Costa Brava · Spain · Wreck · Artificial reef

Reggio Messina

A 122 m ferry in three pieces on sand at 22–35 m

A 122 m ferry that the catalogue records as built in Italy in 1970 and sunk in 1991 to make it an artificial reef, now broken into three pieces on sand — 35 m by the catalogue's reckoning, 32 m by the operator's. It is the Advanced-only wreck of this coast: you drop down a line from the surface buoy, find the stern first and work forward over a site the operator gives as 22 to 35 m.

Where it is and how deep

Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

42.0800° N, 3.2026° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

The wreck is reached down a line attached to the surface buoy, which puts you on the structure without a search across the bottom. The stern is found first; a short tour forward brings you to the mast amidships, and the bow lies much further east — the three sections the ship broke into on the sand below.

Depth sets the plan. The catalogue puts the sand at 35 m and the operator at 32 m, and the dive is published as a 22 to 35 m range, so the catalogue's advice is to visit the wreck by its upper structure, and if visibility allows, the operator reckons on about 20 minutes on it. Advanced level is stated as a requirement, and the sensible profile is one pass over the superstructure rather than a lap of all three pieces.

The wreck

Vessel: Reggio Messina
Type: Ferry
Length: 122 m (400 ft)
Built: 1970
Sunk: 1991
Cause: Sunk deliberately to make it an artificial reef
Lies: Broken into three pieces — bow, midships and stern — on sand at 32-35 m

Marine life and season

The sources we used don't single out particular species here.

Month-by-month season rating for Reggio Messina
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Fair	Fair

Season follows Costa Brava: Water runs from about 13 °C in February to 25 °C in July and August; no L'Escala centre publishes closing months, and the tramuntana can keep boats in port in any month.

Questions divers ask

How deep is the Reggio Messina wreck?+

The catalogue puts the sandy bottom at 35 m and the operator at 32 m, with the dive published as a 22 to 35 m range. Advanced level is stated as a requirement, and the wreck is visited over its upper structure.