BAHIA DE PASAJES - Canary Islands
Bahia de Pasajes, off the coast of Gran Canaria, offers a different kind of Canary Islands dive. We're not talking volcanic caves or dramatic drop-offs here. Instead, it’s a dedicated wreck dive, the fishing vessel *Bahia de Pasajes*, resting upright at a comfortable 20 metres. The wreck itself is a decent size, 36.9m long, and still quite intact, though officially classified as dangerous. We love that it’s not just a pile of rubble; you can make out the wheelhouse, the holds, and the stern. Over the years, it's become a thriving artificial reef. Expect to see plenty of local characters: moray eels peering from nooks, schools of glinting barracuda cruising past, and colourful nudibranchs clinging to the metalwork. Our pick for exploring is the stern, where the prop is still visible and often surrounded by clouds of small fish. It’s an easy dive for anyone comfortable in open water, making it a great site for newer wreck divers or those looking for a relaxed, atmospheric dive away from the more strenuous drift dives of the Canaries. The calm conditions here are usually reliable.
- Location
- Canary Islands, Spain, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 28.150000, -15.405000
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 20m
Wreck History - BAHIA DE PASAJES
- Vessel Type
- fishing vessel
- Cause
- unknown
Resting at a depth of 20 meters off the coast of the Canary Islands, the Bahia de Pasajes is a 37-meter fishing vessel that has become a popular artificial reef. While the specific details of its sinking are not widely documented, its transformation from a working ship to a bustling marine habitat is a story of nature's power of reclamation.
The wreck is classified as a 'dangerous wreck,' which advises divers to approach with caution, likely due to potential entanglement hazards from old nets or sharp, deteriorating structures. For the prepared diver, the Bahia de Pasajes offers a compelling exploration. Its holds and decks, once dedicated to fishing, are now home to schools of damselfish, moray eels, and octopuses, making it a fantastic site for underwater photography.
Marine Protected Area: Área marina de La Isleta
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
Nearby Dive Sites in Canary Islands
- Abakas I - 15m
- AFRICAN VIOLET - 24m (wreck)
- AL MOTAWAKIL - 7m (wreck)
- AMERICAN STAR - 4m (wreck)
- Añaza - 18m
- Anchors Canary - 23m (wreck)
- Anfi Beach - 7m
- Anfiteatro - 20m
- ANGELA PANDO (FWD PART) - 20m (wreck)
- AOW Deep - 22m (wall)
- Arguineguin Reef - 16m (reef)
- ARONA - 30m (wreck)
- Arrecifal (reef)
- Artificial - 20m (wreck)
- Artificial - Block2 - 20m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to BAHIA DE PASAJES
- Acuarios Jandia - PADI, SSI
- Apnea Academy West Europe
- APNEA CANARIAS
- Aqua-Marina - ["PADI"]
- Aquanautic Club Lanzarote
- Aquarius Dive Center SL - ["PADI"]
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.
Notable Species
- Ornate Wrasse (Thalassoma pavo) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Sparisoma cretense) - Reef Fish
- monkfish (Squatina squatina) - Sharks & Rays
- Damsel fish (Chromis limbata) - Reef Fish
- Bogue (Boops boops) - Reef Fish
- Bastard Grunt (Pomadasys incisus) - Reef Fish
- White Seabream (Diplodus sargus) - Reef Fish
- Sharpnose Puffer (Canthigaster capistrata) - Reef Fish
- Yellow Barracuda (Sphyraena viridensis) - Reef Fish
- Comb grouper (Mycteroperca fusca) - Reef Fish
- Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) - Whales & Dolphins
- Salema (Sarpa salpa) - Reef Fish
- red mullet (Mullus surmuletus) - Reef Fish
- Diamond Lizardfish (Synodus synodus) - Reef Fish
- Blacktail Bream (Diplodus vulgaris) - Reef Fish
- Oman Porgy (Diplodus cervinus) - Reef Fish
- Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) - Reef Fish
- Wide-eyed Flounder (Bothus podas) - Reef Fish
- axillary sea-bream (Pagellus acarne) - Reef Fish
- common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) - Octopus & Squid
Recommended Packing List for BAHIA DE PASAJES
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