El Azul Gran Canaria Dive Center - Canary Islands

El Azul is one of those easy-access sites we really appreciate, especially if you’re staying nearby. You gear up right at the dive center and step straight into the water, no boat needed. We’ve found the entry incredibly smooth, just a gentle slope that drops you into a sandy bottom around 5 metres. The real draw here, for us, is the sheer density of the smaller stuff. We’re talking about the painted combers darting between rocks, black gobies peeking out from every crevice, and those striking canary damsels schooling in the mid-water. It’s not a dramatic wall dive, but rather a fantastic spot for macro enthusiasts and photographers who enjoy slowing down. We often find common cuttlefish here, sometimes even a sharpnose puffer if you’re patient. Look for the wide-eyed flounders blending into the sand, they’re masters of disguise. Our favourite time to dive El Azul is late morning; the sun angle really brings out the colours of the rocks and makes for some great light shafts through the water. It’s perfect for a relaxed dive, maybe a second dip of the day, or just a chance to spot some of the shyer residents without the pressure of a deeper site.

Location: Canary Islands, Spain, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates: 28.138733, -15.435327
Type: reef
Maximum Depth: 10-30m

Marine Protected Area: Bahía del Confital

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

Nearest Dive Centres to El Azul Gran Canaria Dive Center

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 El Azul Gran Canaria Dive Center

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