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End of Reef – Playa Chica

End of Reef – Playa Chica

End of reef

  • 0 – 40 m
  • Shore
  • Advanced
  • Puerto del Carmen
Blue Hole Playa Chica

The divesite End of Reef is part of the Playa Chica area. The dive starts from the jetty and leads you along the little reef on the right hand side. You follow this reef for about 12 minutes and then you turn left. Watch the sand area for sand eels which peep out of their tiny holes. They are quite shy, but if you move very very slowly you can actually creep up on them to see their cute little faces.

Once you get down to about 20 metres you will see that there is a sand slope going down into the blue, but also a reef wall starting (or ending) on the left hand side. Follow it down and you will find some small caves. They are usually home to groupers and shrimps. As you dive along the reef wall make the occasional glance towards the surface to spot large shoals of sardines, which sometimes form breath-taking bait balls. This incredible spectacle is a sure sign that barracudas, amberjacks or tunas are in the area hunting for their next meal.

You can spend the whole dive exploring this area, look in every corner and you will find loads of sponges, large groupers, beautiful nudibranches and moray eels to name but a few.

If you want to dive this divesite, drop us a line and we will arrange something.

End of reef

Orange Coral

Orange Coral

Orange Coral

 

  • 0 – 40m
  • Shore
  • Advanced
  • Puerto del Carmen
Orange Coral Playa Chica

We start this dive from the jetty or the bay – depending on current and group dynamic. We dive straight out from the coast towards the reef. As we go down to about 25 metres we pass a small wreck (Little Titanic). Have a look around as there are usually at least one or two groupers close to the wreck.

We then follow the right shoulder along a beautifully festooned reef wall. Don´t forget to watch your depth, as you could easily reach 40 metres, but this would eat into your bottom time and you may miss out on the coral. It´s best to continue along the wall in a depth of about 25 metres until you reach a small overhang, right on the lip of the reef. Use your torch under the lip to highlight the beautiful Orange Soft Coral growing there. Hop over to the sand side and again look underneath for another view of the Orange Coral and see if you can also spot the three or four Sea Pens!

Watch your air and no-deco time and if necessary just drift back a little shallower towards the sand area, where you can find large shoals of fish, octopus, sea horses, cuttlefish etc. among the many abandoned mooring lines and rock formations as you make your way back to your safety stop and the exit.

If you want to dive this divesite, drop us a line and we will arrange something.

Orange Coral

End of Reef – Playa Chica

Blue Hole

Blue Hole

 

  • 0 – 30m
  • Shore
  • Min. OWD
  • Puerto del Carmen
Blue Hole Playa Chica

You start this dive with a giant stride from the jetty or the steps if you don´t like to jump. Then you dive along with the rocks to your right hand side. After about 10 minutes you reach about 15m depth. Here you turn left to make your way down to the edge of the reef.

If you are an OWD you follow the edge of the reef to a max. depth of 18 m and you can view the blue hole from above. Looking down the reef is beautiful and gives you an impression of flying over a sheer cliff wall.

The advanced divers can dive over the edge of the reef to a depth of about 25 m – 30 m and follow the reef wall till you reach the blue hole. It does not matter which way you go to the blue hole – from the left or from the right – as both sides have many crevices in the wall. This is where many tube dwelling anemones, cloaked anemone crabs, morays and cleaner shrimp can be found. Eyes peeled for large groupers, barracudas and trumpet fish which often patrol the reef wall. The reef wall is also home to many species of nudibranches – leopard spotted and candy striped being the most commonly seen – and flatworms.

Keep an eye on your air and no-deco limit, as we want to leave plenty of time to explore the blue hole itself. The bottom end breaks out at about 30 metres and the top is at about 20 metres. Take your time to enjoy this tunnel-like formation. Don´t forget to pay particular attention to the various nooks and crannies to either side. You will usually find big spider crabs and sometimes even a ray or an angelshark that hides inside the blue hole.

If you want to dive this divesite, drop us a line and we will arrange something.

Blue Hole

Cathedral

Cathedral

Cathedral

 

  • 0 – 35m
  • Shore
  • Advanced
  • Puerto del Carmen
Cathedral Puerto del Carmen

The Cathedral is one of the most popular divesites in Puerto del Carmen for a good reason:

With a number of different entry points depending on current and group dynamics, there are many ways to explore this beautiful dive site. You start shallow and then make your way down to the reef. Follow the reef for about 10 minutes, after which time you arrive at the beautiful Cathedral cavern. Keep in mind to check your air before you enter, as you will be busy with the stunning views once inside.

This cavern can be visited by five or six people at once. It´s approximate size is 100m². Particular attractions are the resident moray and black coral both on the left side of the entrance. The roof and walls are festooned with beautiful sponges. Also be on the lookout for slipper lobsters and towards the rear of the cavern “lady escalarta” or cleaner shrimp with their long white antennae.

The Cathedral opening is on a sloping sand floor. It´s worth keeping your profile to around the 30m mark to maximize your bottom time. No danger of getting lost in this one, the cavern narrows after about 10m or so and can be treated as a large overhang. It is well worth taking a torch however, as it really brings out the beautiful colours of the encrusting sponges etc. Also watch out for shrimp and arrow crab in the many crevices and large grouper and fork beard hiding in the shadows.

Don’t forget to stop, pause and spend a few moments enjoying the blue light streaming in through the entrance. The dark rocks just look stunning in contrast to the blue ocean.

 

If you want to dive this divesite, drop us a line and we will arrange something.

Cathedral Puerto del Carmen

Charco del Palo

Charco del Palo

Charco del Palo

  • 5 – 35 m
  • Shore
  • OWD
  • North
Charco del Palo

The divesite Charco del Palo is situated on a rocky shore line in the north of the Island and is of typical volcanic nature. Huge lava fields once flooded from the volcanic interior down into the ocean to form this stunning underwater environment. There are lots of beautiful overhangs, caves and tunnels to explore. This is why the site is great for old hands and less experienced divers alike.

There are also extensive sand-areas to explore, where the likes of angelsharks and rays can be found. These sandy areas are interrupted by lava-tubes which play host to a wide diversity of life including nudibranchs, crabs, shrimps, moray eels, damsels, barracuda, grouper etc.. The sandy areas drop off like a ski-slope into the dark depths of the ocean, hovering here for a moment or two to gaze out into the blue one gains an appreciation of this vast, spectacular underwater realm.

Charco del Palo can only be dived if there is little wind and it is especially great between March – May, when the chances to see loads of rays (20+) is higher then the rest of the year.

All in all: The divesite Charco del Palo offers a diver all their heart can desire: Various species from large to small, tunnels, caves and stunning rock formations. Both photographer and adventure diver alike will get their money´s worth, no two dives are the same and always something new to explore.

If you want to dive this divesite, drop us a line and we will arrange something.

Charco del Palo