Safety · Destination Guide
Atlantic lava reefs, angel sharks, and wild beaches on the wind-sculpted Canary Island
Updated Apr 20, 2026 • 28 sources
Fuerteventura is approachable, but it is still Atlantic diving: wind, swell, current, boat traffic, and remote beaches set the risk profile. Use local operators, respect beach flags, carry appropriate insurance, and treat angel-shark encounters as protected wildlife moments.
Dive with a center that checks certification, recent experience, insurance, weather, and oxygen readiness. Carry a dive computer and SMB, follow depth limits, and be honest about current comfort before sites such as Bajon del Rio. Freedivers should train only with a buddy system or instructor, never alone, and should use a buoy, line, and surface supervision. Snorkelers should avoid offshore winds, surf beaches, and unguarded entries when red flags or strong surge are present.
For life-threatening incidents, call 112 first. Fuerteventura's main public hospital is in Puerto del Rosario, and serious diving incidents should be managed through emergency services, the dive operator's oxygen plan, and a dive-medicine hotline such as DAN Europe. Do not self-drive after suspected decompression illness, lung barotrauma, blackout, or near drowning. Ask your operator where the current receiving hyperbaric pathway is before diving, because chamber logistics can change.
Trade-wind chop
June to August often brings the strongest wind. Dive boats may shift sites, freedive sessions may move to sheltered water, and snorkelers should avoid exposed beaches.
Currents around Lobos and Bajon del Rio
The north channel can be current-sensitive. Treat Bajon del Rio as a guided, tide-checked dive rather than a casual beginner site.
Angel sharks are protected
Do not touch, uncover, feed, chase, swim over, or block an angel shark. Keep at least 1.5 m distance and let the guide control the encounter.
West-coast surf and remote beaches
Cofete, Ajuy, and many exposed west or north beaches are scenic but can have heavy surf, rip currents, and limited services. Swim only where conditions and local advice are clearly favorable.
Angel sharks are protected in Spain. Keep at least 1.5 m distance, do not touch, feed, uncover, chase, swim over, or block them, and avoid stirring sand over a resting animal. Do not take shells, animals, or volcanic rock from protected areas. On Lobos, stay on marked trails, take waste back to Fuerteventura, and do not feed wildlife. Use reef-safe sunscreen, good buoyancy, and controlled finning over sand and rock life.
Do Not Do This
Avoid entering when trade-wind chop. Confirm local briefings before committing.
| Contact | Role | Phone | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 112 Canarias | Police, ambulance, fire, maritime rescue coordination access | 112 | 24/7 |
| Hospital General de Fuerteventura | Main public hospital in Puerto del Rosario | +34 928 862 000 | 24/7 emergency department |
| DAN Europe Emergency Hotline | Dive emergency medical advice and evacuation coordination support | +39 06 4211 5685 | 24/7 |