Safety · Destination Guide
Volcanic Atlantic diving with angel sharks, city beaches, and summit-to-sea road trips
Updated Apr 20, 2026 • 28 sources
Gran Canaria is accessible, but it is still Atlantic diving. The main risks are surge on volcanic entries, current at signature sites, boat traffic, cooler water, wind-exposed departures, and post-dive altitude mistakes. Conservation is equally important: the Canary Islands are a major refuge for Critically Endangered angel sharks, and responsible behavior is mandatory.
Use local guides for El Cabron, La Catedral, Caleta Baja, wrecks, and any exposed shore entry. Carry a DSMB, confirm gas and turn pressure before swimming away from shore, and listen when operators switch sites because of swell. Avoid solo snorkeling or freediving at rocky coves. Respect conservative no-fly and altitude guidance after scuba, especially before driving into the central highlands. Spanish diving safety regulations govern recreational diving in Spanish maritime waters, so stay within training, depth, equipment, and supervision limits.
Call 112 for emergencies in Gran Canaria; the official tourism site notes it operates 24 hours and can handle calls in Spanish, English, German, French, and Italian. DAN Europe provides a 24/7 diving emergency hotline for medical advice and evacuation coordination. Hospital Perpetuo Socorro in Las Palmas advertises a 24-hour emergency service and ICU. Hyperbaric-chamber arrangements can change, so confirm the current chamber pathway, oxygen plan, and evacuation process with your dive operator before the first dive.
Atlantic surge and rocky exits
Many shore dives and snorkel sites have lava-rock entries. Wear booties, keep hands off living substrate, watch sets before entering, and ask your guide where to exit if the swell changes.
Angel sharks are protected wildlife
Do not touch, feed, uncover, chase, block, or crowd angel sharks. Keep at least 1.5 m away from buried animals and approach only from the tail side if a group is already observing.
Wind-exposed departures
Trade winds can make one coast uncomfortable while another is calm. Keep your dive schedule flexible, especially for El Cabron, La Catedral, Caleta Baja, and northern sites.
Altitude after scuba
Gran Canaria's central roads climb quickly. Do not head to high viewpoints near 2 km straight after repetitive or deep dives unless your dive computer, training, and operator plan allow it.
Follow responsible-diving rules: perfect buoyancy before approaching reefs, keep fins off the bottom, do not collect shells or animals, do not feed marine life, do not move fauna or substrate, and use moorings rather than damaging anchors. For angel sharks, keep at least 1.5 m from buried animals, never uncover them, never touch them, do not block their swimming direction, and do not chase a swimming shark. Report sightings through Angel Shark Conservation Network channels or your operator.
Do Not Do This
Avoid entering when atlantic surge and rocky exits. Confirm local briefings before committing.
| Contact | Role | Phone | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Emergency Number | Ambulance, fire, police, and emergency coordination in the Canary Islands | 112 | 24/7 |
| DAN Europe Diving Emergency Hotline | Diving medical advice and evacuation coordination | +39 06 4211 5685 | 24/7 |
| Hospital Perpetuo Socorro | Private hospital in Las Palmas with 24-hour emergency service and ICU | +34 928 499 900 | 24/7 emergency service |