Spain

Diving in Canary Islands

60 sites81 species17–25 °C10–40 m vis

Photo by Andre Blanco on Unsplash

The Canary Islands — Europe's year-round diving paradise. Seven volcanic islands off Africa's Atlantic coast offer an astonishing diversity of underwater experiences: from Europe's only underwater museum (Museo Atlántico, Lanzarote) to the world-class manta ray encounters of El Hierro's La Restinga Marine Reserve, the dramatic 600m Los Gigantes sea cliffs of Tenerife, and the Critically Endangered angel sharks that make Lanzarote's Playa Chica their home. With water temperatures rarely dropping below 18°C, visibility reaching 40m on winter days, and direct flights from across Europe, the Canary Islands deliver Atlantic diving that rivals any Caribbean destination — often with fewer crowds and richer volcanic seascapes.

Mount Teide on Tenerife is Spain's highest peak (3,718m) — measuring from the ocean floor it reaches 7,500m, making it the third-tallest volcanic structure in the world after Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.Lanzarote's Museo Atlántico is Europe's first underwater contemporary art museum, featuring 300+ life-sized sculptures by Jason deCaires Taylor installed at 12-15m depth.Los Gigantes on Tenerife's west coast rises 600m above sea level and plunges straight down another 40m underwater — a single vertical wall of 640m of basalt.Playa Chica in Lanzarote is one of the best places on Earth to see the Critically Endangered angel shark (Squatina squatina), a species that was once common across European waters.El Hierro's La Restinga Marine Reserve is one of the few places in the Eastern Atlantic where you can reliably encounter devil rays (Mobula mobular) on almost every dive between November and April.A resident population of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) can be found year-round in the sheltered bay of El Puertito, Tenerife — one of the most reliable turtle encounters in Europe.The ancient Romans called them the 'Fortunate Isles' (Insulae Fortunatae) for their mild climate and lush vegetation — a name that still holds true.The newest land in Spain was created in 2021 when the Cumbre Vieja volcano erupted on La Palma, adding new seabed terrain that divers can now explore at Fuencaliente.At 28°N latitude (same as Florida), the Canary Islands offer comfortable diving year-round with direct flights from most European capitals — the most accessible world-class diving for Europe.From El Hierro's raw volcanic marine reserve to Lanzarote's artistic reefs and Tenerife's wall dives, each island offers a completely different underwater experience just 30-90 minutes apart by ferry.

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Places on this map (58)

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Conditions

Water temp

17–25 °C

Visibility

10–40 m

Depth

5–40 m

Current

Moderate

Best season

Year-round. Peak conditions March-October for warmth and calm seas; October-April for best visibility and pelagic sightings.

Month	Summary
Jan	Winter begins with the best visibility of the year (20-30m). Water temperatures drop to 18-19°C; a 3-5mm wetsuit is recommended. The calm, clear conditions are ideal for wall dives at Los Gigantes and the Museo Atlántico. Whale and dolphin sightings peak in winter months. The eastern islands (Lanzarote, Fuerteventura) can be windy but offer sheltered sites.
Feb	Coldest month of the year (17-19°C water). Best visibility window (20-30m) continues. Excellent for large pelagic sightings — the cooler water attracts bigger species. Trade winds can be brisk on exposed sites but sheltered south-coast locations remain calm. Good month for wreck diving around Tenerife and Gran Canaria.
Mar	Transition into peak season. Water warms to 19-20°C. Trade winds begin to ease. Visibility still excellent (20-30m). One of the best months overall — good water clarity, warming temperatures, fewer crowds than summer. Manta ray season ends in El Hierro around March.
Apr	Peak season begins. Water temperatures reach 20-21°C. Calm seas across all islands. Visibility remains excellent. The manta ray season in El Hierro typically ends by April. All islands are accessible with favorable conditions. Ideal month for island-hopping between Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Gran Canaria.
May	Spring diving at its best. Water reaches 20-21°C. NE trade winds increase in strength, making exposed sites rougher but sheltered bays perfect. Visibility still good (15-25m). Good month for Lanzarote's Playa Chica (angel sharks) and Tenerife's Los Gigantes wall dives. Ferry crossings between islands are smooth.
Jun	Summer starts. Water reaches 21-22°C. Trade winds are at their peak, creating challenging conditions on north-facing sites but perfect drift dives on sheltered south coasts. Visibility begins to decline from summer phytoplankton blooms (15-20m). Great for El Hierro's marine reserve and Fuencaliente's lava flow dives.
Jul	Warmest month for air (28-30°C). Water reaches 22-23°C. Summer phytoplankton blooms reduce visibility to 10-15m at many sites — the poorest visibility period. However, the nutrient-rich waters bring spectacular marine life. Night diving becomes more rewarding. Best for shallow reef sites and the Museo Atlántico where bioluminescence can be seen.
Aug	Peak warmth. Water reaches 23-24°C (highest of the year). Visibility still impacted by phytoplankton (10-15m). The warmth makes this comfortable for longer dives despite reduced visibility. Excellent for turtle encounters at El Puertito (Tenerife) and the lava formations at Fuencaliente (La Palma). Sea temperatures are most comfortable for extended shore dives.
Sep	Late summer transition. Water still warm (23-24°C). Phytoplankton blooms begin to subside. Visibility improves back to 15-25m. Good month for all islands as conditions stabilize. Early September can still have summer conditions; late September marks the return of clearer water and the start of the improved visibility season.
Oct	The visibility season begins. Water temperatures hold at 22-23°C. Clear Atlantic water returns — 20-30m visibility becomes the norm. Excellent month for wall dives, deep dives, and pelagic encounters. Trade winds decrease. One of the best months of the year for overall diving conditions across all islands.
Nov	Manta ray season kicks off in El Hierro (La Restinga). Water cools to 21-22°C. Visibility continues to improve (20-30m). Trade winds strengthen, making some sites rougher. The manta ray encounters at El Bajón become the highlight of the diving calendar. Winter whale migration begins. Great month for El Hierro and Tenerife south coast.
Dec	Winter arrives with crystal-clear water (20-30m visibility). Water cools to 18-19°C. Best month for large pelagic species and whale encounters. The manta ray season continues in El Hierro. Trade winds can be strong on exposed sites. South-coast dive sites in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote remain sheltered and comfortable. Ideal for photographers who prioritize clarity over warmth.

Dive Sites (60)

Abades

10–30m · Intermediate

Rocky reef · Seagrass patches

Arguineguín

10–35m · Intermediate

Volcanic reef · Walls · Overhangs

Arrecife Wrecks

8–22m · Beginner

Wrecks · Artificial reefs

Bajamar / Punta del Hidalgo

5–20m · Intermediate

Rocky coast · Volcanic rock

Bajo de la Silla

12–30m · Advanced

Seamount · Pinnacle · Pelagics

Callao Salvaje

8–25m · Beginner

Lava formations · Caves

Corralejo

5–20m · Beginner

Sandy bottom · Rocky bottom

Cueva del Palacio (La Palma)

5–15m · Beginner

Lava tube cave · Nocturnal

+52more sites in the appGet the app →

Marine Life (81)

must-see

Loggerhead Turtle

must-see

Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin

must-see

Island Grouper

Canary damsel

Iberian hogfish

Mediterranean Slipper Lobster

Royal Spiny Lobster

coastal form Bryde's whale

Barolo Shearwater

Canary Blenny

Black Moray

Painted Chromodorid

+69more species in the app

Dive Shops (58)

Aqua-Marina

★ 5Moderate

Diving in Canary Islands

Explore the map

Conditions

Dive Sites (60)

Abades

Arguineguín

Arrecife Wrecks

Bajamar / Punta del Hidalgo

Bajo de la Silla

Callao Salvaje

Corralejo

Cueva del Palacio (La Palma)

Marine Life (81)

Dive Shops (58)

Aqua-Marina

DIVE LOVERS TENERIFE - DIVE CENTER

Squatina Sub Diving Center | Centro de Buceo

Punkfish Diving La Palma

TAGORO DIVE | El Hierro | Buceo y viajes

Lanzarote Non Stop Divers

Dive Community La Palma - Los Cancajos

Margullar Diving

LJ Diving Tenerife

Brothers Diving

Ola Diving Center

Zeus Dive Center

Atlantis Diving Lanzarote

BRISUB - Buceo y Snorkel/ Tenerife Sur/ Las Galletas

Diving Angel Plongée Tenerife

Vibe Dive Center Tenerife - Diving in Tenerife

GO DIVING center

Aquarius dive center

Deep Blue Dive Center

See You Diving Tenerife - PADI 5 Star

Deep Divers

Medanodive - Tu centro de buceo en Tenerife sur

Scuba Sur Diving Gran Canaria

Sa Caleta Tenerife

Blue Water Diving

Tenerife Diving Academy 5 Star Dive Centre

Macaronesian Divers - Tienda y centro de buceo en Tenerife

GooDiving

Dive Pro Fuerte

Gran Canaria Divers

Buceo La Vieja ,Padi Dive Center / Emoción Apnea

One Two Dive Tenerife

Buceo Isla Bonita La Palma

Buceo Canarias

Scubafriends Tenerife - PADI Dive Center - Buceo Tenerife - Snorkeling - Try dive - Bautizo

Leagues Ahead Diving

Buceo Norte Gran Canaria

Deep Fin Tenerife | Centro de Buceo en Las Galletas

Deep Ocean Diver - PADI Dive Center

WET MONSTER Dive Center - Polskie Centrum Nurkowe Teneryfa

Dive Center Tenerife by WhatNext Adventures

Manta Diving Lanzarote

Scuba Point Diving Tenerife

BIG FISH Dive Center Tenerife

Scubanana Dive Center

PADI 5* Travel Sub Dive Center Tenerife

Ocean Trek

Pura Vida Diving Lanzarote

Karapat Dive Gran Canaria

Diving Atlantis Tenerife

Paradise Divers

Nautico Diving Center

Black Sand Diving La Palma

Barbarian Diving Tenerife S.L

CID Lanzarote - Canary Island Divers

Davy Jones Diving PADI 5 Star Dive Centre

Nextdives Tenerife

Chill Divers Tenerife

Guides

Top Dive Sites in the Canary Islands

The Complete Canary Islands Diving Guide

Canary Islands Diving Conditions by Month

Safety

Bring Canary Islands underwater