For the best Scuba Diving and Snorkelling in Gran Canaria join Davy Jones Diving, Arinaga

  

Diving around Gran Canaria

There are a number of main sites for diving around the Island of Gran Canaria.

The main diving sites in Gran Canaria


In the North East, near Las Palmas, most diving is by boat, although only a few wrecks are now dived, with La Catedral and Barra de Las Canteras being the other most significant other dives. Working clockwise around the coast, it is possible to dive from several bays, inlets and small beaches (though mostly unremarkable). The Gando Shoal has some interesting wrecks, but at present there is no dive school or boat which goes there on a regular basis.

The best diving area on the island is unquestionably the Arinaga Marine Reserve on the East Coast, known better as 'El Cabrón', where divers can be found every day of the week. Working towards the south there are several possible entries but these are onto unremarkable shores with variable visibility and little life.

Once past the sandy beaches of Playa del Ingels, Maspalomas and Meloneras and round the southern tip of the island, the west coast offers numerous coves and bays from Pasito Blanco to Arguineguin, Anfi del Mar, Puerto Rico, Playa del Cura and Mogan, and a few off-shore sites such as Pasito Blanco, which provide variety but lack the quantity or diversity of marine life at any one site that can be found at Arinaga.

The north-west coast is largely inaccessible, but also subject to strong swells and the northerly trades and so rarely dived, with only Sardina del Norte being used on a regular basis.

Several sites around the coast have been listed by the EU as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, but to date only the 'El Cabrón' area has formally been proposed to the Ministerio for the status of Marine Reserve.

The coast around Mogan is characterised by steep cliffs with no shore access with some underwater caves and rocky seabeds

The prevailing winds make the Northern shores ideal for surfing but limit diving options

 

La Catedral  great scuba diving in Gran Canaria here

Lying just outside Las Palmas,this dive can only be reached by boat, and only when the wind and tide conditions are favourable - on one of those rare days when the north-easterly trade winds are not blowing, and there is no on-shore swell.

This is a cavern dive where you descend to the sea-bed at 12-14m, then through large natural hoes into the cavern below. The cavern then stretches down to an amazing 45m, with light streaming in through the entry points above you in the roof. The underwater geology is spectacular, but marine life can be a little sparse after some of the island's sites, although you can expect to find prawns, crabs and other inhabitants of limited light. This is a dive for those with more experience, particularly if there is an swell running.

Divers descend into the caverns of the Catedral, one of the best dives in Gran Canaria

Moving from one cavern to another in the Catedral

 

Diving the Barra de Las Canteras  Shallow dives in Gran Canaria here

On the North side of Las Palmas is a long beach, Playa de Las Canteras, which is protected from the usual northerly swell by a small reef. If conditions are suitable it is possible to swim out from the beach and explore the reef, which reaches a maximum depth of 8m. You will find most of the smaller species such as Damselfish, Wrasse, Bream. This site is better for snorkelling than diving due to access and tide conditions.

Being right next to the city of Las Palmas, this beach is always busy

 

Diving the Bays of the North East  Shallow dives in Gran Canaria here

There are several bays where shore diving is possible along the North East Coast. If weather conditions are suitable you can dive these sites which are much quieter than the most popular diving destinations. At Taliarte near to Playa de Salinettas you can dive down to see a field of Gorgonias at 30m, while at Tufia, there are several entry points for snorkelling and diving down to 8-10m. The Bay of Gando (next to the Airport) is a military area and is closed for diving, however just outside the bay, on the Gando Shoal there are several wrecks that can only be reached by boat, including the wreck of the Alphonso XII in 60m of water where it is rumoured you can still find gold coins!

The beach at Tufia is sheltered but is a long way down from the car park.

 

Diving in the El Cabrón Marine Reserve  Best scuba diving in Gran Canaria here in the El Cabrón Marine Reserve

This area on the east coast has developed such a reputation for the variety and quantity of marine life that it has not only been proposed as a marine reserve, but an underwater guidebook has already been produced by the local council. But it is not just the marine life which makes this area special for scuba diving, as the underwater scenery is stunning, with natural arches, caves, tunnels, swim-throughs and cliffs. From the main entry point there are at least four different dive routes, and altogether between eight and ten seperate dives in the reserve.

The underwater marine life is prolific, with huge shoals of Roncadores, damselfish, sardines, and baracuda, other species such as bream, wrasse and parrotfish are common throughout the reserve. Every dive can throw up surprises, from rays, to sea-horse, from glass-eye to gorgonias.

Despite the beauty and colour under the water the reserve itself is at the end of a dusty 'off-road' track with no visitor facilities at all (no toilets, no water, no cafes nothing). The best dives bottom out at around 22m, and are 'multi-level' which means that if you are careful with your air you can get non-stop dives of 40+ minutes.

The giant anemone can be found in many different colours

Shy and secretive sea-horse seen when diving in Gran Canaria

 

Diving in Playa del Ingles, Maspalomas, Meloneras  

This is the most popular tourist area on Gran Canaria, because of the dunes and the big sandy beaches which fringe them. However all this sand mens that the scuba divining in Playa del Ingles is very poor - lots of sand, no scenery and limited marine life in very shallow water. However this can be a good place to stay if you have a family as there are plenty of other attractions for the non-divers, and it is half way between the dive sites on the west and on the east coast of Gran Canaria.

There is only introductory diving in Playa del Ingles as the beach is very sandy and shallow

 

Pasito Blanco  From our diving centre in Gran Canaria we can take you to the Pasito Blanco reef

This is a boat dive to a reef about 2km from the shore just off the southern point of the island. This is probably the best scenic dive on the South and West coast of the island. The reef is at a maximum depth of 19m and rises between one and three meters from the sand, and is roughly circular, so can be circumnavigated on one tank of air. There is a large shoal of roncadores (bastard grunts), and stingrays are fairly common. You are also likely to see trumpetfish, baracuda, filefish, black-tailed combers, morays, marmor bream and smaller reef species such as damselfish and wrasse.

A Filefish eats from the rocks next to the roncadores

This large spirograph is one of the rarer species found at Pasito Blanco

 

Arguineguín Reef  Not a common dive from our diving centre in Gran Canaria

Just outside the harbour at Arguineguín, this reef lies in 14-16m and has a large permanent shoal of roncadores. Stingray, trumpetfish, morays and other common reef dwellers can also be found. Following the edge of this volcanic reef you come can hunt among the nooks and crannies for smaller species, until you arrive at the fish-ball, which will part to let you pass and then reform behind you.

Divers swim into the roncadores on the Arguineguín reef

 

Smaller Bays (Amadores, Medio Almudh, Playa del Cura, Tauro, Taurito)Shallow dives in Gran Canaria here

There are several smaller bays along the west coast where shore diving is possible, and you can enter the water from the beach. Most of these beaches are quite steep and stony, and have a breakwater zone where visibility can be quite poor. Once outside this zone rock-strewn shores are common with a variety of the more common species such as damselfish, parrotfish, wrasse and bream. The beach at Amadores is of imported coral sand behind the breakwater, and this can be very cloudy close inshore. The undeveloped beach at Medio Almudh is suitable for shore diving and snorkelling, however it is also the local nudist beach!

Amadores is an artificial beach and breakwater with imported coral sand.

 

Sardina del Norte   We visit Sardina regularly from our diving centre in Arinaga

The dive sites around Sardina and Puerto de la Nieves are on the opposite corner of the island to the popular tourist resorts of the south and west, making it a drive of almost 100km to get here. Few tourists therefore visit this area, where there are several shore dives down to aproximately 25m. The rocky shore has many sea urchins and the typical harbour species of wrasse, damselfish, mullet, octopus and cuttlefish can all be found here. This can also be a good place to find Angelsharks and small rays. The dive at Caleta Bajo has numerous small caves and overhangs, but in autumn it becomes a very popular dive as Mobulus Rays (A small manta ray)feed in this area and are frequently seen by divers.

Sardina del Norte is a quiet beach and fishing town

Diving with a mobulus ray at La Caleta del abajo

 

Puerto de la Nieves (Agaete)  

This is the terminus of the ferry to Tenerife, and from the beach it is possible to snorkel a long way out without dropping into deep water. Parking near the beach is very limited, and there are no dive schools in this area, making it once again a very long drive from the resorts of the South.

 

The beach at Puerto de la Nieves