Diving in Spain: destinations for all levels
Spain is a diver’s dream, offering an incredible mix of underwater landscapes, vibrant marine life, and historical wrecks. Whether you're just starting out, advancing your skills, or pushing your limits, diving in Spain has something for everyone. From the calm Mediterranean coasts to the wild Atlantic waters of the Canary Islands, Spain is a playground beneath the waves.
In this guide, we’ll take you through some of the best dive destinations across the country, categorized by experience level. And of course, we’ll introduce you to a few unmissable sites right here in Fuerteventura.
For Beginner Divers: Calm Waters & Easy Access
If you're new to diving or just got your Open Water certification, Spain offers plenty of safe, shallow dive sites with gentle conditions and excellent visibility.
Costa Brava: Medes Islands
Located in Catalonia, the Medes Islands are a protected marine reserve with a fantastic ecosystem. The waters are calm, and the sites range from 5 to 20 meters deep, making them ideal for beginner divers who want to see groupers, octopus, and even nudibranchs in a controlled environment.
Nerja and La Herradura in Málaga
Along the southern coast, these sites feature rocky reefs, soft sandy bottoms, and plenty of Mediterranean fish. The sea is usually calm, and conditions are favorable most of the year. Visibility is often great, which adds confidence to newer divers.
Fuerteventura – El Puente
Here at Punta Amanay, one of our favorite beginner sites is El Puente, located in the waters of Isla de Lobos. This dive is shallow, only about 10 meters deep, but full of life and geological formations that captivate everyone from first-timers to seasoned pros. You'll navigate through arches and tunnels formed by volcanic rock, always under the watchful eye of our instructors.
For Intermediate Divers: Depth, Reefs & Exploration
If you’re an Advanced Open Water diver or working toward it, you’ll find many dive sites in Spain that let you stretch your skills with deeper dives, small currents, or slightly more complex navigation.
Mallorca and Menorca
With crystal-clear waters and fantastic marine reserves like Cabrera, the Balearic Islands offer reef walls, caves, and some deeper sites (20–30 meters) perfect for intermediate divers. You'll find sea bream, moray eels, and sometimes even rays.
Tenerife
Tenerife has excellent volcanic dive sites like Las Eras or Montaña Amarilla. These dives can go up to 30 meters and often feature swim-throughs, arches, and large shoals of fish. The visibility is outstanding year-round.
El Calamareo & El Fafo in Fuerteventura
Two of Punta Amanay’s most exciting intermediate sites are El Calamareo and El Fafo. These dives range between 20 and 35 meters, and the seascape is breathtaking: long volcanic walls, hidden caves, and giant basalt blocks where you can spot groupers, rays, and barracuda. El Fafo, often called the “secret cave,” is especially popular for its mysterious vibe.
For Advanced Divers: Depth, Current & Challenge
If you’re certified in deep diving, wreck diving, or technical diving, Spain has some thrilling sites that will challenge your skills and reward you with unforgettable experiences.
Rías Baixas Wrecks in Galicia
In northwestern Spain, the cold Atlantic waters are home to numerous wrecks, many of them from the 20th century. Depths range from 30 to over 40 meters. These dives often require strong navigation skills and the ability to manage currents and low visibility.
La Herradura Caves, Costa del Sol
This area has several caves and wall dives that go beyond the recreational depth, perfect for tech divers. These sites are reserved for those with appropriate training, as penetration and overhead environments are involved.
La Lagunita, La Atalaya & El Faro in Fuerteventura
Punta Amanay offers some unforgettable experiences for advanced divers in the waters around Isla de Lobos. La Lagunita is a dive that surprises even the most seasoned divers with its dramatic rock formations and the occasional visit from resident barracudas. It's also where we often run into “Charly,” a curious local grouper that many of our divers fondly remember.
Nearby, La Atalaya presents a more technical dive profile. This spot offers depth, current, and complex terrain with large boulders and crevices that shelter moray eels, groupers, and jacks. The dive often starts in shallower waters but drops quickly, making it ideal for advanced divers looking to hone their buoyancy and navigation skills.
El Faro, located at the eastern tip of Lobos Island, offers thrilling conditions, especially in winter. The volcanic formations here form ledges and swim-throughs, and on lucky days, there’s the rare chance of spotting hammerhead sharks in the blue. These dives combine depth, current, and sheer geological beauty, perfect for divers who crave a little more challenge and a lot more adventure.
Why Choose Fuerteventura for Diving in Spain?
Fuerteventura is a unique diving destination because it combines volcanic underwater landscapes, abundant marine life, and excellent visibility year-round. At Punta Amanay, we’ve been diving here for over 25 years, guiding beginners on their first breaths underwater and training advanced divers for new depths.
Diving in Spain offers endless opportunities for all levels of experience. And Fuerteventura, with its pristine dive sites and expert guides at Punta Amanay, is a top-tier choice. Thinking about your next dive holiday? Join us and experience the best of Spanish diving. Get in touch to plan your adventure or book your next course.
