Canary Islands dive sites
Spain · Browse dive locations by depth, type and conditions.
Best Season
Year-round, May-November, year-round
Skill Levels
beginner, intermediate
Nearby Cities
Arico, Arinaga, La Restinga, Las Galletas, Tenerife, Playa Blanca, Lanzarote
All dive sites
Abades Bay
Arico · Canary Islands · Spain
A sheltered volcanic bay on Tenerife's southeastern coast offering easy shore diving over lava rock formations where angel sharks, cuttlefish, and Atlantic marine life thrive in the warm Canarian current.
El Cabrón Marine Reserve
Arinaga · Canary Islands · Spain
A volcanic marine reserve on Gran Canaria's eastern coast where lava formations create an underwater landscape of arches, tunnels, and caverns teeming with Atlantic and Mediterranean species in warm, clear water.
El Hierro Mar de las Calmas
La Restinga · Canary Islands · Spain
The smallest Canary Island's volcanic southern coast creates a uniquely sheltered marine reserve where Atlantic mantas, whale sharks, and hammerheads pass through waters of extraordinary clarity above young volcanic reef.
Las Galletas
Las Galletas, Tenerife · Canary Islands · Spain
A sheltered volcanic reef on Tenerife's sunny south coast where green turtles graze, stingrays rest in the sand, and angel sharks patrol the volcanic rubble.
Museo Atlantico
Playa Blanca, Lanzarote · Canary Islands · Spain
Europe's only underwater sculpture museum, with over 300 life-sized human figures creating a haunting artistic landscape on the volcanic seabed off Lanzarote.
Dive centers in Canary Islands
Davy Jones Diving
Arinaga · Canary Islands · Spain
Shore diving in the Arinaga marine reserve on Gran Canaria with exceptional biodiversity.
Deep Blue Diving
Caleta de Fuste · Canary Islands · Spain
PADI center in Caleta de Fuste, Fuerteventura, with volcanic reef dives and angel sharks.
Diving Tenerife
Costa Adeje · Canary Islands · Spain
Tenerife dive operator with daily trips to volcanic reef sites and turtle encounters off Costa Adeje.
Dive Club Tenerife
Las Galletas · Canary Islands · Spain
SSI center in Las Galletas, south Tenerife, with calm-water boat dives and turtle encounters.
Aqua Marina Diving
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria · Canary Islands · Spain
PADI 5-Star center in Las Palmas offering year-round diving in Gran Canaria's volcanic waters.
Rubicon Diving
Playa Blanca · Canary Islands · Spain
PADI 5-Star in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote, with Museo Atlantico and volcanic reef diving.
Aqua-Marina Dive Center
Playa de las Americas · Canary Islands · Spain
PADI 5-Star center in southern Tenerife with year-round volcanic reef diving and turtle encounters.
Aquatica Lanzarote
Puerto del Carmen · Canary Islands · Spain
Lanzarote dive centre with dramatic volcanic reef dives and Europe's first underwater museum.
Manta Diving Lanzarote
Puerto del Carmen · Canary Islands · Spain
PADI center in Puerto del Carmen with volcanic shore dives and angel shark encounters.
Scubanana Dive Center
Av. Colón · Canary Islands · Spain
BIG FISH Dive Center Tenerife
19 · Canary Islands · Spain
Diving Atlantis Tenerife
17 · Canary Islands · Spain
PADI 5* Travel Sub Dive Center Tenerife
s/n · Canary Islands · Spain
Vibe Dive Center Tenerife - Diving in Tenerife
C. Noelia Afonso Cabrera · Canary Islands · Spain
Ocean Trek
38660 Costa Adeje · Canary Islands · Spain
Dive Center Tenerife by WhatNext Adventures
12 · Canary Islands · Spain
Tenerife Dive Experience - Buceo y snorkel en Costa Adeje
primer priso · Canary Islands · Spain
Deep Ocean Diver - PADI Dive Center
Centro Comercial · Canary Islands · Spain
GooDiving
113 Av de Jose Miguel Galvan Bello · Canary Islands · Spain
Medanodive - Tu centro de buceo en Tenerife sur
Local 11 · Canary Islands · Spain
Scubafriends Tenerife
Centro Comercial Salytien · Canary Islands · Spain
Aquarius dive center
C. las Lagunetas · Canary Islands · Spain
DIVE LOVERS TENERIFE - DIVE CENTER
4 · Canary Islands · Spain
Barbarian Diving Tenerife S.L
24 · Canary Islands · Spain
Blue Water Diving
C. Doreste y Molina · Canary Islands · Spain
Buceo La Vieja ,Padi Dive Center / Emoción Apnea
2 · Canary Islands · Spain
Scuba Sur Diving Gran Canaria
35120 Arguineguín · Canary Islands · Spain
Delphinus Diving School Gran Canaria
Av. Los Marrero · Canary Islands · Spain
Karapat Dive Gran Canaria
72 · Canary Islands · Spain
Calypso Dive Center
C. Einstein · Canary Islands · Spain
GO DIVING center
30 · Canary Islands · Spain
Davy Jones Diving PADI 5 Star Dive Centre
2 · Canary Islands · Spain
Leagues Ahead Diving
nº 6 · Canary Islands · Spain
Brothers Diving
12 Centro Comercial · Canary Islands · Spain
Puerto Rico Diving Gran Canaria
CC Europa 6B · Canary Islands · Spain
Gran Canaria Divers
3 · Canary Islands · Spain
Zeus Dive Center
2 · Canary Islands · Spain
Buceo Norte Gran Canaria
46 · Canary Islands · Spain
Margullar Diving
36 · Canary Islands · Spain
Nautico Diving Center
C. la Lajilla · Canary Islands · Spain
DSDIVERS Gran Canaria
26 · Canary Islands · Spain
Buceo Canarias
C. Joaquín Blanco Torrent · Canary Islands · Spain
Buceo sur
80 · Canary Islands · Spain
Canary Diving
s/n · Canary Islands · Spain
Scuba Legends Dive Center - Scuba Diving Lanzarote
Puerto Cinco · Canary Islands · Spain
Mojo Dive - Tu centro de buceo en Lanzarote
75 · Canary Islands · Spain
Dive College Lanzarote
C. Lanzarote · Canary Islands · Spain
Pro Dive Lanzarote - Centro de buceo
22 · Canary Islands · Spain
Aquatis Diving Lanzarote
local 6 · Canary Islands · Spain
BARRACUDA Scuba Diving Lanzarote
130 · Canary Islands · Spain
Pura Vida Diving Lanzarote
Local · Canary Islands · Spain
Lanzarote Non Stop Divers
18 Centro · Canary Islands · Spain
Native Diving Lanzarote
Av. del Jablillo · Canary Islands · Spain
Lanzarote Buceo
35 · Canary Islands · Spain
Windblue Sports Dive Center
20 · Canary Islands · Spain
Titan Blue Divers
17 Local 5 · Canary Islands · Spain
Daivoon Diving Center
Local 4 · Canary Islands · Spain
CID Lanzarote - Canary Island Divers
1 · Canary Islands · Spain
Fuerteventura Diving
C. Volcán de Vayuyo · Canary Islands · Spain
Fuerteventura Buceo Diving Center
35626 Morro Jable · Canary Islands · Spain
Diving Center Punta Amanay
2 · Canary Islands · Spain
Dive Pro Fuerte
C. Punta del Roquito · Canary Islands · Spain
FuerteOcean Dive Center
21 · Canary Islands · Spain
Diving Atlantis Fuerteventura
9 · Canary Islands · Spain
Tribuo Buceo
Av. Primero de Mayo · Canary Islands · Spain
Apnea Fuerteventura | Freediving School
35629 Tarajalejo · Canary Islands · Spain
Deep Blue Diving Las Playitas
35629 Las Playitas · Canary Islands · Spain
Dive-Inn by Axel
Las Palmas · Canary Islands · Spain
Angel Shark Diving
2 · Canary Islands · Spain
Maxorata Diving Shop
35630 Antigua · Canary Islands · Spain
La Restinga Diving
C. el Horno · Canary Islands · Spain
Centro de Buceo El Hierro
12 · Canary Islands · Spain
TAGORO DIVE | El Hierro | Buceo y viajes
7 · Canary Islands · Spain
Arrecifal Centro de Buceo | Dive Center
30 · Canary Islands · Spain
Centro de Buceo El Bajón
23 · Canary Islands · Spain
Aqua Diving Adventures powered by Extra Divers
2 · Canary Islands · Spain
Dive Community La Palma - Los Cancajos
C. Punta de la Arena · Canary Islands · Spain
Blue Magma Diving, La Palma
Nave 3 · Canary Islands · Spain
Buceo Sub La Palma
Tr.ª de los Cancajos · Canary Islands · Spain
Buceo Isla Bonita La Palma
7 · Canary Islands · Spain
Punkfish Diving La Palma
1 · Canary Islands · Spain
Black Sand Diving La Palma
4 · Canary Islands · Spain
Diving in Canary Islands
Canary Islands offers reef dive sites across 5 locations. Browse dive locations by depth, type and conditions before planning your dive.
FAQ
Can I see angel sharks at Abades Bay?
Angel sharks are regularly encountered at Abades Bay, particularly from October through March when they frequent the sandy areas between lava rock formations. The Canary Islands represent the last stronghold for the critically endangered angelshark in Europe, and Tenerife's southeastern coast is one of the most reliable locations for sightings. The sharks rest on sand during the day, relying on camouflage, and patient divers who search the sandy patches carefully are frequently rewarded. A code of conduct requires maintaining distance and avoiding sudden movements that could disturb these rare animals.
What makes Abades Bay good for new divers?
Abades Bay offers an ideal combination for beginners: easy shore entry from a concrete ramp, shallow protected water with minimal current, warm temperatures year-round, and interesting marine life starting from very shallow depths. The volcanic rock formations provide visual interest even at five metres, and the gradual depth progression allows new divers to build confidence. The bay is sheltered from the prevailing northeasterly trade winds, making it diveable on days when exposed sites on Tenerife's north coast are too rough. Several dive centres in the area offer certification courses using Abades as their primary training site.
What is the history of the abandoned buildings at Abades?
The partially ruined structures visible on shore at Abades are the remains of a sanatorium complex, the Sanatorio de Abona, that was never completed. Construction began in the 1940s under Franco's regime as a leprosy treatment facility, but the project was abandoned in the 1960s as modern antibiotics made dedicated leprosariums unnecessary. The buildings remained empty and gradually deteriorated, becoming an unofficial landmark. The area surrounding the abandoned complex is now used by divers and beachgoers, with the concrete launch ramp originally built for the sanatorium providing convenient dive entry.
Can I dive El Cabrón as a beginner?
El Cabrón is excellent for beginners due to its shore entry, sheltered conditions, and shallow reef sections starting at just 3 metres. The reserve has multiple dive routes at different depths, so instructors can keep novice divers in the 5 to 12 metre range where the volcanic formations are already rich with marine life. The entry point involves walking down a rocky path to a sheltered cove, and the underwater terrain provides natural navigation references. Many Gran Canaria dive centres use El Cabrón for training dives and discover scuba experiences.
What is the best time of year to see angel sharks at El Cabrón?
Angel sharks are present at El Cabrón year-round, but sightings are most frequent from October through March when these bottom-dwelling sharks move into the shallower sandy areas within the reserve to rest and hunt. During these months it is common to find one or more angel sharks lying partially buried in sand between 10 and 20 metres. The Canary Islands are one of the last strongholds for the critically endangered angel shark in European waters, and El Cabrón's protected status has helped maintain a healthy local population.