Cave diving in Northern Spain

• Burgos: Pozo Azul, Pozo San Vicente, Orbaneja and Pozo La Torca lie in municipalities of the Parque Natural Hoces del Alto Ebro y Rudrón (Ley 15/2008). Turismo Burgos says only certified, experienced cave divers may enter the Pozo Azul galleries; a permit system was announced in 2008 — check with the Junta de Castilla y León (environment department) before the trip. • Soria: La Fuentona is a Monumento Natural; swimming is banned and cave diving is 'very restricted' — contact the Sección de Espacios Naturales in Soria first. Car park P2 is regulated and paid at busy times. • Cantabria: entering caves needs authorisation from the regional Consejería de Educación, Cultura y Deporte unless the cave is on the exempt list (Resolución 14-09-2020, BOC 23-10-2020). Always notify 112 before entering a cave (Ley de Cantabria 2/2017). The Matienzo Caves Project coordinates diving in its area and welcomes divers who get in touch (matienzocaves.org.uk). • Water: Pozo Azul 9–11 °C year-round, Fuente Azul 13 °C. Springs react strongly to rain and snowmelt (flooding at Pozo Azul in May 2008, strong winter outflow at La Fuentona, swollen streams at Matienzo at Easter 2013). • Gas: no public trimix fill station found in Burgos or Soria province; the nearest confirmed trimix fills are in Cantabria (Maliaño near Santander, Laredo), ~1.5 h from Covanera. Plan your gas in advance. • Covanera: free car park in the village, ~300 m (5–10 min) to the Pozo Azul; Bar Muñecas near the pool is the expeditions' usual staging post. Few services in the village (no cash machine or supermarket). • Emergencies: 112. Hyperbaric chamber: Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Av. Marqués de Valdecilla 25, 39010 Santander — multiplace chamber in a hospital unit with 24-hour service, tel. +34 942 20 25 70 (~1 h 15 from Covanera). In 2016 this chamber was out of order for months (petition) — 112 decides where you go. From Soria also: Hospital Central de la Defensa Gómez Ulla, Glorieta del Ejército 1, 28047 Madrid, multiplace, 24 h, +34 914 22 20 00. DAN Europe +39 06 4211 5685.