Depth charge: diving holiday in Lanzarote

The small Canary island of Lanzarote is starting to earn a big reputation as one of Europe's leading dive holiday destinations.

The same volcanic activity that famously shaped the surface of the island in the 1730´s – effectively creating Lanzarote´s most popular tourist attraction, the Timanfaya Volcano Park – also had a similar impact underwater. As a result dramatic formations – such as caves, lava -rivers and arches - were forged into an eerie aquatic environment.

Stir in a shipwreck, add a couple of large reefs (the English translation of Arrecife, the capital city, is exactly that, reef), garnish with an abundance of tropical sub-aquatic species and you have all of the right ingredients for a perfect diving holiday.

Lanzarote is also a UNESCO protected biosphere – which means the waters of the Atlantic surrounding the island are extremely clear and offer excellent visibility.

As a result diving has become a very popular pastime – with loads of both locals and ex-pats operating dive schools in and around the main resorts on the island.

This has created intense competition for business – which means bargains galore for the first time novice, enabling would be Jacques Cousteaus to take the plunge and learn to dive for as little as €99 (around £65).

Among the best and most experienced operators on the island are Native Diving – based in the northern resort of Costa Teguise.

Native is owned and operated by the renowned Canarian born diver Jose Luis Garcia Blanco – a PADI Open Water Instructor with over twenty years experience. Jose's qualifications in Marine Biology and his years spent studying underwater photography make him one of Lanzarote's most sought after dive guides.

According to Jose, the waters around Lanzarote are alive with a great array of species – but the encounters that divers really get excited about in these waters are usually with angel sharks and giant Atlantic electric rays.

Jose recommends a number of dive spots – most of which are shore entry and therefore easy to access. Amongst these are the Loz Erizos shipwrecks – a very popular spot at the entrance to the harbour in Puerto del Carmen where divers can swim amongst a number of sunken wrecks.

These old vessels have effectively created an artificial reef – so marine life such as triggerfish and barracuda can be enjoyed here in abundance.

Another favourite are the fields of Black Coral at Puerto Moro in the North of the island.

This dive starts with an exhilarating five-meter giant stride entry and short surface swim down into a large cavern. It culminates in a depth dive to 40 metres – where thousands of shrimp swim away from the light of the divers’ torches to reveal the unique sight of the black coral fields below.

For more information on diving in the region take a look at Lanzarote Guide Book.

By Nick Ball