History of diving in Canary Island

The story of scuba diving in the Canary Islands is as rich and layered as the volcanic landscapes that define the archipelago. While recreational diving as we know it is relatively modern, interest in exploring the underwater world here has deep roots — both in scientific exploration and naturalist documentation.

The most comprehensive early reference to diving and underwater life in the Canaries is found in the works of

, a Belgian underwater photographer and author who has lived on Tenerife for over thirty years. Hanquet’s books Bucear en Canarias and Diving in the Canaries document hundreds of dive sites across the islands and highlight the incredible biodiversity of the Atlantic waters around the archipelago. His guides, rich with detailed descriptions and hundreds of underwater photographs, helped put Canarian diving on the map for international divers and marine enthusiasts.

Diving in the Canaries grew alongside the global development of scuba technology. As air‑fed regulators and buoyancy systems became widely available in the 1960s and 1970s — driven by organizations like PADI promoting accessible training and certification — more explorers and adventure travelers began to venture beneath the surface. PADI’s modular training system helped make scuba diving an internationally recognized sport, enabling divers to travel and explore sites around the world, including the Atlantic reefs of the Canaries.

Local dive centers began to form in the late 20th century, offering training, guided dives, and equipment rentals. These developments expanded diving beyond niche enthusiasts and scientists to a broader audience of travelers seeking unique underwater experiences. Iconic dive sites such as El Cabrón Marine Reserve on Gran Canaria and the volcanic walls around Tenerife and El Hierro soon became well‑known for their dramatic underwater topography and diverse marine life.

What makes diving in the Canary Islands especially fascinating is the mix of subtropical Atlantic fauna with species from deeper waters drawn up by steep underwater slopes. Pelagic species mingle with reef dwellers, and sites range from gentle shore dives for beginners to dramatic volcanic formations and caves for experienced divers. Thanks in part to early documentation by photographers like Sergio Hanquet, and the growth of international diving culture, the Canaries have become one of Europe’s most respected scuba destinations.