Galicia
Spain · Atlantic Ocean
Galicia's rugged Atlantic coastline hides one of Europe's richest cold-water ecosystems, sheltered within the Illas Atlánticas National Park. Grey seals, giant octopus, dense nudibranch populations, and centuries-old shipwrecks make this northwest corner of Spain a genuine bucket-list destination for temperate-water divers.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
Live science signals for this reef are still being gathered.
Coral cover
Fish life
Heat
Fishing
Open to fishing, and the water is busy.
Sources · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
What you will see
21 species across the dive sites here
Common Slowworm
Seen 20 days ago
at Carnota Wreck
Least concern
European Shag
Seen 20 days ago
at Cíes Islands
Least concern
Ocellated Lizard
Seen 20 days ago
at Cíes Islands
Least concern
European Stonechat
Seen 21 days ago
at Illas Atlánticas Marine Park — Ons Sector
Podarcis lusitanicus
Seen 22 days ago
at Cíes Islands
Least concern
Bocage'S Wall Lizard
Seen 23 days ago
at Cíes Islands
Least concern
Marbled Crab
Seen 23 days ago
at Illas Atlánticas Marine Park — Ons Sector
Mallard
Seen 1 month ago
at Cíes Islands
Least concern
Conger Eel
Seen 2 months ago
at Illas Atlánticas Marine Park — Ons Sector
Least concern
Common Octopus
Seen 2 months ago
at Cíes Islands
Least concern
Common Dolphin
Seen 2 months ago
at Cabo Vilán Reef
Least concern
Velvet Swimming Crab
Seen 3 months ago
at Carnota Wreck
Northern Gannet
Seen 5 months ago
at Cabo Vilán Reef
Least concern
Ballan Wrasse
Seen Jul 2025
at Cabo Vilán Reef
Least concern
European Lobster
Seen May 2025
at Illas Atlánticas Marine Park — Ons Sector
Least concern
European Spider Crab
Seen year round
at Illas Atlánticas Marine Park — Ons Sector
Flabellina Nudibranch
Seen year round
at Cíes Islands
Grey Seal
Seen year round
at Cíes Islands
Least concern
Jewel Anemone
Seen year round
at Cabo Vilán Reef
Plumose Anemone
Seen year round
at Carnota Wreck
Pollack
Seen year round
at Carnota Wreck
Least concern
Dive sites
Cíes Islands
grey seal · common octopus · flabellina nudibranch · bocage's wall lizard
Illas Atlánticas Marine Park — Ons Sector
european spider crab · conger eel · european lobster · ocellated lizard
Carnota Wreck
plumose anemone · pollack · velvet swimming crab · ocellated lizard
Cabo Vilán Reef
ballan wrasse · jewel anemone · common dolphin · european stonechat