Silhouettes on the wreck of the Kalais outside Las Palmas
BEST FOR Atlantic fish spotting
Gran Canaria
What to expect: The Canary islands are further away than the Med, but flight costs are the same and overall costs lower once you’ re there. Gran Canaria is( at the moment) my favourite Canary Island, largely thanks to a thorough introduction to the area by Brian Goldthorpe of Davy Jones Diving, many moons ago.
Why do I like it so much? Mostly, it boils down to the El Cabron marine reserve near the town of Arinaga on GC’ s east coast. It has the best array of marine life I’ ve seen anywhere in the eastern Atlantic. It’ s a shore dive, a set of shallow reefs and an expanse of sand where you’ re likely to encounter rays, barracuda and of course the famous angel sharks of the Canaries. Winter is the optimum season for finding angel sharks, which return to breed from late November to January.
You can expect water temperatures of 18-20 ° C, which is 7mm semi-dry territory, or maybe a lightweight drysuit. It’ s still a clear 16 degrees toastier than you’ ll get in an inland dive site in the godless depths of February. The fish life is truly impressive, their colours contrasting the grainy sand; expect to see bluefin damselfish, parrotfish, Turkish wrasse and pufferfish.
Away from the reef there are striped mullet, various bream species and more grunts.
It’ s worth asking about the wreck diving at Las Palmas, which is also the embarkation point for an immense cavern, La Catedral. It’ s more suited to those seeking a deeper dive, as it bottoms out around 40 metres. However there’ s a more accessible upper level between 9-12 metres. The site features natural, gothic-like lava formations, but is prone to current. Don’ t leave without: Visiting Pasito Blanco, a popular boat dive on the south side of GC. Here, you can swim with huge schools of roncadores grunts, barracuda and stingrays over white sand. It doesn’ t have the diversity of El Cabron, but it’ s well worth a day trip for those mighty schools.
Roncadores grunts and barracuda at Pasito Blanco
Atlantic whitespotted octopus
Smugness rating: As with other
European destinations during winter, the water temperature doesn’ t quite get you to peak smugness. That said, off-season prices might just do the trick. Away from the tourist strips, Gran Canaria is a beautiful island and there’ s still plenty of sun in the cooler months.
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