Diving in El Hierro
Welcome to our new dive destination El Hierro. We shall be taking groups from Tenerife all year round to this exciting new destination.
Read the trip report on the BSAC Travel web site.
Let us take some time to WELCOME valued clients and new visiting divers to an undiscovered dive destination. We have for many years been working alongside Scubadive West and Shane Grey Tours based in Ireland, both of us have been established for many years, and have a wealth of experience between us. Shane has been taking diving and walking trips from Ireland to El HIERRO in the winter months, and now we will be hosting the summer program. Shane and the new owner of El Submarino ,Joe Devany have launched the first Irish owned dive centre in El Hierro offering safe quality diving just as we have always offered here in Tenerife. We will be exclusively booking from our UK office where Penny will be happy to answer any questions you may have, and will arrange your complete holiday itinerary for you inc flights, accommodation, diving etc. Graham and I are very excited about this new challenge and exciting destination.
El Hierro is the most westerly of the Canary Islands and the smallest with a surface area of only 287 sq. Km. It is rural and largely untouched by tourism, the coastline in the north is rugged and forbidding, similar to Western Ireland. The south is a mix of dramatic volcanic landscapes and pine forests. The highest peak is Malpaso, at 1501m, it is famous for walking, and offers cycling, rock-climbing, caving and horse riding too. Its also home to one of the largest lizards the Salmor Lizard, whose origins date back to the Tertiary Age, this is a protected species endemic to the Canary Islands, and grows up to 70 centimetres in length.
The main diving action is at the village of La Restinga, which is situated on the most southerly tip of the island. La Restinga is a small fishing village and nearby by is a protected marine reserve, a yearly photography competition is run here with visitors from all over the world. The village offers quaint restaurants, tapas bars, and good accommodation, but if your looking for wild nightlife, karaoke, live football on the TV etc etc then El Hierro is definitely not for you.
However - It does offer spectacular underwater scenery, a plentiful selection of dive sites just minutes from the harbour, and a coastal shelf that drops off sharply to nearly one hundred metres in many places close to the coast. The marine life found in these waters is rich in tropical species like the spiny globefish, stingrays, trumpet fish, puffer fish, large shoals of black sea bream. In summer, there is a possibility to see Manta rays, Tuna, grey triggerfish and yellow groupers, the Marine Reserve also has a large variety of caves, arches and volcanic tunnels.
Note: Minimum certification of PADI Advanced or BSAC Sports Diver due to the nature of the diving in El Heirro, it is not suitable for newly qualified divers.
If the idea of stepping back in time appeals, coupled with some excellent diving, good company, quality time with your camera, then this is the place to visit with us, and share in this exciting destination where time stands still and long may it stay like it !
Regards Sonia and Graham
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