Canary Islands
Canary Islands
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Volcanic stone cooled by Atlantic swell, where an African current visits Europe.
Eight Atlantic islands of volcanic origin sit off the coast of North Africa, their black-sand slopes dropping into caves, arches and walls shaped by lava rather than coral growth. Warm-water and cold-water species overlap here in a way few Atlantic coasts allow.
Conditions
- Season
- Diveable year-round; calmest June–October
- Temperature
- About 18–23 °C across the year
- Visibility
- Often 15–30 m, swell dependent
- Entry
- Shore and boat entries; surge and current vary by coast
What this water asks
Comfort in surge and swell, and a slow approach to the sandy shallows where angelsharks rest half-buried.
The Blue Heart
Angelshark (Squatina squatina)
Once common across Europe's coasts, this flattened, well-camouflaged shark is now critically rare almost everywhere except the Canary Islands, one of its last significant nursery grounds.
Best dive areas in the Canary Islands
Each island has its own character. These are the areas most divers choose, from the easiest to the most demanding.
El Cabrón (Arinaga, Gran Canaria)
approx. 5–30 m · Open Water
Marine reserve with volcanic arches, angelsharks on the sand, rays and schools of grunts.
Museo Atlántico (Lanzarote)
approx. 12–15 m · Open Water
Over 300 sculptures by Jason deCaires Taylor, now colonised by sponges, bream and angelsharks.
Playa Chica (Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote)
approx. 3–40 m · Open Water / Advanced
Shore entry, seahorses, stingrays and a wall dropping into the blue.
Las Eras y Los Chuchos (Tenerife)
approx. 5–25 m · Open Water
Large stingrays and butterfly rays approaching calmly over sandy bottoms.
La Restinga (El Hierro)
approx. 10–40 m · Advanced
Mar de las Calmas Marine Reserve: groupers, barracuda, occasional mantas and hammerheads in summer.
Los Cancajos (La Palma)
approx. 5–30 m · Open Water
Young lava, small caves, octopus, morays and trumpetfish.
Depths are approximate: always confirm them at the local briefing.
When to go and what to expect
Diving runs all year. June to October usually brings the calmest seas; in winter, northern swell decides which coast is dived each day.
| Period | Water | Visibility | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 18–19 °C | 15–25 m | Angelsharks most visible in Gran Canaria |
| Apr–Jun | 19–21 °C | 15–30 m | Seas settling |
| Jul–Sep | 21–23 °C | 20–30 m | Hammerheads and mantas off El Hierro |
| Oct–Dec | 20–22 °C | 15–30 m | Water still warm, fewer divers |
Getting there and where to dive from
Every island has an airport with direct flights from mainland Spain and much of Europe. Gran Canaria, Tenerife South and Lanzarote carry most of the traffic; El Hierro and La Palma are also reached by ferry or inter-island flight.
Typical dive towns: Arinaga and Puerto de Mogán (Gran Canaria), Puerto del Carmen (Lanzarote), Las Galletas and Los Cristianos (Tenerife), La Restinga (El Hierro).
- Indicative price
- Two-tank boat trip: around €70–110 (indicative).
- Fees and permits
- Museo Atlántico charges a per-diver entry, usually included by the center; La Restinga requires diving with authorised centers inside the reserve.
- Certification
- A card from any recognised agency, dive insurance and, at some centers, a medical statement.
A presence dive in the Canary Islands
A four-phase plan for El Cabrón, inside your agency standards and dive plan.
Before
On the shore, before kitting up, we watch the swell for three slow breaths and review the plan with our buddy: depth, gas, exit.
Below
After a descent attentive only to safety, we pause by the sand and let the angelshark stay sand. Continuous breathing, minimal finning.
Between
During the surface interval we name one thing we saw without looking for it.
Beyond
Back home, we carry that pause into one conversation: waiting before replying.
The breathing in this plan is practised in Breathwork for divers. New to this? Read what Mindful Diving™ is.
Frequently asked questions
Are there sharks in the Canary Islands?
Yes, but none is a usual risk to divers. The most common is the angelshark, a flattened shark resting on the sand; hammerheads pass El Hierro in summer.
Which is the best island for diving in the Canaries?
It depends on what you want: El Hierro for pelagic life and clear water, Lanzarote for shore dives and the Museo Atlántico, Gran Canaria for angelsharks at El Cabrón.
Can you dive the Canaries in winter?
Yes. Water is around 18–19 °C; a 7 mm suit is comfortable and the swell decides the coast of the day.
What wetsuit do I need in the Canaries?
A 5 mm suit in summer and 7 mm from December to April is usually enough. Ask your center, depending on how you feel the cold.
Nearby waters
Atlas sites here
This water is not yet linked to an Atlas guide.
Find a center near herePresence here
Presence notes appear here once enough divers have logged this water — the same house number the Tide holds everywhere.
Safety first
On scuba, breathe naturally and continuously as trained; never hold, skip or deliberately restrict your breathing. Keep attention on your buddy, buoyancy, gas and surroundings. Leave optional exercises out of descents, ascents and any demanding task.
Dive this water with a trained practice
MD-1 Mindful Diver™ is studied online and practised on the dives you already make — including this one.