A stingray swims over a sandy ocean floor.

Canary Islands

Dive the Canaries

The Canary Islands are a unique and exciting diving destination, known for their volcanic underwater landscapes, crystal-clear waters, and year-round diving conditions. Divers can explore dramatic lava formations, underwater caves, arches, and drop-offs, shaped by the islands’ volcanic origins. Marine life is diverse and distinctive, featuring rays, angel sharks, moray eels, barracudas, turtles and seasonal pelagic visitors.

Especially famous for close encounters with angel sharks, particularly around Lanzarote and Tenerife, making them one of the best places in the world to observe this rare species. Wreck dives, vibrant reefs, and deep blue-water dives add to the adventure, while excellent visibility and mild water temperatures make the region suitable for both recreational and technical divers throughout the year.

a manta ray swims over a sandy ocean floor

The Islands

Explore diverse Canary Islands diving itineraries offering dramatic volcanic rock formations, vibrant reefs, thrilling drift dives and abundant Atlantic marine life: rays, turtles & angel sharks.

Tenerife

Tenerife offers diverse diving with volcanic reefs, caves, and excellent chances to encounter angel sharks, rays and turtles in clear, year-round conditions.

Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria features a mix of reefs and wrecks, rich marine life and calm waters, making it ideal for both beginners and experienced divers.

El Hierro is a pristine marine reserve known for crystal-clear waters, dramatic volcanic formations and exceptional biodiversity for advanced and nature-focused divers.

El Hierro

close-up photograph of multicolored fish

About the Canaries

Located off the northwest coast of Africa, the Canary Islands stretch across the Atlantic in a volcanic chain that offers some of Europe’s most distinctive diving conditions. Tenerife is often considered the main departure point for northern itineraries, while liveaboards and long-range charters exploring the southern and western regions commonly depart from Gran Canaria or Lanzarote.

The Canary Islands encompass a vast marine area shaped by ancient lava flows, underwater cliffs, and open-ocean exposure. Divers enjoy year-round conditions thanks to the mild subtropical climate, with clear waters and visibility that can reach well beyond 30 meters. The archipelago offers more than a hundred established dive sites, including volcanic reefs, dramatic caverns, walls, and wrecks.

Cold and warm currents mix around the islands, drawing a rich variety of marine life from the open Atlantic. Divers may encounter shimmering schools of amberjack, barracuda, and mackerel, along with rays, turtles, and occasionally sharks cruising the deeper blue. Its short flight time from Europe makes the Canaries a convenient and popular diving destination. While coastal diving centers in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote are excellent for local sites, liveaboards and extended charters give divers access to multiple islands in a single journey, unlocking more remote volcanic formations and diverse ecosystems.

Getting There

Flights to the Canary Islands are simple and convenient, with frequent direct routes from major European hubs such as London, Paris, Madrid, Milan, Amsterdam, and Berlin. Most liveaboard and diving trips use either Tenerife South Airport (TFS) or Gran Canaria Airport (LPA), both of which receive year-round international traffic. For travelers coming from outside Europe, easy connections through Madrid (MAD), Barcelona (BCN), or Lisbon (LIS) make the journey smooth, with short onward flights to any of the main islands.