At Lanzarote harbor, there are caves and lava flows to explore, and rocks teeming with soft coral and anemone. No dive vacation could be complete without some excellent shore dives; as you get to spend more time on the bottom and less time on a boat going back and forth. That rule is especially true here! Let’s take just a few moments to enjoy three top Lanzarote Shore dives.
Harbour Wall
If you are interested in macro life, and especially if you enjoy night diving, then a trip to Harbour Wall is definitely in order. Best undertaken at night, when the sandy bottom explodes with vibrant anemone, and when cuttlefish and octopus hunt, there are fish and even seahorses here, as well as spider crabs and delicate shrimp. The dive begins at four meters and extends to twenty-two meters, and is wonderful for all levels to enjoy. Keep the rocks and the jetty to your right as you head out, and to your left as you return.
The Cathedral
Just a short surface swim from Playa de la Barilla, followed by a free descent to fourteen meters or so, will bring you to the reef and over the dropoff that leads down to a magnificent lava cave at thirty meters. The cave is amazing to see from the outside, and photos taken from the inside, with light penetrating from the open water beyond the cave’s mouth, are a wonderful reminder of your trip to see this breathtaking underwater chapel.
Inside the Cathedral, you will find small grottoes filled with shrimp and glassfish, as well as spectacular soft coral coating the walls. Groupers hide in dark corners, and shoot wary looks at the divers who discover them. Moray eels and rays are in the area as well. Toward the back of the cave, shine your light up to see the halocline that is caused when fresh water from the upper reaches of the cave system mixes with the ocean’s salt water. The swirling effect is beyond spectacular!
Blue Hole
Lanzarote’s Blue Hole begins at about thirteen meters, and is accessed via a quick jump off the jetty and a short swim to the three meter wide entry point. Unlike some other notable blue holes around the world, this is not a karst formation. Instead, it is a hole in the reef that descends all the way to the exit at twenty-five meters.
Once you exit to the reef’s outer edge, you will see large reef fish as well as the occasional angel shark, beautifully silhouetted against the deep water beyond. As you ascend slowly up the reef, you can enjoy the beautiful coral formations, sponges, and fish that seem to become more brightly colored as you come closer to the surface.
As the dive includes an overhead area as well as a current at times, it is reserved for advanced divers. Be sure you’ve got your light, and remember that camera, too!
These are only a few of the wonderful shore dives you can experience while visiting Lanzarote. Local dive shops are more than happy to lead you on an exciting expedition if you are experienced, and help you gain more skill if needed.