Cave diving in Menorca

• Marine reserves: Nord de Menorca (since 1999, >5,000 ha, between Es Cap Gros, Illa des Porros (Cap de Cavalleria) and Punta des Morter, including part of Fornells bay) and Illa de l'Aire (Decreto 26/2019; coast from Punta des Xoriguer to Punta de Rafalet plus the islet). In both, diving inside underwater caves is prohibited. In the Nord de Menorca special-protection zones (between Cala Barril and Pla de Mar, and part of Fornells bay) scuba diving is banned altogether; around Cap de Cavalleria five diving sectors allow max. 50 dives per day (sa Nitja sector max. 2, with prior permission). • Permit for diving in the reserves: individual or collective, from the Dirección General de Pesca. Online only (digital certificate/Cl@ve); diving certification plus accident and liability insurance; €5.24 per day, €15.71 per week, €52.82 per year; decision within max. 6 months. reservesmarines@dgpesca.caib.es, +34 971 176 100. If you dive with a centre, ask whether their group permit covers you. • Outside the reserves (Pont d'en Gil, Cala Morell, Cap d'en Font, east side of Fornells bay) no cave-diving ban was found; centres only run the caves guided, and Scorpion Cave, Organ Loft and Fossil Cave only for cave-certified divers. • Inland/anchialine caves: no offer for visiting cave divers found. • Gases: air and nitrox at several centres; O₂ only listed by Diving Menorca (Fornells). No trimix, sofnolime or CCR service found — arrange your own and ask in advance. Scooters: Diving Menorca and Nautilus Diving (Fornells) list scooters among their equipment. • Training: TDI Cavern at S'Algar Diving (min. 25 logged dives, 2 days, €400 per a course portal); cavern specialty at Scuba Plus (Cala en Blanes, from €450); PADI Cavern at Son Bou Scuba (max. 2 students per instructor). No intro or full cave training found on Menorca. • Emergencies: 112. Hyperbaric chamber: Hospital Mateu Orfila, Ronda de Malbúger 1, 07703 Maó (switchboard +34 971 487 000) — chamber since 2009, treats diving accidents. No direct 24/7 number for the chamber confirmed: call 112. Other Balearic chamber: Clínica Juaneda, C/ Company 30, Palma. DAN Europe +39 06 4211 5685.