Explore El Hierro

Isla del Hierro, the smallest of Spain's Canary Islands, offers a unique diving experience in the North Atlantic Ocean. This remote island, located to the southwest of the archipelago, is a haven for those seeking tranquility and adventure away from the bustling tourist hotspots. La Restinga, a quaint village, serves as the gateway to this underwater paradise, where crystal-clear waters and dramatic volcanic landscapes await divers of all levels.

The dive sites around El Hierro, particularly within the Mar de las Calmas Marine Park, are renowned for their breathtaking topography and abundant marine life. Divers can explore a variety of environments, from vibrant reefs and steep walls to volcanic formations created by an underwater eruption in 2011. This event has enhanced the biodiversity of the area, attracting species like tunas, stingrays, dolphins, turtles, and even elusive whale sharks. These encounters make diving here not just an activity, but a journey into a vibrant marine ecosystem. With numerous dive centers and resorts, both guided dives and courses are readily accessible, ensuring a memorable and enriching experience for every diver.

Courses and Events

Open Water Diver

Learn to dive your way, at your own pace ???????? Start with online theory, easy and flexible, and then jump into the action: two days of beach dives to build confidence, followed by an unforgettable third day from a boat, exploring stunning underwater landscapes with incredible visibility.All in small groups, with a friendly, professional and fully personalized approach, so you can relax, learn and enjoy every moment underwater. Warning: once you start… you might never want to stop ????
On request

Dive Activity

Diving in El Hierro

With the volcanic rock characteristics of most of the dive sites, divers experience a truly 'out of this world' adventure. There are multiple dive sites featuring canyons, overhangs, arches, pinnacles, boulders, plateaus, and several steep drop-offs. Around the island, there is a dramatic drop-off reaching down to 300 meters/984 feet. Some of the more unique features include a large lava tongue and a significant sea mountain at El Bajon, one of the most famous dive sites here. Night dives are conducted from the harbor, which itself is a unique dive site.

Top Wildlife Sightings in El Hierro

In 2011 there was an underwater volcanic explosion which essentially completely regenerated the marine environment of this area and the biodiversity became much richer. This attracted many more species which divers are now able to admire. In between the dark, rocky topography are multiple coral reefs which really create colour pops made up of Black and Yellow Corals, Anemones, Sponges, Hard Corals and Soft Corals. Surrounding these corals are species such as Seahorses, Octopus, many species of Crustaceans, Moray Eels, Flatfish, Groupers, Tuna, Barracuda, Parrotfish and Stingrays. Some of the larger species include Devil Rays, Sea Turtles, Angel Sharks and some of the seasonal visitors on the luckiest days are Manta Rays, Dolphins and Tiger Sharks.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame

Moray Eel
1.8k Sightings
J
73
F
60
M
120
A
80
M
115
J
79
J
197
A
284
S
242
O
248
N
187
D
86

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 27

iStock-Global_Pics

Barracuda
352 Sightings
J
13
F
13
M
20
A
24
M
21
J
12
J
28
A
47
S
35
O
53
N
69
D
17

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

iStock/Juliosanjuan

Eagle Ray
162 Sightings
J
9
F
12
M
18
A
1
M
0
J
12
J
1
A
13
S
22
O
34
N
19
D
21

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker

Grouper/Basslets
2.1k Sightings
J
94
F
69
M
106
A
98
M
119
J
109
J
235
A
338
S
292
O
309
N
238
D
90

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo

Trumpetfish
1.5k Sightings
J
73
F
41
M
85
A
79
M
83
J
69
J
188
A
235
S
196
O
219
N
183
D
73

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

AdobeStock-JirinaVFR

Pufferfish
649 Sightings
J
27
F
20
M
33
A
33
M
61
J
29
J
79
A
87
S
77
O
71
N
94
D
38

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 100

iStock-burnsboxco

Parrotfish
454 Sightings
J
27
F
12
M
50
A
21
M
27
J
11
J
70
A
23
S
62
O
49
N
89
D
13

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 80

iStock/Extreme-Photographer

Stingrays
302 Sightings
J
10
F
14
M
17
A
28
M
16
J
19
J
21
A
42
S
41
O
33
N
31
D
30

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

iStock-wrangel

Triggerfish
226 Sightings
J
4
F
5
M
27
A
7
M
6
J
22
J
52
A
41
S
7
O
19
N
28
D
8

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 30

Shutterstock-s_a_j

Sand Eel
222 Sightings
J
8
F
10
M
13
A
9
M
12
J
12
J
31
A
40
S
24
O
33
N
21
D
9
Show More

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Spiny Lobster
220 Sightings
J
12
F
9
M
12
A
9
M
11
J
14
J
19
A
15
S
34
O
55
N
27
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 55

k

Lobster
151 Sightings
J
4
F
7
M
2
A
14
M
10
J
7
J
51
A
1
S
17
O
23
N
14
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 7000

iStock-Michael Zeigler

Crab
134 Sightings
J
3
F
5
M
11
A
9
M
7
J
1
J
6
A
11
S
1
O
47
N
27
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

iStock-Miguel-Angelo-Silva.

Scorpionfish
125 Sightings
J
2
F
1
M
1
A
4
M
1
J
0
J
68
A
0
S
0
O
16
N
30
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 350

Alamy-Andre Seal

Damselfish
117 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
3
A
1
M
2
J
1
J
73
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
35
D
0

The best Months to Dive in El Hierro

Diving in La Gomera is possible year-round due to warm temperatures ranging from 18°C–26°C/64°F–79°F. Water temperatures range from 18°C–25°C/64°F–77°F with incredible visibility throughout the year, averaging 30 meters/98 feet. The best diving months are between June and October for optimal conditions. November to January are the winter months, characterized by the most rain, resulting in the least visibility. The species inhabiting these waters are present throughout the year, except for the pelagics.

Dive Centers

Arrecifal Dive Center

Calle La Orchilla 30, 38917 La Restinga, IC - ESP

TAGORO DIVE

CALLE EL LAJIAL 7, 38917 LA RESTINGA, IC - ESP

AQUA DIVING ADVENTURES

Avenida Maritima 2, 38917 La Restinga, IC - ESP

MERIDIANO CERO, MERIDIANO -0-

19 Calle de la Orchilla, 38917 La Restinga, IC - ESP

Dive Sites

Buceo La Restinga, 38917 La Restinga

Puerto de La Restinga (★4.1)

It is where we always do the nights, the diving courses and baptisms. It enjoys an incredible cleanliness of its waters. La Restinga beach is in the same place and has received the “blue flag“ for the purity of its waters.
Extra Divers El Hierro, 38917 El Pinar de El Hierro

Barco Chino (★4.5)

Through a big rock gate, you will reach a plateau at 18m deep with two towers near the edge. An exciting dive with lots of holes, caverns, and swim-throughs. Landscape diving at its best!
Extra Divers El Hierro, 38917 El Pinar de El Hierro

El Desierto (★4.3)

This is the last and furthest of dive sites in the Mar de las Calmas Marine Reserve heading west, and it will take 10-15 minutes to reach from the port of La Restinga.
Buceo La Restinga, 38917 La Restinga

Baja Bocarones (★4.4)

A very special and beautiful dive that is not always accessible because of the strong wind that is always on the island. It is not within the Marine Reserve, but it is as if it was!
Buceo La Restinga, 38917 La Restinga

Cueva del Diablo (★4.4)

“La Cueva del Diablo“ is very shallow and very easy. You go to a kind of large cave that is reminiscent of a church vault. It is very spacious with very nice sets of colors
Buceo La Restinga, 38917 La Restinga

El Bajón (★4.6)

It is surely the most famous dive in the Canary Islands and one of the most important in Europe. Submarine volcano that emerges from nowhere and stays about 9 meters deep from the surface. Giving us a landscape unmatched anywhere in the world.
Buceo La Restinga, 38917 La Restinga

Playa La Herradura (★4.2)

One of the essentials of the Marine Reserve !! Located right in front of “El Bajón“ and just two minutes away from La Restinga port. It is one of the dives that have more life and also does not touch much depth.
Buceo La Restinga, 38917 La Restinga

El Rincón, El Hierro (★4.4)

This is the first and closest site to the port of La Restinga, from the bollas of the Marine Reserve, Mar de las Calmas. As soon as you leave the eastbound port, this site is just 100 meters from the entrance and just 20 meters from the outside of the port.
Buceo La Restinga, 38917 La Restinga

Punta las Cañas (★4.0)

Punta las Cañas, near the integral reserve (place of maximum protection), is an easy dive, although sometimes we can find some current, almost always heading east.
Buceo La Restinga, 38917 La Restinga

El Salto, El Hierro (★4.4)

Beautiful immersion without currents and quiet, where we will enjoy some beautiful games of colors with small caves and a very special circuit...
Buceo La Restinga, 38917 La Restinga

Baja Fria (★4.4)

Close to the coastline the slope leads to a drop-off starting at 20m, after dropping down to your max. allowed dive depth you start ascending to a plateau at 6m where you can pass a small swimm-through before doing your safety-stop.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

La Herradura (★4.4)

There are two buoys of the marine reserve on the plateau of Herradura. This buoy is located on the limit between zone C and B of the marine reserve, there is no diving allowed in zone A. On the plateau are lots of canyons. This place tends to be exposed to currents, then it’s not suitable for beginners.
Scubapro

Punta Restinga (★4.4)

We descend to a fairly flat platform at around 20 meters and continue until we reach the edge of a drop-off that falls below 40 meters in some areas. Along the wall, there are caves and crevices. We ascend along the wall back to the plateau, passing through several canyons on the way to the mooring point.
Mares

El Río (★4.3)

We begin the descent at less than 10 meters deep and gradually reach greater depths, crossing several rock ridges and adjacent ravines. As we go deeper, the seabed becomes more uniform with wide sandy patches. A cave in shallower waters is well worth a visit.
Mares

El Coral/Punta del Río (★4.3)

We gradually descend along a lava tongue that borders a light sandy bottom on its eastern side. As we ascend along the western side, we can explore the nooks and crannies of the rock, especially in the shallower area.