (Did i mention that most people were staying in a villa with a big patio, barbecue and private pool?) and then on to Maxims to dance the night away. I must say I did slope off early but, judging by the grey faces and sore heads the next morning, it was a good night.

Big thanks to Mike, Chris, Mary, Nigel and Spring for providing training as we went along and congratulations to Cleggy on getting his Sports Diver signed off with an afternoon dragging me up the beach.

Big thanks too to Bob, Eleanor and Jo for being such great company down in the apartment (Everyone else got the pool but, hey, we got the view!)

Absolutely HUGE thanks to Kerry for organising it all. It was the best trip of the year and I loved every minute.

Finally, Some favourite quotes from the holiday:

"Ye dinni need all that weet! Tik three keelos off..." - Frank, our Geordie host, who felt everyone was over-weighted (and annoyingly was mostly right)

"You get novices like that sometimes" - Mike, having spent an entire dive leader training dive completely ignoring me, poking the coral, pinching Mary and deliberately screwing up absolutely everything.

"It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A!" - Mike and some other people (can't remember who) in the karioke bar

"Could I have a table for twenty please?" - Claire, pretty much every night

"Is that my Kowalski?" - Confusion on the boat as everyone had just bought the same torch (with slight variations of colour and size)

"Now that's a steak" - Ian, on seeing Cleggy serve the huge rib of beef he cooked on the barbecue

"Show me the way to go home..." - Sung (quite loudly) by Bob and Eleanor one night walking home after a particularly "hearty" meal

Medes in one of the best best dive desinations in spain.