Gran Canaria - the third largest of the Canary Islands - is the ideal place for a diving holiday in the Atlantic. Because contrary to popular belief, the island has much more to offer above and below the water than mass tourism and a paradise for pensioners. I looked around on site, did a few dives, visited the most beautiful and worth seeing places on the island and compiled numerous travel facts about hotels, diving centers and sights. In my diving on Gran Canaria experience report you will find out what the island has to offer for divers and how to spend the perfect diving holiday.
Oh, the wild Atlantic – I love it and hate it at the same time. If you take the dinghy to the dive site and the boat whips over the meter-high waves, it can easily happen that you feed the fish. That's why I think: Travel tablets are incredibly important and should always be taken in good time before a boat trip. This is perhaps the most important rule Diving on Gran Canaria. Otherwise, wonderful diving spots await you!
Schools of fish and rock formations
In the Atlantic you can primarily discover fish and rock formations while diving, but also wrecks and large fish if you're lucky. And on the way to the dive site, your boat may be accompanied by a group of dolphins or you may spot a whale in the distance. So it definitely won't be boring. And that's exactly why I wrote this experience report about diving in Gran Canaria for you.
To get you excited about this wonderful destination too. Especially if you are a die-hard Red Sea diver, the Canary Islands are a great change. I don't think a dive site in the Canary Islands can compete with Elphinestone or the Brothers Islands - but the Islands of Eternal Spring are definitely an alternative.
Numerous competent diving centers
I was on Gran Canaria with the Extra Divers in Puerto de Mogan (now Gran Canaria Various) on the way. Overall, the island offers numerous opportunities to dive with different diving centers with different focuses and at different levels.
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Diving in Gran Canaria - the most beautiful dive sites
Almost 25 diving sites - and certainly some insider tips from the various diving centers - attract divers with a charming underwater landscape with wrecks, an artificial reef and often large schools of fish and hunting predatory fish in the blue water. If you're lucky, you'll also meet the popular angel shark.
1. Wreck of the Allegranza
The sunken fishing boat is about 40 meters long and was sunk years ago for the guests of the submarine “Yellow submarine” and is now lying directly in front of Puerto de Mogán. After a few winter storms it broke into several pieces. There you will find some large schools of fish as well as bogas, trumpet fish and sardines. The maximum depth is 19 meters.
2. Wreck of the Cermonia II
The Cermonia II lies aground just a few meters from the Allegranza. The submarine, which has become an attraction for divers, is often spotted here. In this spot, barracuda and hunting tuna are very common in the blue water. This wreck is also at a maximum depth of 19 meters.
3. Wreck of the Blue Bird
This fishing trawler wreck is for advanced users and lies at a maximum of 45 meters. You can only find the ship after fighting your way through a huge school of fish. Here too there are often hunting fish in the blue.
4. Marina del Cabron Reserve
One of the most famous and lasting spots on Gran Canaria. Land-based diving is common at this dive site below the airport in the Arinaga Nature Reserve. There are three entry points to explore the area: Punta de la Sal, Punta de la Monja and El Hoyo. Visitors can see chimneys, archways, grottos and smaller caves in a bizarre underwater landscape. Maximum depth is 32 meters.
5. Artifiselle
Here you can dive from a boat on an artificial reef that was initiated by the University of Las Palma. There are many barracudas, often angel sharks and various rays. Here you can dive to a maximum of 23 meters.
6. Pasito Blanco
A beautiful plateau reef that is oval-shaped and reaches a depth of 20 meters. The reef impresses with moray eels, barracudas and hunting predatory fish in the blue water with a great diversity of species.
7. Tufia
Tufia is a picturesque fishing village with an artificial reef made of concrete blocks that attracts many sea creatures. Here you can discover many species of fish such as barracuda, grouper and moray eel, as well as interesting underwater landscapes. The maximum diving depth is 18 meters.
8. Wreck of the Como Tu
The Como Tu Wreck is a 20-metre fishing boat that sank in 2003 and is now home to barracuda, grouper and moray eels. The wreck is in good condition and offers interesting underwater scenery. The maximum diving depth is 28 meters.
9. Balito Reef
Balito Reef is a shallow reef with lots of colorful fish and coral. The reef is ideal for beginners and snorkelers as the maximum diving depth is 10 meters. There are many interesting fish species and underwater landscapes to discover here.
10. More dive sites on Gran Canaria
La Caleta, Sardina del Norte, Playa del Cura, El Russo, El Pajar, El Perchel, Taibabales, Islands Corner, Playa de Amadores, Veneguera, Como tu, El Manatial, Piper 32, Mogán West, El Caracol, Punta de la Paja , Punta Descojonado.
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Diving centers in Gran Canaria
Large selection of dive centers on the island
There are a variety of fantastic diving centers and dive sites around the island for every level of difficulty, so that both beginners and advanced divers get their money's worth.
Canary Diving Adventures
The PADI diving school in Taurito is run by the British Jerry and offers daily diving courses and trips with a high level of safety and service. The team is relaxed and in a good mood and passes on the joy of diving to the guests. The base is located on Taurito Beach at the Taurito Princess Hotel. The diving center heads to the best spots in the south of Gran Canaria.
Reachability: info@canary-diving.com
Website: www.canary-diving.com
Diving Center Nautico
One of the oldest diving schools on Gran Canaria. It has existed in San Agustin since 1972 and is under friendly and competent German management.
Website: www.divingcenter-nautico.com
Davy Jones Diving
This dive center is characterized by its proximity to El Cabrón, a marine protected area located in the east of Gran Canaria.
Website: www.davyjonesdiving.com
Let's go diving
Let’s Go Diving claims to offer the most comfortable diving in Gran Canaria, as the provider uses a fully equipped boat as a mobile diving base.
Website: www.lgdiving.com
Gran Canaria Diving Center Sun Sub
The diving center claims to be the second oldest DC in Gran Canaria and is also increasingly offering its guests technical diving.
Website: www.sunsub.com
Hotels in Gran Canaria
Tourism has Gran Canaria firmly under control - the selection of hotels is correspondingly large. We have put together a small selection of very good houses.
Hotel Cordial Mogán Playa
An architecturally beautifully designed luxury hotel in Puerto de Mogán, which is located in the middle of a botanical garden and - especially in its reception hall - stands out from ordinary hotels thanks to artistic details. The hotel is located in Puerto de Mogán, a small picturesque fishing village located in the southwest of Gran Canaria.
The house has a total of 487 rooms in different categories, which are equipped with the necessary amenities such as Wi-Fi, TV, DVD, bathroom and balcony or terrace. The hotel is also home to the Extra Divers diving center, so your next diving adventure is just a few steps away!
Gloria Palace Amadores Thalasso & Hotel
This hotel really has it all: it's modeled after a cruise ship and is located on a stretch of cliff between Puerto Rico and Amadores. In the rooftop infinity pool, guests can refresh themselves while seamlessly gazing out over the blue sea. The house also has all the amenities you would expect from a luxurious resort:
A truly comprehensive spa area with massages and pool and fully equipped rooms with all the amenities that make your vacation a unique experience. The house includes 364 double rooms, 21 spacious family rooms and seven exclusive suites. The hotel has excellent international and local cuisine.
Marina Suites
In contrast to the two hotels mentioned above, the hotel in Puerto Rico is an aparthotel, which is noticeable, among other things, in the spacious rooms. The resort is located directly at Puerto Rico's marina and offers a beautiful view of the small sports harbor.
The infinity pool and restaurant are located right next to the sea on a rocky outcrop, so you can't be any closer to the sea while swimming and dining.
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Diving in Gran Canaria Experience report - the versatile island
My conclusion
The Canary Island presents a harmonious picture of itself: The Atlantic around Gran Canaria is a great diving destination with numerous wrecks, many schools of fish and one or two surprises - for example in the form of an angel shark. However, the Atlantic can also be a bit moody, so there can be a strong current at the diving spots and the boat can rock quite a bit.
Numerous diving centers
There are numerous German and English speaking diving centers on the island. We visited Extra Divers in Puerto de Mogán and Canary Diving Adventures in Taurito. Both dive centers are characterized by a high level of professionalism, great safety and at the same time a very high fun factor.
Scenically attractive island
In terms of landscape, the island is actually a continent in itself. Desert in the south, green vegetation in the north and in the mountainous interior there are beautiful green valleys. The places inland are also original and authentic, so a trip here is more than worth it! The places on the coast - especially in the south - are very touristy with many hotels, some of them very large, but a good portion of them also belong to the four or five star category. The Cordial Mogán Playa, Gloria Palace Amadores Thalasso & Hotel and the Marina Suites we visited all offered an above-average standard and are highly recommended.
The island is extremely diverse and is therefore suitable for many different diving vacationers. Whether for hardcore divers, casual divers, those seeking peace and quiet, couples, singles or partygoers - Gran Canaria has the right offer for every taste.
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