Lanzarote has long been a top destination for divers, and our recent trip to the island only reaffirmed why. From stunning marine life to exciting boat dives, our week in the sun was filled with unforgettable underwater experiences.

Arrival & Settling In

Three divers—Pete, Riley, and James—set off on this adventure. James and Pete are members of Marlin Sub-Aqua Club, while Riley is from Cardiff University Sub-Aqua Club. We departed from Birmingham at 09:00, on Tuesday the 25th February for a week of sun, eager to trade the UK’s grey skies for Lanzarote’s blue waters. Our flight landed in Arrecife at 13:00, a pleasant surprise as we arrived 20 minutes ahead of schedule.

A short transfer took us to Costa Volcán Aparthotel, a reasonable 3-star accommodation offering the essentials. While the beds left much to be desired in terms of comfort, the convenience of a small on-site shop for snacks and supplies made up for it.

After dropping our bags, we took a quick walk to Safari Divers, just five minutes away on the beach.

After presenting our dive qualifications and completing the necessary paperwork, we finalised our dive package, including medical declarations. We all opted for a 10-dive package, allowing for roughly two dives daily throughout the week.

With logistics sorted, we explored the nearby supermarket, picking up supplies for breakfast – fresh meat, cheese, and fruit – and later enjoyed a delicious meal at a Chinese-Thai restaurant.

The daytime temperatures averaged a comfortable 21°C, though they dipped to 17°C, making it too chilly for just T-shirts.

Our beach dives were scheduled for 10:00 AM and boat dives at 2:30 PM. The boat rides were brief—only a few minutes to the dive site—and followed by a short swim back to shore.

We started our mornings with a healthy breakfast of salmon and cucumber before heading out for our beach dive. We spotted a beautiful Red Coral around the 30m mark and saw several Angel sharks at Black Beach.

Another day saw us diving at The Cathedral, our deepest dive yet. We progressed to 40m, ensuring we finally did our depth regression as BSAC Sports Divers. The underwater scenery was breathtaking, and we encountered two magnificent Groupers.

We also saw sightings of a Spider Crab and a Barracuda. After a quick lunch break, we revisited ‘Grouper Alley’, as we found out the local guide had aptly named it. The current was strong on the way back from the beach dives.

We also visited several wrecks, the locally named ‘Harbour Wrecks’.

To ensure a safe flight home, we planned our dives accordingly and finished our final dive 24 hours before departure. Our return flight to the UK departed on time, ending an incredible diving adventure.

Final Thoughts

Lanzarote delivered an incredible diving experience, filled with diverse marine life and spectacular underwater landscapes. While the accommodation was basic, the convenience of its location and the quality of the diving made it all worthwhile.

From deep dives at The Cathedral to exciting encounters with angel sharks and barracudas, every dive brought something new and exciting.

We dined in many restaurants and went to different restaurants each night, from Indian to steakhouses.

Would we return? Absolutely! Perhaps next time, with a better hotel choice, but the diving? That remains top-notch.