Spain
TOP DIVE SITES – CANARY ISLANDS
El Condesito – the wreck of a vessel lies at a depth of 18 to 21 m. The ship crashed into the rocks during a storm of Tenerife and sank in 1972. The wreck is mainly intact and can be penetrated. The marine life in this area include trumpet fish, lizard fish, morays, stingrays, octopi, scorpion fish and barracudas.Location: south coast of TenerifeType of dive: boat diveSea bed: rockRequirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open WaterEl Puertito – a great shallow dive for training or warm-up. There is an abundance of marine life such as turtles, various rays and eels, breams, octopi, cuttlefish, wrasses, parrot fish. The maximum depth is 12 m. Divers who intend to feed turtles should beware of these friendly creatures which can take divers’ fingers for a fish.Location: El Puertito, TenerifeType of dive: shore diveSea bed: sandRequirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open WaterEl Ratón – this 33 m long tugboat was deliberately sunk for underwater explorers. The wreck lies intact at a depth of 26 to 30 m. The inhabitants of this area include barracudas, sea urchins, scorpion fish, amberjacks, stingrays, morays, shrimps and crabs.Location: north-eastern coast of TenerifeType of dive: shore diveSea bed: sandRequirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open WaterLas Eras – waters near the small town of Las Eras can offer plenty of attractions, especially marine life such as congers, morays, barracudas, scorpion fish, starfish and triggerfish. The maximum depth is 60 m and thus this is a dive for experienced advanced divers. Visibility is usually excellent. This site is exposed to strong currents so it is a weather-dependent dive.Location: near Abades, TenerifeType of dive: shore diveRequirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open WaterLas Vistas (Los Christianos) – a great spot for beginners and training, as well as for relaxed and night dives, however, with poor marine life. The maximum depth is 12 m.Location: Los Christianos, TenerifeType of dive: shore diveSea bed: sandRequirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open WaterMarazul – this is a great multi-level dive. The depth ranges from 12 to 20 m. While exploring underwater caves and tunnels divers will be accompanied by shoals of barracuda, trumpet fish, morays, cuttlefish, octopi and sting rays.Location: near Abades, TenerifeType of dive: boat diveSea bed: sandRequirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open WaterMeridian – the wreck of a German minesweeper lies at a depth of 22 to 30 m. The 18 m long ship was intentionally sunk in 2005 to create an artificial reef for divers. Now the shipwreck serves as home to large groupers, breams, damselfish, parrot fish and other marine species. It lies next to a rocky reef.Location: Los Christianos, TenerifeType of dive: boat diveSea bed: sandRequirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open WaterMontaña Amarilla (Yellow Mountain) – this site is mainly famous for underwater geological formations – vertical walls, caves, drop offs and arches. Residents of this zone include lobsters, sponges, shrimps, nudibranch, trumpet fish and morays. The depth ranges from 15 to 20 m.Location: Las Galletas, TenerifeType of dive: shore diveSea bed: sandRequirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open WaterPalm Mar – this is a deep dive for advanced divers who may explore underwater caves, cliffs and tunnels. An entrance to the cave (Cueva de Palm Mar) is located at a depth of 30 m. The maximum depth is 40 m. There is plenty of marine life including barracudas, stingrays and morays. The length of the cave remains unknown. The cross outside the cave is a tribute to those divers who died while exploring the cave.Location: near Abades, TenerifeType of dive: shore diveSea bed: rockRequirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open WaterPecios Gemelos – the main attractions in this area are two shipwrecks. A cabin cruiser and a yacht were sunk intentionally. Apart from the wrecks, there is plenty of marine life to see – scorpion fish, eels, crabs and many other species. The maximum depth is 20 m.Location: Puerto Colon, TenerifeType of dive: boat diveRequirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open Water