El Hierro is the smallest and farthest south and west of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. Although this small, boomerang-shaped island is now connected to the rest of the planet via air, ferry and TV, it will always feel remote which is exactly what is so addictive about this place.

Tourists are captured by the island’s slow pace and simple style. This island’s lava-sculpted rock faces, beautiful juniper groves and desolate volcanic bad-lands are just some of the amazing features this place has to offer. The smallest and least-known of the Canary Islands, El Hierro is unique –so much so that it was declared a UNESCO biosphere reserve. 

Diving the Canary Islands is most noted for the abundance and variety of marine life being a combination of North Atlantic, Mediterranean and endemic species. Fish species found in the islands include several types of shark, ray, moray eel, bream, jack, grunt, scorpion fish, triggerfish, grouper, goby, and blenny. In addition, there are many invertebrate species including sponge, jellyfish, anemone, crab, mollusk, sea urchin, starfish, sea cucumber and coral. There are also a total of 5 different species of marine turtle that are sighted periodically in the islands, the most common of these being the endangered Loggerhead Turtle.

Diving El Hierro, Credit