Beginner Spain
Canary Islands
Atlantic volcanoes with year-round mild water and the last refuge of the angelshark
A volcanic archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic where you can dive all twelve months of the year in mild water, and where the last stable population survives of a shark that has vanished from almost all of its former European range.
In this entry you'll find out what makes the Canary Islands' volcanic seascapes distinctive, where its marine reserves are and why they work, what the angelshark is and why its presence here matters so much, when to go, and what level each island demands.
It's Europe's most accessible diving destination with mild water year-round, and one of the few places in the world where a critically endangered shark species maintains a viable population.
Geography and access
The Canary Islands are a volcanic Atlantic archipelago off the northwest coast of Africa, with eight main islands and seascapes that reflect their origin: black volcanic rock, submerged lava flows, arches, caves, and tubes.
The seafloor has neither the coral of a tropical reef nor the limestone of the Mediterranean: it's basalt, with a community of sponges, algae, Atlantic gorgonians, and its own temperate-water fish fauna.
The cold Canary Current and the associated upwelling keep the water cooler than the latitude would suggest and make it productive, sustaining a notable biomass for European waters.
Each island has its own character: the eastern ones are more arid, with volcanic sand bottoms and arches; the western ones are steeper, with drop-offs that plunge fast and better visibility.
Access is easy: direct flights from all over Europe to several islands, plus short internal connections. Much of the diving is done from shore or with very short boat rides.
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