Estartit

"Bill" <mailliw5619-scuba@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:co82hf$nt3$1@sparta.btinternet.com...
>
> "Mike Gallagher" <mikedotgallagher@totalisedotcodotuk> wrote in message
> news:41a6fd7f$0$1607$9a6e19ea@news.newshosting.com ...
> > "Bill" <bill.jepson@btinternet.com> wrote in message
> > news:co5i95$se5$1@hercules.btinternet.com...
> >> Family holiday in Estartit planned for July next year.
> >>
> >> My son and I completed my PADI OW this year in France and we should
have
> >> completed the PADI Advanced before July.
> >>
> >> Having seen the replies to the 'Private boats & Spain' post I would
> >> appreciate any recommendations for a (PADI) dive centre suitable for
two
> >> inexperienced divers.
> >>
> >> Thanks
> >>
> >> Bill
> >>
> >>
> > Bill,
> >
> > I went with my family in July this year, although we stayed just down
the
> > coast in Torres del Mar. I did six dives with Unisub and I can't fault
> > them. They have the best boat I could see in the harbour and go out
three
> > times a day at 8.30, 11.00 and 14.00 I believe. I did the 08.30 and was
> > always back in Estartit by 10.45, except the day they had to send the
> > rescue
> > boat out for me & my buddy, but that's another story
> >
> > They seemed to cater for all levels, my first couple of dives were
guided
> > in
> > a group and then I was buddied up with someone with similar experience.
> > They book only one week in advance, but you shouldn't have any problems
> > getting on a weekday dive. I would however go to the office as soon as
> > your
> > arrive to sign up. They keep your cert card and you just run up a tab
> > until
> > your done and ready to hand over the plastic.
> >
> > They are located right opposite the harbour entrance at the start of the
> > big
> > car park. Just follow the main street along the sea front until you run
> > out
> > of road and just their on the left. You can't miss them as they appear
to
> > have the smartest looking shop front in the area.
> >
> > This is the url I have for them http://www.unisub.es/
> >
> > I this your first time to the area? I'd better happy to pass on my
> > experiences if your interested.
> >
> > Also, where did you qualify in France? We're going to Biarritz next
year
> > and I can find very little on local diving.
> >
> > Cheers
> > Mike
> >
> >
> Mike,
>
> Thanks for the info.
>
> It is our first time in the area so I welcome any information you think
may
> be useful.
>
> Last year we were a bit further up the coast just into France at Argeles
sur
> Mer so I'm afraid I cant really help with Biarritz.
>
> Bill
>
>

Bill,

Estartit is a little 'kiss me quick' in places, although the harbour area
and the main shopping street are nice. It's also has a very large beach and
some good glass bottom boat trips. I found that area not particularly
picturesque, but just a few miles away are some lovely spots, so heres my
highlights:

I assume your going to have a car, if not get one for a few days.

If you driving down be aware that the motorway between Tolouse and the coast
gets VERY busy at the weekend. We drove down on a Friday and spent three
hours trying to find somewhere to stay in Tolouse, in retrospect we should
have pressed on that night. The next day at 10am the coast road was jammed.
If you go up or down that road, go out of peak hours.

A few K's down the coast from Estartit is Pals which is a lovely walled town
selling arty crafty bits & bobs & excellent ice cream.

Further on down next to Palafruell is Llafranc which is a very pretty town
on a beautiful bay. There is a lovely gently sloping beach and excellent
snorkelling, very child friendly. There are also two scuba schools but I
didn't investigate. If you like Rioja then as you drive into Palafruell
from Pals there is a very good wine warehouse on the right, it's the large
purple building, you can't miss it!

All the way down the coast are little bays and you will just stumble over
the beaches. The coast road is spectacular, so take a good camera. I found
this site after we got back http://catalunya.org.uk/web/pages/index.html,
it's just promoting someones villa, but it does list the good beaches and
some places to visit.

We didn't explore the area as much as we should have and I would definitely
suggest finding a good guide book & map before you go. The Costa Brava is
genrally under exploited IMHO, although some of the big coastal towns are
definately not my cup of tea. However, having said that we were about to
book for the same location again next year and were only swayed by an
alternative personal recommendation. I'd definately go back, this afternoon
if I had half a chance!

And the two things I wanted to say about the diving are, definately get your
AOW and a few dives in before you go and take a good torch. There are
plenty of large caverns/tunnels to swim through, but without a torch it's
just a 5 minute swim in the dark

When I get Dreamweaver working on my mac and a fair few hours to spare, I'll
try and update my website with some pictures www.gallagher.org.uk (I
wouldn't bother at the moment it's a little out of date).

Hope this helps!
Mike