Espiritu De Buceo Padi 5 Star Dive Centre

The Canary Islands, or simply the Canaries, lie at the eastern edge of the Atlantic Ocean about 100 km/60 miles west of southern Morocco. They’re a volcanic archipelago (still steaming in 2011) and a Spanish autonomous community; one of the European Union’s outermost regions.

The seven largest islands, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro, read like a list of top European tourist destinations. Sometimes called “The Fortunate Islands” thanks to their subtropical climate and sandy beaches, the Canaries are a diver’s paradise and attract more than 12 million visitors a year.

The Canaries boast hundreds of dive featuring dramatic underwater landscapes and abundant marine life. They are bathed by the Gulf Stream, which keeps the water between 17-18° C/63-64° F in winter and 23°C/73°F in summer. The water is exceptionally clear and the region’s many dive shops make this a top spot to get your PADI.