An average of 15.6 million tourists visit the Canary Islands each year. With endless summer, countless golden beaches and stunning scenery, it is easy to see why. But you may not know that the Canary Islands also offer world-class scuba diving, and they are quickly becoming a ‘’go-to’’ destination, not only for holiday makers but also for scuba divers who want to dive in the Canary Islands.
With this said, let’s take a look at four reasons why you should dive in the Canary Islands, and then you can get to planning your next scuba diving vacation.
1. Warm Subtropical Water
The Canary Islands are famous for their subtropical water with the water temperature varying from a mild 17 degrees in the winter to an average of 24 degrees in the summer months.
The Canary Islands are greatly influenced by the Gulf Stream, an ocean current that brings warm water from the Gulf of Mexico into the Atlantic Ocean. This Gulf Stream regulates the water temperature and keeps it comfortable throughout the year, with the water temperature regularly exceeding 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit), even in the winter months!
2. Breathtaking Volcanic Rock Formations
The Canary Islands were formed by volcanic eruptions and as a result make for some pretty spectacular diving!
The volcanic seabed is home to some of the most dramatic underwater rock formations in Europe. These rock formations create numerous dive sites, including caves, caverns and arches for divers to explore. The rocky bottom composition also ensures that the Canary Islands offer excellent water clarity throughout the year, with dive sites regularly exceeding 20 meters (65 feet) visibility.
3. Prolific Marine Life
The Canary Islands are renowned for their rich biodiversity of marine life, a destination where scuba divers can expect to see a mixture of tropical, Mediterranean and Atlantic marine species on every dive.
It is estimated that seven hundred species of fish and approximately one thousand species of invertebrates reside in the water of the Canary Islands, from small and beautiful nudibranchs to larger sharks, stingrays and octopus.
A recorded 86 species of sharks and stingrays have been identified in the waters of the Canary Islands! This means that the islands have the most diversified underwater ecosystem within the European Union.
Marine life that you are able to spot on almost every dive includes:
- Damselfish
- Wrasse
- Octopus
- Barracuda
- Trumpet Fish
World-renowned marine life that is common in the Canary Islands includes:
- Angel Sharks
- Common Stingrays
- Butterfly Rays
- Turtles
4. You Can Dive All Year Round
It is no secret that the Canary Islands have an amazing climate. The islands offer calm and warm weather conditions throughout the year, and experience very few storms.
The influence of the trade winds and the Azores High ensure that the weather conditions are reliable whatever the season, with dive centers priding themselves on being able to offer diving excursions 365 days a year! This means that not only is the diving fantastic, but you will be able to experience the underwater world all year round!
So there you have it, four reasons why you should go scuba diving in the Canary Islands. Whether you are a beginner diver looking to take your first breaths underwater or a professional scuba diver looking for some world-class diving in Europe, then the Canary Islands should definitely be a scuba diving destination to consider!
If you’re ready to plan your trip to the Canary Islands, search for a gorgeous dive resort or fun diving day trips using PADI Travel.
Written by Sophie Keningale
Sophie Keningale works hard to share her passion for scuba diving through her blog posts and hopes to offer useful information for scuba divers. Sophie owns and operates Leagues Ahead Diving in Gran Canaria with her partner James.
