Diving in Canary Islands

Best Time to Dive in Canary Islands

The warmest water temperatures in Canary Islands occur in September, averaging 23.7°C. The coolest conditions are in March at 19.3°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

• January: 20.1°C
• February: 19.5°C
• March: 19.3°C
• April: 19.8°C
• May: 20.6°C
• June: 21.8°C
• July: 22.6°C
• August: 23.1°C
• September: 23.7°C
• October: 23.5°C
• November: 22.4°C
• December: 21.3°C

Marine Life in Canary Islands

Home to 80 recorded species including 50 reef fish, 9 whales & dolphins, 8 sharks & rays, 2 octopus & squid, 2 crabs & lobsters, 2 worms.

Dive Site Difficulty in Canary Islands

Canary Islands has 84 beginner, 33 intermediate, 1 advanced, 3 expert dive sites - suitable for divers of all levels.

Recommended Packing List for Canary Islands

Based on average water temperature of 21.5°C, currents 7 cm/s.

• Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 21°C water
• Mask - essential for every dive
• Fins
• BCD - buoyancy compensator
• Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
• Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
• Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
• Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
• Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories

Marine Protected Areas in Canary Islands

• Roque de Gando - Site of scientific interest (IUCN Category IV)
• Juncalillo del Sur - Site of scientific interest (IUCN Category IV)
• Montaña Amarilla - Natural Monument (IUCN Category III)
• Charco del Conde - Site of scientific interest (IUCN Category IV)
• Acantilados de Isorana - Site of scientific interest (IUCN Category IV)
• Acantilados de Alajeró - Site of scientific interest (IUCN Category IV)
• Charco de Cieno - Site of scientific interest (IUCN Category IV)
• Roques de Anaga - Nature Reserve (Integral) (IUCN Category Ia)
• La Caleta - Site of scientific interest (IUCN Category IV)
• Cueva de Lobos - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Área marina de La Isleta - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Franja marina de Mogán - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Sebadales de Guasimeta - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Sebadales de Corralejo - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Playa de Sotavento de Jandía - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Bahía del Confital - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Bahía de Gando - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Playa del Cabrón - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Sebadales de Playa del Inglés - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Costa de Sardina del Norte - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Cagafrecho - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Sebadales de Güigüí - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Franja marina Teno-Rasca - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Charco del Conde - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Charco de Cieno - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Los Roques de Anaga - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Sebadales del sur de Tenerife - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Cueva marina de San Juan - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Sebadal de San Andrés - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Franja marina Santiago-Valle Gran Rey - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Costa de los Órganos - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Costa de San Juan de la Rambla - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Sebadales de Antequera - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Acantilados de Alajeró, La Dama y Valle Gran Rey - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Roque de la Playa - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Juncalillo del Sur - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Roque de Garachico - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Espacio marino de La Gomera-Teno - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Espacio marino de los Acantilados de Santo Domingo y Roque de Garachico - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Espacio marino del Roque de la Playa - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Espacio marino de Anaga - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Espacio marino de Mogán-La Aldea - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Espacio marino de La Bocayna - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Espacio marino del oriente y sur de Lanzarote-Fuerteventura - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Juncalillo del Sur - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Roque de Garachico - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Fuerteventura - UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve (IUCN Category Not Applicable)

Getting to Canary Islands - Nearest Airports

• Gran Canaria Airport (LPA), Gran Canaria Island - 33 km away, approx 51 min travel time
• Tenerife Norte-Ciudad de La Laguna Airport (TFN), Tenerife - 99 km away, approx 123 min travel time
• Tenerife Sur Airport (TFS), Tenerife - 119 km away, approx 145 min travel time