Canary Islands
The Canaries are perfect for divers to explore with fascinating scenery underwater.
Diving in Spain
Spain offers a remarkable diving experience, with its diverse and extensive coastline opening up a world of aquatic wonders. From the cooler, nutrient-rich waters of the Atlantic in the north to the warm, vibrant Mediterranean in the south, Spain provides an array of diving environments. The Mediterranean Sea, with its clear waters, is ideal for exploring colorful reefs and bustling marine life, including octopuses, seahorses, and the occasional sighting of dolphins. Meanwhile, the northern waters of the Bay of Biscay are home to majestic blue sharks, offering thrilling encounters for those seeking adventure.
Diving in Spain is available year-round, with summer temperatures inviting divers to explore in lighter wetsuits, while thicker gear is recommended in winter. The country's coastline is peppered with historical shipwrecks and unique underwater landscapes, making it perfect for both wreck enthusiasts and those interested in deep-sea exploration. Shore diving is a popular and convenient option, with many dive sites located near the coast. However, boat dives and the occasional liveaboard adventure are available for those seeking to explore further afield.
The marine reserves such as those around the Canary Islands and Cabo de Palos are teeming with biodiversity, offering protected havens for a wide range of species. This makes Spain a superb destination for divers of all skill levels, providing opportunities for both education and exploration. Whether you are a novice or an experienced diver, the underwater world of Spain promises an unforgettable experience filled with vibrant life and historical intrigue.
Power Plug Type
C, F
Payment Method
VISA, MC, AMEX, Cir, Plus
Tipping
5–10% / Service Staff / Tipping is appreciated in restaurants and cafés for good service, though not mandatory as service charges are usually included.
Currency
EUR
Dial Code
+34
Electricity
230V / 50Hz
Time
UTC+1, UTC+2
Places to explore
Courses and Events
Dive Centers
Dive Sites
Top Wildlife Sightings in Spain
Marine life in Spain is extremely rich, and divers will be surrounded by life wherever they go. Some life varies depending on the season and location, like in the summer, when colourful jellyfish visit the coasts, while monkfish and John Dory stop by in winter.
In the Gibraltar Strait, orcas and dolphins have been spotted on occasion. In the Canary and Balearic Islands, you can find life in all forms and sizes, from cute macro life like nudibranchs and seahorses, to barracuda and even finback whales if you’re lucky.
In the North of Spain, the rougher and cooler Cantabrian Sea dive sites shouldn’t be missed, as sightings of somewhat rarer creatures are possible, such as the blue shark or the moonfish.
Overall at many dive sites all around Spain, expect to see a variety of sponges and an array hard corals and soft corals species at many sites. Neptune grass, schools of jacks and barracuda, groupers, eagle rays and stingrays, bonito, wrasses, moray and garden eels, pufferfish, bream, angel and blue sharks, parrotfish, roncadores, octopus, seven species of turtle, dolphins, and even whales, can all be encountered depending where you dive.
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
61k Sightings
J
1.2k
F
796
M
1.1k
A
2k
M
2.9k
J
5.4k
J
12k
A
16k
S
9.6k
O
6k
N
2.4k
D
1.8k
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
41k Sightings
J
1k
F
695
M
936
A
1.5k
M
2.2k
J
3.9k
J
8.4k
A
10k
S
5.9k
O
3.7k
N
1.7k
D
1.3k
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
38k Sightings
J
1.6k
F
1k
M
1.2k
A
1.5k
M
1.9k
J
3.1k
J
6.1k
A
7.8k
S
5.6k
O
4.2k
N
2.5k
D
1.9k
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
5.8k Sightings
J
194
F
135
M
204
A
248
M
308
J
489
J
1.2k
A
1.3k
S
615
O
441
N
244
D
417
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 600
iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse
5.1k Sightings
J
171
F
99
M
143
A
259
M
231
J
378
J
971
A
1.1k
S
744
O
452
N
287
D
186
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
48k Sightings
J
1.3k
F
779
M
1.2k
A
1.7k
M
2.3k
J
3.7k
J
8.5k
A
12k
S
7.6k
O
5k
N
2.4k
D
1.8k
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
19k Sightings
J
1.1k
F
749
M
1.1k
A
1.4k
M
1.5k
J
1.5k
J
2.5k
A
2.9k
S
2.2k
O
1.9k
N
1.3k
D
1.4k
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
17k Sightings
J
1.3k
F
744
M
972
A
1.2k
M
1.1k
J
1k
J
1.7k
A
2.3k
S
1.9k
O
2k
N
1.7k
D
1.5k
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 3000
SSI-Peter-Schinck
Nudibranch
15k Sightings
J
371
F
249
M
391
A
762
M
1.1k
J
1.6k
J
3k
A
3.4k
S
1.7k
O
1k
N
641
D
492
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
13k Sightings
J
1.4k
F
891
M
1.1k
A
1.2k
M
1.2k
J
941
J
941
A
588
S
481
O
830
N
1.4k
D
1.9k
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
12k Sightings
J
728
F
498
M
614
A
762
M
771
J
874
J
1.5k
A
1.9k
S
1.2k
O
1.1k
N
961
D
772
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
11k Sightings
J
282
F
158
M
268
A
458
M
561
J
873
J
2.2k
A
2.7k
S
1.6k
O
1.1k
N
555
D
345
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
11k Sightings
J
653
F
428
M
547
A
789
M
627
J
584
J
1.3k
A
1.5k
S
1.2k
O
1.2k
N
964
D
708
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
9.8k Sightings
J
506
F
315
M
362
A
593
M
606
J
579
J
1.5k
A
1.9k
S
1.3k
O
860
N
706
D
569
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
9.7k Sightings
J
429
F
234
M
398
A
582
M
560
J
705
J
1.4k
A
2k
S
1.2k
O
924
N
747
D
519
Alamy-WaterFrame
Common Seahorse
8.8k Sightings
J
272
F
155
M
257
A
390
M
479
J
571
J
1.5k
A
2.1k
S
1.2k
O
928
N
545
D
372
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
8.1k Sightings
J
358
F
270
M
334
A
569
M
418
J
512
J
1.4k
A
1.5k
S
1k
O
704
N
613
D
442
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 190
Alamy-Water Frame
Conger Eel
6.2k Sightings
J
142
F
106
M
157
A
266
M
384
J
539
J
1.3k
A
1.5k
S
855
O
473
N
305
D
157
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 55
k
Lobster
4.8k Sightings
J
85
F
73
M
116
A
263
M
362
J
637
J
1.2k
A
1.2k
S
513
O
261
N
104
D
94
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
4.3k Sightings
J
242
F
140
M
216
A
407
M
303
J
218
J
542
A
737
S
407
O
342
N
416
D
293
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 3400
Shutterstock-Shane Gross
Shrimp
4k Sightings
J
151
F
106
M
128
A
177
M
188
J
242
J
526
A
829
S
586
O
493
N
330
D
231
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
3.8k Sightings
J
44
F
24
M
43
A
145
M
218
J
434
J
774
A
1.1k
S
631
O
224
N
74
D
60
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 110
iStock-Rainer von Brandis
Snapper
3.4k Sightings
J
174
F
98
M
168
A
210
M
213
J
278
J
471
A
637
S
458
O
351
N
231
D
153
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
3.1k Sightings
J
190
F
193
M
199
A
225
M
198
J
216
J
359
A
452
S
349
O
333
N
181
D
200
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
3.1k Sightings
J
228
F
95
M
143
A
163
M
206
J
148
J
308
A
495
S
370
O
310
N
334
D
281