TRAVELSPECIAL
The leaning bow of the Arona shipwreck
Angel shark
If you ’ re visiting in autumn , it may well be worth the 100km drive to the village of Sardina del Norte , where the dive at Caleta Bajo is visted by mobula or devil rays , smaller cousins of the manta ray , but just as beautiful .
I ’ ve been hearing conflicting stories about permissions to dive the wrecks outside the harbour at Las Palmas , Gran Canaria ’ s capital . It sounds like access to the wrecks is a changing situation , but the Arona still
seems to be on everyone ’ s must-dive list . It is indeed a spectacular dive – a big container ship lying on her side , maxing out at 35m and often swathed in schools of roncadores and barracuda . It ’ s certainly worth a day trip , as is La Catedral , an enormous cavern that stretches down to 45m , with light streaming in from several openings . It ’ s an exposed site that demands a break in the north easterly trade winds , but if the planets are aligned it ’ s an absolute banger .
White-spotted octopus
Money saving essentials
■ Book early Try to book your flights as early as possible to get the best deals . Flight comparison sites are a good place to gauge costs and savings , such as www . skyscanner . net or www . cheapflights . co . uk .
■ Package deals Find out about any dive and stay package with your chosen centre , as these often represent good savings , particularly for large groups , and may include transfers .
■ Check baggage costs Budget airlines are masters of hiding costs and added extras behind that attentiongrabbing sales tag . Always read the luggage allowance small print . Be aware baggage charges can go up during peak holiday times .
■ Buddy savings For large groups travelling together , it may be worth booking flights through a holiday operator for the best deal . Dive centres almost always offer group discounts . Shared accommodation will also bring your per person costs down . Staying in self-catering accommodation gives you the option of cooking your own meals and potentially saving a lot on bar and restaurant bills .
Getting there
The average flight time to Tenerife is four and a half hours . Budget airlines Ryanair , Thomas Cook , Jet2 and easyJet fly into Tenerife South from UK airports , while more expensive flights with airlines such as British Airways generally tend to fly to Tenerife North . Early and late summer , out of prime school holiday months , deals can be found for around £ 150 return . �
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