For the best Scuba Diving and Snorkelling in Gran Canaria join Davy Jones Diving, Arinaga

  

Autumn and Winter Diving in Gran Canaria

The Canary Islands have always been a popular winter destination where people have soaked up the sun through the autumn and winter months. Our dive centre in Gran Canaria is open all year round so that you can enjoy yourself diving here when northern waters are cold and uninviting, but more than that, this is the time of year when we can have some of the best diving of the year!.

Autumn Diving in the Canary Islands

If you are thinking of diving in September, October or November then you can expect first class conditions both above and below the water. At this time of year both air and water temperatures are still high and as the weather systems move to their winter positions, and this can create the best diving conditions of the year. Underwater the visibility reaches the best for the year and can occasionally reach over 25m.

Month Air
Temp		 Water
Temp		 Notes
September 30 to 28 24 to 22 Best time to see Mobulus Rays in Sardina del Norte. These look like mantas and are attracted by the plankton blooms in late summer.
October 28 to 26 23 to 21 Often the best month of the year to dive here, best weather and visibility in this month, entry and exit are the easiest, water and air still warm,lots to see.
November 26 to 24 21 to 20 Adult Angel sharks and filefish start to return for winter and the sightings of rays increases.
For the last two years we have been taking part in a research project with the University of Las Palmas into angel sharks in Gran Canaria. You can read the initial findings about angel sharks in Arinaga

In autumn, diving conditions are excellent in the Canaries and visibility is up to 25m

The mobulus rays are similar to manta (or devil) rays

Baracudas can often be seen up close in Autumn

Large Angelsharks return to Arinaga in Gran Canaria in November

Winter Diving in Gran Canaria

Because the Canary Islands have always been a popular winter sun destination, there is no problem with getting here from the UK or the rest of Northern Europe during the winter, and all the major facilities stay open. So you can come diving at Christmas or New Year in the Canaries if you want, and the water temperature is still very comfortable!. Over the Christmas period diving can be more unexpected as this is when Christmas Trees appear on the sea-bed and divers can be seen in cheery red Santa hats. The coldest time of the year in both the sea and on the land, when air and water drop to about 17C is towards the end of February, but this can be when the Island is at it's greenest after the winter rains and showers. We dive in the marine reserve all through the winter and this can be a great time to see Angel sharks, Rays, Barracuda, Morays; and towards the end of February we will start to get the mating season for many small fish leading to huge clouds of fish-eggs and small-fry in the water. This is a good time for night dives as the early sunsets mean that you can get back to your hotel at a reasonable hour.

Finally, this is a great time to undertake any training courses, because it is relatively quiet, the conditions can be calm, and it is an awful lot warmer than Stoney Cove!

Month Air
Temp		 Water
Temp		 Notes
December 26 to 22 22 to 20 Dive at Christmas and see the Christmas Trees in the Reserve!
January 24 to 20 20 to 18 After New Year all the sites become less busy and you can dive in small groups.
February 22 to 18 19 to 18 The quietest time of the year, when you get the most personal attention from your dive guides. Fish are beginning to spawn. In 2008, because Easter is early, Carnaval will be in mid February. First Las Palmas, and then Playa del Ingles really dress up for this event, so you can dive in the day and party at night! Don't miss the Carnaval parade if you are in town, and open your mind to be amazed at the Drag show Competition.. you will have seen nothing like it before!

Fish gather to sing carols around the Christmas Tree 

 

Please remember to Drink and Dive responsibly 

By the end of winter in Gran Canaria, gloves and hood are recommended in the deeper waters of the marine reserve

The water around Gran Canaria is still warm enough in January for this Snorkeller (13 Jan 2006)

Some other relevant pages in our site