Scuba Diving ‘el Cabron’ in the marine reserve in Arinaga on Gran Canaria

Today we are going to do some scuba diving at ‘El Cabron’  in the marine reserve of Arinaga on Gran Canaria. Scuba diving is probably not the first thing you think off when considering activities to do in Arguineguín. You might be surprised that Gran Canaria offers spectacular diving with lots of variety. Ellis takes you on an underwater tour exploring the marine reserve ´El Cabron´, in Arinaga on Gran Canaria.

The marine reserve in Arinaga gives home to the Angel Shark Conservation Project in Gran Canaria

“After diving many destinations all over the world, I’m still very excited to dive the marine reserve in Arinaga on Gran Canaria again. I think it’s Europe’s best diving,” says one of the other divers as we make our way to Arinaga. The marine reserve in Arinaga is the base of the Angel Shark Conservation Project on Gran Canaria. The angel sharks are listed as critically endangered on the IUCN ´Red List´. The scientific name for these beautiful sea creatures is ´Squatina squatina´.

More than 400 marine species in the marine reserve in Arinaga on Gran Canaria

We go off-road and enter a rocky path through a moon landscape to enter the marine reserve in Arinaga on Gran Canaria. “The jeep-safari is free of charge”, jokes Matthew Astill, owner of Dive Academy and our dive guide today. “Fishing and boats are prohibited in this area, so people are often surprised by the amount of fish they see”. I also learn today that the marine reserve in Arinaga is home to more than 400 marine species.

 

´El Cabron´ is Spanish for ´the bastard´…

We walk down the rocks to enter ´El Cabron´ which means ´the bastard´. It got this name because sometimes it can be a bit difficult to enter and exit the water of the marine reserve. Another explanation for this name could be the huge schools of bastard grunts (roncadores in Canary Spanish) that are to be found here. Fortunately, the staff of Dive Academy is very professional and helps each of us to enter the water safely.

So much sea life to be spotted at the marine reserve in Arinaga on Gran Canaria

Once we descend we first find our way over a sandy bottom where I already spot a cuttlefish and some trumpet fish. As soon as we arrive at the reef Matt points to something and I see a giant lobster staring at us from his cave. We follow the reef and descend a bit deeper till we again come to a sandy bottom at about 18 metres depth. There’s a lot of life to be spotted here at El Cabron in Arinaga on Gran Canaria.

An interesting fact about the torpedo ray

There are morays and crabs between the rocks, two angel sharks are laying in the sand and a bit further down an electric ray, also called torpedo ray. Did you know that this type of ray specie can produce real electrical impulses up to 200 volts?

We also see the distinctive giant anemone at the marine reserve in Arinaga

It’s important to keep an eye on the blue too because anything can pass by here. We continue our dive at the other side of the reef where big schools of fish are hanging around. We need our torches to enter a small cave that is home to a huge round ray. I’m surprised to see the distinctive giant anemone hiding between two stones, while we’re making our way up to our safety stop.

 

 

You can dive many wrecks around Gran Canaria too

Once our ´jeep safari´ leaves the reserve, Matt tells us that also seahorses, and less frequent filefish and reef sharks can be seen in Arinaga. But not only in Arinaga, there’s also great diving all around Gran Canaria. The west coast is full of nice boat dive sites with Mogán offering a submarine and two wrecks in the same dive. More wrecks can be found close to Las Palmas, where you can also do the famous ´Cathedral´ dive.

More dive spots around Gran Canaria, other than the marine reserve in Arinaga

There are many more amazing dive sites from ´Sardinia´ in the north-west of the island to ´Tufia´ close to the airport and a variety of spots on the places named above including wrecks and an artificial reef, constructed by marine biologists, which attracts a lot of life. Click here to read more about boat diving on the southwest coast of Gran Canaria.

The dive sites in the Atlantic oceans are full of surprises

Common interesting things to spot around Gran Canaria are barracudas, groupers, morays, octopus, and rays. However, everything is possible because the Atlantic Ocean is full of surprises. Even the whale shark was reported in the north of Gran Canaria by scientists from the University of Las Palmas in 2010.

You can also book your scuba diving in advance through Get Your Guide by using the following search box. I receive a small commission if you book anything through the advertisements below.

Practical Information about the dive center on Gran Canaria

Nautico Dive Academy Gran Canaria is a PADI 5 Star IDC Dive Center and Gold Palm Resort. Guided dives are offered for certified divers and rental equipment is available too. If you´ve never scuba dived before, you´re also at the right place! All PADI courses are available with Dive Academy and because they use their own private swimming pool you can take as much time practicing your skills before you feel comfortable for the open sea.

Update 2022: Dive Academy has changed its name into Nautico Dive Academy and has new owners who improved the concept of the dive center a lot. You can read more about the new dive centre in Arguineguín in this post. 

Scuba dive information on Gran Canaria

You can wear your wetsuit all year round and the water temperature varies from 19ºC till 23ºC. The best time to spot an Angel Shark is from November till May. Dive Academy is situated in ´Puesta del Sol´ in Arguineguín, and is opened from 9 AM to 5 PM every day, except on Mondays. Please see their website for contact details: http://www.nauticodiving.com/

Click here for an overview of all blog posts about scuba diving and traveling to Gran Canaria, with practical travel information.

Where to stay during your diving holiday to Gran Canaria?

If you´re looking for accommodation for your stay during your holiday on Gran Canaria, please do so with booking.com. Just click on the link and you can guarantee your stay for the same price as booking directly with your accommodation or travel agency. Another company I can highly recommend is Agoda, click on this link if you like to check out the current accommodation deals in Gran Canaria on Agoda. If you click through from one of the links provided in this article or use the search box below. I will earn a small commission. Thank you for supporting Splashpacker!

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Tip for your flight deal to Gran Canaria

Use the search box below from 12go.co to find the best deal for your flight to Gran Canaria. They scan all available airlines for you! You can choose any departure airport in the UK or anywhere in Europe. Pick the one most convenient for you!

 

 

 

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Transport to your hotel on Gran Canaria private airport transfer or public bus

Depending on your preferences, and if you don´t rent a car, you can either book private transport or take the public bus from the airport on Gran Canaria. If you like to take the public bus, the price varies roughly from about €3,50 to Playa del Inglès, €5,- to Arguineguín and €7,- to Puerto de Mogan. Keep in mind that you might have to wait a while, for current information check out the website of the local bus company Global here.  You can also book a private airport transfer to your hotel on Gran Canaria in advance. The price goes from €44,- for up to four people and you can book it on Get Your Guide by clicking here. Or you can use the search box below. The above prices are only a rough indication to give you an idea, they are subject to change and were last updated in December 2022.

I earn a small commission if you book anything through the link or advertisement above

Are you also considering going pro and becoming a Divemaster or scuba diving instructor?

If you´re looking into becoming a PADI Pro member, I can recommend them too. I have done my divemaster course with Dive Academy in 2006 and even though the owners have changed in the meantime, I´m pretty sure they offer the same level of quality up to today and I know the new owner of the dive school. When I did my IDC (dive instructor course) in the Dominican Republic 2 years later, I realized even more how grateful I was for doing my course with them, providing me with an excellent basis. If you´re interested in becoming a scuba dive instructor and reading my story, you can click on this link

Happy bubbles!

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A big thanks to Dive Academy Gran Canaria for providing all the photos in this article!

This article is now featured on Scuba News!
http://www.thescubanews.com/2017/12/01/scuba-diving-around-gran-canaria/

* This article was written by me as an assignment for the ´Australian Writers Centre´ when was I attending the course ´Travel Writing´.

* Prices are subject to change and last updated in November 2017

*As an associate from Booking, Agoda and 12go.co, I earn from qualifying purchases