We can find all kinds of sea beds all along the coasts of Gran Canaria. The island is a real paradise for divers; especially on the southeast coast of the island, with depths of more than 30m.
Discover in this article the most popular dive sites in Gran Canaria!
Best Dive Sites in Gran Canaria
Scuba diving is the best way to explore the different seabeds that Gran Canaria has to offer. Immerse yourself in a world of silence beneath the island's ocean and discover the beauty hidden behind the island's surface.
Among all the dive sites on Gran Canaria, we’ve chosen the three best scuba diving places. Let's discover them!
1. Diving in the Cabrón Marine Reserve
The Marine Reserve of el Cabrón is situated in Arinaga, on the east coast of Gran Canaria. Its well-deserved reputation is due to its prolific marine life and the great variety of fish in its waters. In addition to the biological richness in fauna, we also highlight its variety of flora and volcanic formations such as tunnels, arches, caves, crevices and passages. These elements make the Cabrón Marine Reserve the most popular dive site in Gran Canaria.
The dive site of the Cabrón Reserve has different access points, allowing for a dozen different dives. The average depth of the Arinaga Reserve is around 20 - 35 metres, although there’s also an impressive rock formation at a depth of only 12 metres along the entire length of the reef.
What can we discover in the Cabrón Marine Reserve?
You can discover shoals of sardines, damsel (fula), yellowfin croaker (roncador), bogue seabream (bogas), barracudas (named bicudas in the Canary Islands), vieja, tevally (jureles), bream (sargo and palometas), guelde, moray eels, angel sharks, mullet (salmonete), seahorses and spider crabs, large schools of grunts, as well as the occasional huge ray (called chuchos), among others.
How to get to the Arinaga Marine Reserve
Here is the exact location of this scuba diving site:
It’s located between Punta De La Sal and Punta de la Monja, north of Playa del Cabrón in Arinaga. We recommend getting there by car or taxi, as there aren’t very good connections with public transport.
To reach the Reserve by car, follow the GC-1 towards C. Canal Derecha. Take exit 25 and follow C. Canal Derecha to the beach Playa del Cabrón. You can park your vehicle in the car park at the old quay or anywhere in the village of Arinaga.
2. Diving site in Pasito Blanco
Scuba diving in Pasito Blanco is a good opportunity to explore the south coast of Gran Canaria. There are several diving centers in the area, ideal for beginners who want to get started in diving.
Diving in Pasito Blanco allows you to discover marine species such as grunts, rays, barracudas, guelds, moray eels, bream or the trumpet fish.
The depth of the water is between 15 - 20 metres and the reef is oval-shaped on a sandy bottom. The area is suitable for all divers, which makes it a popular spot for scuba diving on Gran Canaria.
How to get to Pasito Blanco
- To get to the diving site in Pasito Blanco by car, from the GC-1, take exit 50 towards the GC-500. Follow C. Goleta and C. Fragata to C. Bergantant and look for parking. In less than 5 minutes, you’ll arrive at the Pasito Blanco sports harbour.
- To get to the dive site in Pasito Blanco by bus, take bus number 01 from Global to Cruce Pasito Blanco. It’ll take you less than a 15-minute walk to the dive site.
3. Scuba diving the hidden reef of La Catedral
La Catedral is a somewhat hidden diving site in the north of the island, more specifically off the coast of La Isleta, a small peninsula attached to Las Palmas. It’s an ideal diving area for more advanced divers (Advanced Open Water certification or similar required), with impressive volcanic forms.
More specifically, it’s an underwater cavern where the diver can descend through a huge natural pipe. The descent to the seabed of La Catedral is around 12-14 m, although the cavern itself extends to a depth of over 40 m.
In La Catedral you can explore and discover gothic-looking vaults and arches, as well as passages, hence the name La Catedral (The Cathedral). As for its marine fauna, you can find plenty of crabs and prawns.
How to get to the diving site of La Catedral
La Catedral is located 25 minutes by boat from the city's marina.
We recommend going by car, as access by public transport is difficult. Follow the GC-1, pass La Isleta and arrive at Cantera Piedra. We recommend going with a diving instructor or someone experienced who knows the area to get there well.
Accommodation to enjoy the best dive sites in Gran Canaria
Do you want to dive in the waters of Gran Canaria and don't know where to stay? At VillaGranCanaria you can choose from apartments, spectacular villas with garden, terrace and private pool, country houses in the middle of nature or beach rentals to enjoy the sea views every morning. Choose your favourite option in the area you’re most interested in!
