Explore La Palma

La Palma is one of Spain's Canary Islands located off north west Africa in the North Atlantic Ocean. This volcanic island is constructed of a volcanic landscape, above, and below the water. The volcanos, black beaches, forests and thriving waters result in a stunning holiday and diving destination. Most of the diving here is shore diving as the volcanic topography steeply drops off down into the blue very close to shore. There are a number of dive centres and dive resorts on the island with experienced guides to take divers to the best dive sites around, whether it be to take dive courses in the protected bays or to experience the deep blue. The clear waters and unique topography are the background of many impressive dive sites which also inhabit many different species including numerous graceful ray species. Each dive here is bound to be a thrill. 

Courses and Events

Assistant Instructor

The Assistant Instructor is the next logical step after the Divemaster on your way to becoming an Instructor. It gives you the chance to gain valuable teaching experience, practice dive briefings, teach theory lessons and take over practical dive training. If you want to advance your career as an SSI Professional, you can complete the Instructor Training course, pass the Instructor Evaluation and qualify as an Open Water Instructor.

21 March +29 More
EUR 600.00

Open Water Instructor (Instructor Training Course ITC)

Start today - You must be a Divemaster or equivalent to participate in SSI's 3-level instructor training program. The training begins with participation in the combination Assistant Instructor / Instructor Training Course, accompanied by Digital Learning. After successfully completing the Instructor Training Course (ITC), you will take part in an Instructor Evaluation (IE) to qualify as an SSI Open Water Instructor. This 10-day training entitles you to independently teach various SSI key programs such as Scuba Diver, Open Water Diver, Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress & Rescue and Dive Guide. If you want to take more time to learn and gain valuable teaching experience between the training courses, you can also complete the 3 parts in individual steps - Assistant Instructor, Instructor Training Course (ITC) and Instructor Evaluation (IE) one after the other at your own pace and with a flexible schedule.

24 October
EUR 1,200.00

Dive Activity

Diving in La Palma

There is a range of different types of diving to be done here for divers of all levels. Diving is done here from shore, and divers will either be entering the protected sandy bays to do shallower diving to admire the marine species, or they will be entering deeper dives either out into the blue in the hope of spotting larger species, or in between the uniquely shaped rock formations which come in the shape of shallow caves, arches, canyons, caverns and overhangs. There are also rock formations which rise out of sandy beds which have truly unique shapes.

Top Wildlife Sightings in La Palma

The clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean attract a high abundance of marine flora and fauna for divers to enjoy that live within the many cracks and crevices of the volcanic topography in combination with the sandy bottom. There are rocks covered in corals and other flora including Black Corals, Sea Sponges and the stunning Red Gorgonians which are surrounded by many schools of small fish. Critters here include Octopus, Scorpion Fish, Moray Eels, Spider Crabs, Feather Stars, different species of Lobster and Shrimp, and colourful Nudibranchs. Some larger species here include Sea Turtles, Groupers, schools of Barracuda, Trigger Fish, large Stingrays, Electric Rays and in the winter the graceful Butterfly Rays. 

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
1k Sightings
J
45
F
19
M
52
A
82
M
74
J
51
J
116
A
152
S
141
O
114
N
75
D
80

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

Total number of species: 300

Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl

Octopus
260 Sightings
J
2
F
17
M
6
A
32
M
4
J
12
J
29
A
17
S
68
O
13
N
41
D
19

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
164 Sightings
J
5
F
7
M
11
A
3
M
16
J
4
J
30
A
5
S
25
O
25
N
32
D
1

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
953 Sightings
J
49
F
15
M
55
A
75
M
48
J
64
J
126
A
145
S
148
O
104
N
76
D
48

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
581 Sightings
J
48
F
18
M
43
A
64
M
28
J
28
J
71
A
61
S
81
O
66
N
44
D
29

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
464 Sightings
J
27
F
16
M
25
A
52
M
45
J
30
J
83
A
34
S
84
O
35
N
11
D
22

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
418 Sightings
J
29
F
5
M
15
A
39
M
12
J
17
J
72
A
111
S
67
O
14
N
34
D
3

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

Total number of species: 120

AdobeStock-Composer.

Flounder
328 Sightings
J
20
F
1
M
19
A
39
M
6
J
9
J
39
A
79
S
81
O
17
N
2
D
16
Alamy-WaterFrame

Common Seahorse
256 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
1
A
15
M
36
J
11
J
59
A
30
S
40
O
33
N
19
D
11

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
256 Sightings
J
34
F
15
M
7
A
5
M
24
J
3
J
34
A
24
S
36
O
39
N
22
D
13
Show More

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

Total number of species: 120

SSI-Peter-Schinck

Cuttlefish
229 Sightings
J
23
F
22
M
2
A
15
M
3
J
15
J
27
A
29
S
23
O
23
N
35
D
12

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
168 Sightings
J
5
F
6
M
20
A
23
M
12
J
9
J
12
A
16
S
35
O
6
N
21
D
3

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
123 Sightings
J
22
F
3
M
0
A
42
M
2
J
4
J
30
A
11
S
0
O
5
N
3
D
1

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

Total number of species: 26

iStock-Martin Voeller

Angel Shark
115 Sightings
J
26
F
17
M
0
A
16
M
20
J
2
J
17
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
12
D
4

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
112 Sightings
J
11
F
2
M
2
A
13
M
2
J
12
J
6
A
36
S
13
O
6
N
6
D
3

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
79 Sightings
J
11
F
2
M
1
A
13
M
5
J
6
J
24
A
3
S
5
O
7
N
2
D
0

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
69 Sightings
J
7
F
0
M
3
A
10
M
4
J
1
J
0
A
24
S
8
O
4
N
7
D
1

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

Total number of species: 60

Shutterstock-Laura Dinraths

Electric Ray
64 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
7
A
1
M
13
J
13
J
4
A
0
S
5
O
16
N
2
D
3

The best Months to Dive in La Palma

Luckily, diving is possible throughout the year. The rainiest months of the year are October to January, however, it does not rain too much to hinder diving. The best diving season runs from May to September, with the warmest waters and best visibility, and the warmest outside air temperatures. The water temperatures range between 19°C and 26°C and the outside air temperatures range between 23°C and 29°C. The visibility around 25 metres and on the best days reaching over 35 metres.

Butterfly Rays are mostly present in the winter, between October and February. 

Dive Centers

Punkfish Diving La Palma, Veronika Sievers

Calle Jose Torres Hernandez 1, 38714 Fuencaliente de La Palma, IC - ESP

Blue Magma Diving, La Palma

Puerto Deportivo Tazacorte, Nave 3, 38779 Tazacorte, IC - ESP

BUCEO ISLA BONITA

Carretera La Costa Cerca Vieja 7, 38740 Fuencaliente De La Palma, IC - ESP

Dive Sites

La Palma Diving, 38712 La Palma

Malpique - Cruces (★4.6)

The crosses in Malpique is probably one of the most famous dive spots in this area. You will find 39 crosses set as a monument for the martyrs of Tazacorte. Besides exploring the amazing crosses, the area surrounding the monument is a beautiful dive site as well.
La Palma Diving, 38712 La Palma

La Garra (★4.2)

The most characteristic dive at Los Cancajos beach leads you to The Claw, a popular rock surrounded by tons of fish. To get there, head along the amazing lava formations and beautiful canyons.
La Palma Diving, 38712 La Palma

Las Cabras (★4.5)

This dive is through a really young lava landscape: Las Cabras is the result of the last volcanic eruption in 1971. In the middle of the black volcano landscape, you will find one of the most colourful dive sites on La Palma. Young lava, perfect visibility, and black coral - a beautiful place do dive.
La Palma Diving, 38712 La Palma

Playa La Bombilla (★4.3)

Small fisherman village at the west side of La Palma, where we find a huge number of arches on a very shallow dive, or can follow some significant lava flews down into the deep blue.
La Palma Diving, 38712 La Palma

Malpique: Torre de Malpique (★4.4)

A spectacular wall dive for experienced divers. Dive through the open blue to reach a tower covered with black coral and return through an impressive arch. The most stunning dive site on La Palma.
La Palma Diving, 38712 La Palma

La Bajita (★4.4)

This interesting spot is only 5 minutes south of Los Cancajos, directly at the airport. Rock formations and sandy patches give a home to all kinds of different rays, and in the shallow part, beautiful bays are a home for all kind of small fish.
La Palma Diving, 38712 La Palma

Bahia de Los Cancajos (★4.5)

The bay of Los Cancajos is the perfect confined water for Try Scuba, courses and snorkling. In this sheltered bay we can meet all the marine life that lives here, without going deep.
La Palma Diving, 38712 La Palma

Playa La Salemera (★4.5)

A huge field of lava with bright sandy patches leading down for about 40m, but offering a beautiful dive at any depth starting at 15m. There are lots of arches in the very shallow area to end the dive at or explore on the second dive.
La Palma Diving, 38712 La Palma

Gorgonias (★4.5)

This is a deep dive on the south end of Los Cancajos beach. You will follow a downward slope that leads to fields of red Gorgonias. If you go a bit deeper you will even see black corals. On the way back you can go through the shallow lava labyrinth called “Mordor“.
La Palma Diving, 38712 La Palma

Canyon (★3.9)

Just outside the bay you will find an impressive canyon with colourful sponges and lots of hiding fish. A beautiful dive for beginners and a good start into a more advanced dive.
Punkfish Diving, 38712 La Palma

Faro de Fuencaliente (★4.4)

Access to the water is in a shallow area full of volcanic formations, the result of the Teneguia eruption. This site offers diving for all levels with a great variety of different dive routes.
Punkfish Diving, 38714 Fuencaliente de La Palma

El Ala (★4.0)

This site is on the wing of a Cessna plane that sits at nearly 30m. It is a nice attraction and the tiny reef beside it is full of surprises. An easy deep dive, as long as air consumption is ok.
Kristian H. (#3639991)

Playa de Malpique (★4.6)

Five minutes from the Fuencaliente Lighthouse, access is via the next road north along the West coast. It is a platform at 5 meters with three large rocks that rise to the surface depending on the tides and form a canyon, surrounded by sand, ideal for Try Scuba.
La Palma Diving, 38712 La Palma

Charco Verde (★4.6)

Charco Verde is one of the few places that are clearly more comfortable to dive by boat than by land. Boat tours are offered by local diving centres.
La Palma Diving, 38712 La Palma

Puerto Naos - Playa Chica (★4.4)

Easy access to the water, with family plan nearby. Easy dives for all levels, because thanks to the verticality of the island, you have both shallow and very deep areas from the same entrance to the water. Variety of routes from the same access point.