Safety · Destination Guide
Volcanic drop-offs, clear Atlantic water, and small-boat diving from La Restinga
Updated Apr 20, 2026 • 22 sources
El Hierro is safe and well organized when treated as a remote Atlantic island with regulated marine use. The main risks are current, swell, deep profiles, sun exposure, lava entries, and medical evacuation complexity. The main conservation duty is simple: use authorized operators, do not take or touch marine life, do not anchor on sensitive bottom, and respect the reserve zones.
Dive conservatively. El Bajon and other current-fed sites can exceed the comfort level of newly certified divers, and walls continue far below recreational limits. Carry and know how to use an SMB, stay close enough to your guide for blue-water ascent control, monitor gas carefully, and avoid pushing no-decompression limits. For freediving, never dive alone, use trained buddy protocols, and arrange proper surface cover. For snorkeling, treat lava pools as ocean entries and skip them when swell washes over the rim.
For emergencies, call 112. El Hierro has public hospital care in Valverde, but suspected decompression illness should be handled as an emergency requiring oxygen, medical assessment, and possible evacuation to a hyperbaric facility on another island. Carry dive accident insurance, keep your operator's emergency plan handy, and do not drive yourself across the island while symptomatic after diving.
Marine reserve rules are real
Scuba in the reserve requires authorization, boat support, marked or permitted sites, and compliance with no-take and no-anchoring rules. Do not plan casual independent shore dives inside the reserve.
Atlantic swell at natural pools
Charco Azul, La Maceta, and other lava pools can turn unsafe when waves wash over the rock. A calm-looking pool can surge hard through channels.
Deep profiles and evacuation logistics
El Hierro has deep walls and remote-island logistics. Keep profiles conservative, carry dive insurance, confirm oxygen on boats, and call 112 for suspected decompression illness.
Sun, wind and dehydration
The island can feel cool in the wind while UV remains strong. Use shade, water, sunglasses, and sun protection, especially from late morning through afternoon.
The reserve system restricts fishing, extraction, anchoring, diving locations, and activities in integral or restricted areas. Divers and snorkelers should maintain buoyancy, avoid gloves unless needed for exposure protection, keep fins off the bottom, never feed or chase wildlife, and report injured protected species or pollution to local authorities. The proposed Mar de Las Calmas national park process adds further reason to follow the most conservative local guidance.
Do Not Do This
Avoid entering when marine reserve rules are real. Confirm local briefings before committing.
| Contact | Role | Phone | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| CECOES 1-1-2 Canarias | All emergencies, rescue coordination and medical dispatch | 112 | 24/7 |
| Hospital Nuestra Senora de los Reyes | Island public hospital and emergency care in Valverde | +34 922 553 500 | 24/7 emergency department |
| Marine Reserve Visitor Center, La Restinga | Marine reserve information and local reporting | +34 922 557 188 | Office hours, verify locally |
| TransHierro | Island bus and taxi information | +34 922 551 175 | Business hours and route operations |