Best Snorkelling Spots on the Costa Brava

We sail the Bay of Roses and Cap de Creus almost every day, and a good share of our stops end with a mask on. These are the coves in our patch where the snorkelling is genuinely worth it — all reachable by boat from the Marina de Santa Margarita.

Here's what you'll see at each one, how far it is from Roses, and an honest note about the Medes Islands, which aren't in our area but come up in questions all the time.

1. Cala Montjoi, the reliable classic

About 20 minutes' sailing from Santa Margarita, Cala Montjoi is the most accessible snorkelling stop in our area. Calm, sheltered water, a rocky seabed with posidonia and very good visibility most of the year.

Below the surface you'll find rockfish, the odd octopus tucked between the stones and posidonia meadows. Its size and natural shelter make it the one we usually recommend to beginners and families — and ashore there's the elBulli1846 connection, though the summer parking is another story.

2. Cala Murtra, the aquarium without the glass

Around 10 minutes' sailing away, in the Punta Falconera area, Cala Murtra is the surprise on this list. Access on foot is so awkward that hardly anyone bothers, and the water shows it: clean, calm and with a rocky bottom full of life.

We often anchor in its shallow water and the mask comes out on its own: small fish between the rocks, anemones and that aquarium-without-the-glass feeling only empty coves give you. Quiet, understated Mediterranean snorkelling.

3. Cap de Creus: Culip, Jugadora and the caves

The rugged coastline of the Cap de Creus Natural Park is the wildest snorkelling in the area. Cala Culip and Cala Jugadora, sheltered near the lighthouse, are our usual stops when the sea allows; between them lie caves and rock arches you can only reach from the water.

The water here is exceptionally clear, filtered by the posidonia meadows. Keep your eyes open for moray eels, red starfish, sea urchins and nudibranchs on the rocky seabed. Since land access is long and complicated for most of these coves, arriving by boat is the best option — we head up with a skipper or a licensed boat depending on the day.

4. Cala Jóncols, between cliffs and pines

Tucked between cliffs and pine forest on the way to Cap de Creus, Cala Jóncols is one you earn by sea: the dirt track is rough enough that most visitors arrive by boat. Its pebble-and-rock bottom gives excellent visibility.

With less human pressure than the roadside coves, it's easy to spot anemones, gilt-head bream and octopuses hunting among the rocks. Beginner or old hand with a mask, Jóncols repays the trip.

5. What about the Medes Islands?

We get asked all the time, so here's the honest answer: the Medes Islands, off L'Estartit, are an extraordinary marine reserve — huge groupers, gorgonians, shoals of white bream — but they sit outside our rental area. Our boats operate between the Bay of Roses and Cap de Creus, and the Medes (like the coves near Colera and Portbou further north) are best visited with operators based there. If that reserve is your plan, start from L'Estartit; if you want wild snorkelling without leaving here, Cap de Creus more than holds its own.

Safety tips and equipment recommendations

Before you get in the water, a few basics — for your own safety and the environment's.

• 1
  Always snorkel with a companion and never swim alone.
• 2
  Choose a spot that matches your skill level and experience.
• 3
  Use proper equipment: a well-fitted mask, snorkel and fins.
• 4
  Stay aware of your surroundings and watch out for boat traffic.
• 5
  Respect the ecosystem: don't touch the seabed or disturb the wildlife, and always anchor clear of the posidonia.

That plus a little common sense, and the water does the rest. If you come out with us, snorkelling gear is included on the caves trip — and if you rent a no-licence boat, bring your mask: Montjoi and Murtra are under half an hour from the pontoon.