Diving in Puerto del Carmen
If you’re looking for a place where diving is as easy as putting on your fins and slipping into the water, then Puerto del Carmen is the spot.
This charming corner of Lanzarote stands out not only for its stunning natural beauty but also for the variety of dive sites, perfectly suited for everyone, from beginners just starting out to experienced divers seeking deeper challenges.
In Puerto del Carmen, the thrill of diving is just as intense whether you dive on a sunny day or under a full moon.
All you need is the desire to dive, and you’re set for an unforgettable experience.
Get ready to explore from calm coastal waters to exciting hidden depths beneath the waves.
The Cathedral is not just one of Lanzarote’s most famous dives but also an explosion of underwater life and color. You can start your adventure from the beach, where the sand invites you to dive in, or from the pier, the perfect starting point for any dive. As you head toward the reef, you’ll find the entrance to this spectacular underwater cave.
Inside the Cathedral, natural light puts on a show, as the vibrant colors shine bright under your torch. The walls are covered in colorful sponges, and a majestic black coral greets you, inviting you to explore every detail. Look up at the cavern ceiling, and you’ll see the bubbles you leave behind form little mirrors of air.
In this fascinating scene, ornate wrasses and three-tailed damselfish swim upside down, as if they’ve crossed over to the other side, adding a unique and playful touch to your dive. Diving in the Cathedral is an experience you won’t forget. From rainbow-like colors to fish that don’t take life too seriously, every minute underwater will be a memory you’ll cherish.
Dive Briefing:
Blue Hole is not your typical tunnel. Picture an underwater path starting from the calmness of the small pier, leading to the deeper parts of the reef. It’s simple but with a deep twist to keep things exciting.
We begin at the pier, slowly descending as schools of fish cheer us on and eels watch us like curious tourists. We reach the tunnel entrance at about 22 meters and head down to 25 meters, right at the base of the reef.
On this underwater journey, you’ll come across caves that look like shrimp nightclubs, lit up by our torches. It’s common to see groupers acting like kings of the dance floor, using our light to feast.
And just when you think you’ve seen it all, at the end of the dive, you can ascend to higher parts of the reef where barracudas and other larger fish make their rounds. It’s like the after-party of the dive, where you never know what big fish will stop by to say hello.
Dive Briefing:
Playa Chica and El Muellito are two ideal dive spots for beginners. With shallow waters, these sites are perfect for snorkeling, introductory dives, and beginner courses. If you’re coming from a deeper dive at the reef, this is a comfortable spot for your safety stop. They are also excellent locations for night diving. You’ll discover schools of Salemas and Pejeverdes swimming near the rocks. Plus, you’ll enjoy watching the small but brave Black Damselfish fiercely defend its territory. In this area, you’ll also find Spider Crabs, Starfish, Sea Urchins, and Brittle Stars hiding among the rocks.
Dive Briefing:
Every corner offers something new to discover, making Playa Chica and El Muellito must-visit spots for those starting their diving journey.
Orange Coral is a very popular and fascinating dive in Lanzarote. We start from the beach or pier, descending toward the reef. Following the wall, we reach a small shipwreck where a large grouper is often found lurking.
As we continue along the reef, we encounter an almost vertical wall teeming with marine life. The rock is covered in colorful sponges, and it’s a great place to spot pelagic fish. Exploring the edge of the reef, we come across a memorial plaque and some ashes. A little further along, on the edge of the reef, we discover the star of this dive: a beautiful orange coral hidden in a crevice. It’s common to see groupers peeking over the edge like old gossipers watching from a balcony. Don’t miss it! As we finish the dive, we ascend along the sandy beach, where we find garden eels and seahorses hiding among the knots of ropes.
This dive is a thrilling experience, blending the excitement of diving with the beauty of marine life, all in a unique and surprise-filled setting.
Dive Briefing:
Cueva de las Gambas is one of the most spectacular dives on the Playa Chica reef. Located at about 40 meters deep, it’s perfect for experienced divers. The cave is filled with narwhal shrimp darting across the walls and ceiling, creating a unique spectacle. The clever groupers know that when divers arrive with their flashlights, it’s dinner time. They take advantage of the light to hunt shrimp, turning the dive into an underwater hunting show.
As we ascend, we follow the top of the reef, encountering more groupers, orange coral, nudibranchs, and a wide variety of other species. Every corner holds something new and exciting to discover. It’s a dive you can’t miss!
Dive Briefing:
These are three fishing boats from the last century, sunk close to the coast between Puerto del Carmen and Puerto Calero. They are wooden vessels, and two of them are quite well-preserved.
The third, more deteriorated, gives off a mysterious vibe as you approach, with its hulls appearing like a skeleton resting in the sand.
For diving with tanks, we will descend perpendicular to the shore until we reach the first two boats.
It’s better to access the third wreck by boat due to its depth and distance from the others. This way, we can explore the wrecks or spend time searching the sand for angel sharks, eagle rays, and large stingrays.
Be sure to keep an eye on your dive computer since it’s easy to end up needing a decompression stop.
We wouldn’t want you skipping safety rules and puffing up like a balloon, right?
Enjoy this fascinating dive and uncover the secrets these old boats have to offer.
Dive Briefing:
Waikiki is a dive that offers a bit of everything. We start by descending along the line to a group of rocks at around 5 meters deep, where we will make our safety stop on the way back.
From there, we descend along the rocky wall toward the reef. Before reaching it, we find a beautiful orange coral tucked into a small crevice. We explore the small caves and caverns, discovering many species: Lady Scarlata, colorful anemones, spider crabs, nudibranchs—all living together like long-time neighbors.
At the deeper part of the reef, about 28 meters to the east, we find a small cave with a large hanging gerardia accompanied by three-tailed damselfish.
Don’t miss this dive, filled with marine life and exciting discoveries.
Dive Briefing:
If you’re looking for an impressive dive in Puerto del Carmen, La Pared is the perfect choice. We start by descending along the rope to the sandy bottom, heading towards the edge of the reef on the right side.
Here, we encounter a stunning vertical wall, filled with small caves and crevices. These nooks are home to many species of small marine life: nudibranchs, sea slugs, Lady Scarlata shrimp, moray eels, groupers, and trumpetfish.
The most comfortable way to do this dive is by boat, descending directly to the reef’s edge. This allows us to explore both the massive wall and the deep blue.
The highlight of the dive is an impressive branch of orange coral. When it’s time to ascend, we can return along the reef edge. And if you’re feeling adventurous, we can venture a bit into the blue, always watching our depth and staying close to the reef. It’s common to spot pelagic fish and schools of bogas here.
Dive Briefing:
Every corner offers something new to discover, making Playa Chica and El Muellito must-visit spots for those starting their diving journey.
Richie’s Place is named after a commemorative plaque honoring a diver named Richard. This dive site offers an impressive underwater landscape filled with large rocks, caves, and cliffs. The marine life here is incredibly diverse and will never leave you indifferent.
The dive starts directly from a buoy line. Upon reaching the bottom, we descend through the sand until we find a small arch formed in the rock. Following the reef, keeping it on your right, you’ll quickly find Richie’s memorial plaque.
Further down, there’s a wide but low cave that’s well worth exploring. The dive is accessed by boat, with depths ranging between 18 and 34 meters. Inside the cave, you’ll be treated to the sight of a beautiful orange coral and swarms of narwhal shrimp covering the walls and ceiling.
It’s also common to spot groupers, barred hogfish, and trumpetfish, making this a visually rich and exciting dive.
Dive Briefing:
En esta inmersión, te sumerges en un verdadero parque de diversiones submarino con seis pecios para explorar.
En la parte inferior encontrarás cinco de ellos, algunos en un estado de conservación bastante bueno. Entre los restos, es común toparse con tiburones ángel, rayas y hasta rayas eléctricas.
A medida que asciendes, te encuentras con otro pecio que sobresale del espigón del puerto. Este descansa de costado al borde del arrecife, y cuando te acercas a el desde abajo, parece que va a caer sobre ti de un momento a otro. Curiosamente, está mejor conservado y es más atractivo, a pesar de que se construyó el espigón del puerto justo encima de él. Si eres un buceador avanzado, puedes recorrer todos los pecios y disfrutar de esta aventura submarina al completo. Pero si tienes certificación Open Water, no te preocupes, también podrás visitar el pecio principal y disfrutar de una inmersión increíble. ¡Recuerda, los peces no discriminan por tu nivel de buceo!
Briefing de la inmersión:
Come dive with us in Lanzarote!
Check out our dive packages—we have options for all skill levels! Pick the one that suits you best, choose your date, and once you’re here, we’ll plan the rest of your diving days together. Are you ready to dive into this unique experience?
Dive sites in Lanzarote
Costa Teguise and Mala
Puerto del Carmen
Playa Blanca
