GAMKO-1 - Canary Islands
The Gamko-1 wreck isn't your usual deep-water exploration; it's practically a beach dive, lying right on the rocks. Sunk after a fire in Las Palmas harbour back in '89, this trawler was towed out and left to rest here, making it one of the most accessible wrecks in the Canaries. We love how the Gamko-1 has become a proper artificial reef. Its shallow depth means light penetrates beautifully, illuminating schools of sardines that shimmer around the superstructure. Look closely and you'll spot moray eels peering from crevices, while octopus often cling to the rusting metalwork, their camouflage almost perfect against the barnacles. It’s a fantastic site for newer wreck divers or those looking for a long, relaxed dive without the need for advanced decompression protocols. Our favourite time to dive it is first thing in the morning before any surface chop picks up, when the visibility often feels limitless.
- Location
- Canary Islands, Spain, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 28.179000, -15.412778
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 0m
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 GAMKO-1
- 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 GAMKO-1
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