Las Palmas Onboarding

Diving at Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria, a jewel within the Canary Islands, is not only a paradise for sun-seekers and adventurers on land but also a haven for divers who crave to explore the mesmerizing underwater world. 

This vibrant island offers a unique diving experience with its rich marine life, stunning volcanic formations, and a plethora of sunken treasures that lie beneath the waves. 

As we dive deeper into what makes Gran Canaria a top diving destination, we'll uncover the hidden beauties of its oceanic realms, from the shallow reefs teeming with colorful fish to the mysterious wrecks that tell tales of the past. 

Join us as we plunge into the azure waters and discover why Gran Canaria should be on every diver’s bucket list.

When choosing your dive site, remember that you can't just jump into the water anywhere. Of course, nothing ventured, nothing gained, but it's still worth checking with the relevant authority or local government to see if there are any specific regulations at your desired dive spot.

Still, keep in mind that we are not diving in a small lake here, but in the Atlantic Ocean. If you have no knowledge of the dive site, it is strongly recommended to find an experienced diver who knows the desired dive sites as a buddy or to join a dive center.

When diving without a center, your own safety must always be considered. The fun of diving and enjoying the beautiful underwater world should not be overshadowed by misjudged currents. ;-)

Guia de inmersiones en Gran Canaria Reserva de la Biosfera
 Cabildo de Gran Canaria

Find the right dive base for your dive

Finding the perfect dive base in Gran Canaria is an adventure in itself, with a wealth of options tailored to suit every level of experience. From the bustling dive centers in Las Palmas to the more secluded spots in Puerto Rico, the island caters to divers looking for both education and exploration. Many of these bases offer PADI-certified courses, equipment rentals and guided tours that promise a safe and enriching diving experience.

• Google Maps: Start your search by using Google Maps to find “Centro de buceo” around the island. This will give you a broad overview of available dive bases.
• Personal Recommendations: While online reviews are helpful, talking to local divers or frequent visitors can provide insights into the most reliable and experienced dive centers.
• Pre-booking and Inquiries: Not every dive center will visit all dive spots, so it’s crucial to contact them in advance to ensure they can take you to your desired locations.

If you live here, you'll quickly realize that it can get quite expensive, so let's take a closer look at the following topics.

For this reason we need to have a look what we can do to reduce the cost. First at all it is helpful to know the law - what is allowed or not for private divers.

Often, dive centers here will tell you that you can only dive with a guide, but so far, the author hasn't been able to find a dive center that could present a suitable document that explicitly states this as a general rule.

But we have the following law and this means in simple words:
"Yeah we can go diving here without a dive base!"

(https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2020-6745)

Chapter II: General Safety Provisions for Diving Activities

• Article 7: Minimum Age for Diving Activities
  • The minimum age to engage in diving activities is 18 years, except for recreational and sports diving, which is allowed from 8 years with depth limitations:
    • 8-9 years: 6 meters
    • 10-11 years: 12 meters
    • 12-15 years: 21 meters
    • 16-18 years: 40 meters
• Article 8: Health Condition of Divers
  • Divers are responsible for ensuring their health is suitable for safe diving.
  • Professional divers, those extracting marine resources, and recreational diving guides/instructors must comply with medical fitness regulations.
  • Sports and scientific divers must undergo medical exams at least every two years.
  • Recreational divers must provide a health declaration before diving.
  • Diving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or certain medications is prohibited.
• Article 9: Training Requirements
  • Divers must have appropriate training based on the type of diving they will perform. Training is required except for initial introduction or diving experiences.
• Article 11: Exposure to Hyperbaric Environments and Decompression Management
  • All dives must be planned with a system that allows control over the saturation of inert gas accumulated in the body to prevent decompression-related illnesses.
  • Dive planning should consider decompression tables, dive computers, divers' physiological factors, dive profiles, and environmental conditions.
  • Decompression during successive and continuous dives should be managed using the same system, either by using decompression tables or the same dive computer.
• Article 12: Breathing Gases
  • The breathing gases or mixtures used during hyperbaric interventions must be appropriate for the type of dive being conducted. The pressure and gas percentages should comply with the provisions of Annex II.
  • In recreational and sports diving, minors are only allowed to breathe air, not mixed gases.
• Article 13: Atmospheric Conditions and Sea State
  • Diving activities are prohibited when atmospheric conditions prevent the safe maneuvering of the support vessel or when divers cannot safely enter or exit the water.
  • No decompression dives are allowed when the sea state does not permit safe decompression stops.
  • Divers must have appropriate thermal protection based on water temperature.
  • Introductory dives or similar experiences are not allowed in dangerous conditions, poor weather, or during night dives.
• Article 14: Signaling and Safety Distance
  • It is mandatory to signal the diver's location at the surface using a buoy or similar device, especially when diving without a boat or outside designated swimming areas.
  • All vessels, except the support boat, must maintain a minimum safety distance of 50 meters from the diving area.
• Article 15: Support Boat for Divers
  • A support boat is required for professional and resource extraction diving, except in certain cases where surface supply diving is conducted from shore.
  • For recreational and sports diving, a support boat is not required if diving takes place within 200 meters of the shore or 50 meters in other coastal areas.
• Article 16: Duties of Support Boat Operators
  • The operator of the support boat must hold the necessary qualifications and ensure the safety of all diving operations, including preventing hazardous maneuvers and coordinating with the dive team leader.

Chapter III: Safety Conditions for Specific Diving Modalities

• Section 1: Safety Standards for Recreational Diving
  • Article 17: Techniques for Recreational Diving
    • Permitted techniques: autonomous and semi-autonomous diving.
  • Article 18: Autonomous Diving in Recreational Diving
    • Maximum depth: 40 meters, with air or nitrox. Direct surface access required.
    • No decompression stops allowed.
  • Article 19: Semi-autonomous Diving in Recreational Diving
    • Depth limit: 6 meters, with direct surface access.
    • Only air is allowed as a breathing mixture.
  • Article 20: Guides and Instructors for Recreational Diving
    • Guides/instructors must adhere to safety norms and have a daily exposure limit of 180 minutes.
• Section 2: Safety Standards for Sports Diving
  • Article 21: Sports Diving Specialties
    • Participation in official competitions must follow the rules established by sports federations.
• Section 3: Safety Standards for Professional Diving
  • Article 22: Hyperbaric Chamber
    • Access to a hyperbaric chamber must be guaranteed for certain depths and decompression times.
  • Article 29: Limitations of Autonomous Professional Diving
    • In autonomous professional diving, decompression stops should not be carried out unless there are backup cylinders prepared for decompression or rebreathers with sufficient autonomy. Diving should not be conducted if sea conditions do not allow safe decompression stops or maintaining the precise depth.
• Article 31: Maximum Depth for Surface-Supplied Professional Diving
  • In surface-supplied professional diving:
    • With air or nitrox: up to 50 meters deep.
    • With trimix or heliox: up to 75 meters deep, using appropriate decompression tables.
    • Dives beyond 50 meters must use a platform that allows stabilization of decompression stops with precision.
• Section 4: Safety Standards for Scientific Diving
  • Article 50: Safety Standards for Scientific Diving
    • Scientific diving follows recreational diving safety standards for depths up to 40 meters.
• Section 5: Safety Standards for Diving to Extract Living Marine Resources
  • Article 51: Safety Standards for Extractive Diving
    • Applicable only for depths up to 15 meters without decompression stops.

Chapter II: General Safety Provisions for Diving Activities

• Article 61: Notification of Activity
  • Professional diving activities must be reported to the Maritime Authority.
• Article 62: Inspection Measures
  • The Maritime Authority may conduct inspections to ensure compliance with safety standards.
• Article 63: Provisional Suspension of Activity
  • Activities may be suspended if safety conditions are not met.

(https://www.laspalmasgc.es/export/sites/laspalmasgc/.galleries/documentos-normativa/Ordenanza-Municipal-Reguladora-de-los-Usos-Actividades.....pdf)

Chapter I: General Provisions

• • Article 1: Purpose and Scope of the Ordinance
  • • This ordinance regulates the use and activities on beaches, adjacent promenades, and the rest of the municipality's coastline, focusing on ensuring safety and environmental protection.
    • It covers activities such as diving, swimming, and other recreational and professional uses of coastal and underwater areas.
  • Article 2: Definitions and Terminology
  • • Defines key terms used in the ordinance, including "diving," "underwater activities," "autonomous diving," and "semi-autonomous diving."
    • Provides clarity on terms like "free diving," "recreational diving," "professional diving," and "public service diving" to ensure consistent interpretation throughout the ordinance.

Chapter II: Regulations on Underwater Activities

• • Article 3: Modalities of Diving
  • • Recreational Diving: Non-competitive diving for enjoyment, leisure, or physical exercise. It includes training and introductory experiences.
    • Sports Diving: Competitive diving or diving practiced as preparation for competitions, governed by sports federation rules.
    • Professional Diving: Diving conducted as part of economic activities, such as underwater construction, salvage, or maintenance, requiring specific qualifications and equipment.
    • Scientific Diving: Diving conducted for scientific research, requiring permits from the relevant authorities. The focus is on studies related to marine biology, archaeology, and environmental monitoring.
    • Extraction Diving: Diving for harvesting marine resources (e.g., shellfish, algae) for commercial purposes, which requires a management plan and specific permissions.
    • Military Diving: Diving conducted by Armed Forces personnel for military objectives, subject to military regulations.
    • Public Service Diving: Diving conducted by public authorities for tasks such as rescue operations, law enforcement, and environmental monitoring, excluding military diving.
  • Article 4: Types of Diving
  • • Autonomous Diving: Divers use self-contained breathing apparatus (SCUBA) that provides full autonomy underwater. This is the most common type of recreational diving.
    • Semi-autonomous Diving: Involves a direct supply of breathing gases from the surface through hoses, allowing for extended underwater operations with greater safety in certain conditions.
    • Free Diving: Diving without breathing apparatus, relying solely on breath-holding (apnea). It includes specific safety measures and limitations, particularly regarding depth and time underwater.
  • Article 5: Free Diving or Apnea Diving
  • • Regulates free diving (apnea) activities, setting safety measures such as mandatory surface signaling devices when diving outside of designated swimming areas.
    • Prohibits free diving in areas designated for professional or extraction diving, and requires adherence to specific environmental and safety guidelines, including maximum depth limits.
  • Article 6: Restrictions and Conditions for Diving Activities
  • • Safety Zones: Diving is prohibited in military areas, zones of historical or archaeological importance, and protected environmental areas unless special permission is granted.
    • Reporting Obligations: Divers must report any findings of submerged objects that could have cultural, scientific, or economic value (e.g., artifacts, wrecks) or pose a danger (e.g., unexploded ordnance).
    • Environmental Protection: Diving activities must avoid damage to marine life and habitats, with specific prohibitions on disturbing or collecting certain species without authorization.

Chapter III: Permits and Licenses

• • Article 7: Minimum Age for Diving Activities
  • • Sets age limits for diving:
    • • 8-9 years: Maximum depth of 6 meters for introductory diving experiences.
      • 10-11 years: Maximum depth of 12 meters, usually under strict supervision.
      • 12-15 years: Maximum depth of 21 meters, suitable for more experienced young divers.
      • 16-18 years: Maximum depth of 40 meters, allowing for deeper and more technical dives.
    • Specifies additional requirements for minors, including parental consent and supervision by qualified instructors.
  • Article 8: Health Condition of Divers
  • • Divers are responsible for ensuring their health is suitable for diving, with mandatory medical exams for specific groups:
    • • Professional Divers: Regular medical check-ups, including cardiovascular and respiratory assessments, to ensure fitness for high-risk diving tasks.
      • Recreational Diving Instructors: Must meet health standards and undergo regular medical exams.
      • Sports and Scientific Divers: Require medical exams every two years to verify fitness for diving.
      • Recreational Divers: Must complete a health declaration before participating in any diving activity. If any health issues are indicated, a medical exam is required.
    • Strict prohibition on diving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or certain medications that impair diving ability.
  • Article 9: Training Requirements
  • • Requires divers to be properly trained for the specific type of diving they are undertaking, with clear guidelines for certification:
    • • Recreational Divers: Must complete courses that cover basic safety, equipment use, and underwater navigation.
      • Professional Divers: Need advanced training in hyperbaric environments, safety procedures, and the use of specialized equipment.
      • Instructors and Guides: Must hold certifications from recognized diving organizations and be trained in first aid and emergency procedures.
  • Article 10: Obligations of Diving Schools and Centers
  • • Equipment Maintenance: Diving schools and centers are responsible for ensuring that all diving equipment is regularly inspected, maintained, and complies with safety standards.
    • Safety Compliance: Schools must ensure that all diving activities are conducted in accordance with the ordinance's safety regulations, including the availability of emergency equipment and the training of staff in emergency response.
    • Insurance Requirements: Must hold liability insurance that covers accidents and incidents during diving activities, protecting both the school and participants.

Chapter IV: Duties and Responsibilities

• • Article 11: Responsibilities of Divers
  • • Divers must:
    • • Adhere strictly to safety guidelines and dive within their certification limits.
      • Use appropriate equipment for the dive, ensuring it is in good condition.
      • Respect environmental regulations, avoiding damage to marine ecosystems.
  • Article 12: Duties of Diving Instructors and Guides
  • • Safety Oversight: Instructors and guides must ensure all divers are briefed on safety procedures and understand the dive plan.
    • Dive Supervision: Must monitor divers throughout the dive, ensuring they follow depth and time limits, and are capable of handling the planned dive conditions.
    • Emergency Preparedness: Must be ready to respond to emergencies, including providing first aid and managing decompression incidents.
  • Article 13: Requirements for Safety Equipment
  • • Mandatory Equipment: All divers must carry specific safety equipment, including:
    • • Buoyancy Control Devices (BCDs): To help maintain neutral buoyancy underwater.
      • Diving Masks and Fins: Essential for visibility and maneuverability.
      • Emergency Signaling Devices: Such as surface marker buoys or whistles, to signal distress or location at the surface.
      • Dive Computers or Tables: For monitoring depth and time, crucial for managing decompression safely.
    • Additional Equipment for Professional Diving: Includes underwater communication systems, cutting tools, and backup air supplies.
  • Article 14: Use of Support Boats
    • Boat Requirements: Support boats must be equipped with:
      • Communication Devices: To maintain contact with divers and emergency services.
      • Rescue Equipment: Including life rings, first aid kits, and oxygen supplies.
      • Qualified Crew: The boat operator must be trained and certified in maritime safety and emergency response.
    • Operational Protocols: The boat must display appropriate signals (e.g., Alpha flag) to indicate diving activities, and the engine must be disengaged when divers are near the surface to prevent accidents.

Chapter V: Sanctions and Enforcement

• • Article 15: Inspection Measures
    • Inspection Authority: Designated authorities have the power to inspect diving activities, schools, and equipment to ensure compliance with the ordinance.
    • Inspection Scope: Inspections may include checks on diver certification, equipment condition, safety procedures, and adherence to environmental protections.
  • Article 16: Penalties for Violations
    • Sanctions: Penalties for non-compliance can include fines, suspension of diving licenses, and closure of facilities.
    • Enforcement: Authorities are empowered to enforce penalties and take immediate action in cases of serious safety violations or environmental harm.

Technical Diving in Gran Canaria

Technical diving in Gran Canaria is very limited due to strict regulations that heavily restrict dive centers from selling and using high-concentration gas mixtures like Trimix or Nitrox. These regulations make it challenging to obtain the necessary equipment and breathing gases. Therefore, we won’t go into further detail here. Technical divers can contact www.mirafondos.com for more information.