WE LOVE THE AQUATIC WORLD

We take care of
its habitat
OUR CROWN JEWEL

The sea OF CALMS

A hidden corner in the southern part of the island, protected from the prevailing trade winds throughout the Canary archipelago, allows for the encounter of countless species.
Its calm waters, temperature (between 19 and 25 degrees all year round), and visibility of up to 50 meters make this paradise the most coveted place in Europe for all sea lovers. Diving into its waters is a fascinating journey through the island's most active geological past and the different stages of its formation, encountering volcanoes, craters, lava tongues, arches, caves, and caverns. One of the last stages took place recently, in 2011, when chaos and uncertainty struck the spirits of the inhabitants of El Hierro, specifically the town of La Restinga, due to the eruption of the TAGORO submarine volcano, which kept the population on edge for 6 months.
And as nature never ceases to surprise, in another twist, that chaos turned into LIFE. After turning the seabed into a barren wasteland, completely erasing any signs of life, the same forces of nature planted the seed to create the most incredible underwater regeneration ever remembered in the Canary Islands. Today, the Sea of Calms is a globally recognized sanctuary. A space that brings together hundreds of species creating unimaginable ecosystems and symbiotic relationships beneficial for existence and subsistence, where numerous pelagic species such as the whale shark (Rhincodon typus) and the devil ray (Mobula tarapacana) come every year. Additionally, marine turtles, hammerhead sharks (small hammerhead sharks), and sunfish (Mola mola) can occasionally be observed. Moreover, for much of the year, the reserve gifts us encounters with cetacean populations like whales, dolphins, and beaked whales, one of the most elusive marine mammals in the world.
THE LAST BASTION

ANGELSHARK Project

The objective of the Angel Shark Project: Canary Islands is to ensure the future of the critically endangered angelshark in its last bastion.

It is a multidisciplinary program that collects ecological and population data, partly thanks to sightings reported by divers in the Canary Islands, while engaging with local communities, researchers, and the government to raise awareness and carry out conservation actions. Reporting sightings of angelsharks during our dives provides crucial data to better understand and protect this iconic species of shark, which is so sadly threatened.
THE MOBULA FAMILY

MANTA CATALOG Canary Islands

This project by the Manta Catalog Azores organization has been collecting valuable information on Mobula populations in the Eastern Atlantic since 2012.

We can contribute to the research and conservation of these majestic creatures when diving in El Hierro, through "photo-identification" of the mobulas. The black spot patterns on their white belly are distinctive of each individual, so every time we capture an image of a mobula from its ventral side, we send it to be added to the database, helping to learn more about their migration, feeding, growth, and reproduction patterns. If the individual you report with your photograph has not been identified before, Manta Catalog allows you to name it in their database.
CETACEAN STUDY

PATRICIA ARRANZ , Marine Biologist

Dr. Cum Laude with European Mention from the University of La Laguna, in her doctoral thesis she developed pioneering methods for studying the diving behavior and distribution of the Blainville's beaked whale in El Hierro, significantly contributing to the knowledge of these species.

She has participated in numerous international projects, establishing a solid network of collaborators in the United States, including Stanford University, University of California Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, and Aarhus University in Denmark. She worked abroad for four years as a postdoctoral researcher at the prestigious Sea Mammal Research Unit of the University of St Andrews in the UK, where she was named Honorary Researcher in 2017. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of La Laguna, within the Agustín de Betancourt program funded by the Cabildo de Tenerife.
CITIZEN SCIENCE

RedPROMAR

The Marine Environment Observers Network is formed by people and entities committed to the conservation and knowledge of the marine environment in the Macaronesian region.

Additionally, they are interested in scientific dissemination and marine citizen science. Their platform for recording species sightings facilitates the monitoring and surveillance of marine life. Observers and collaborating companies contribute with their photographs, allowing RedPROMAR to function as an early warning network, providing updated information on the health of the sea and ecosystem changes. Moreover, RedPROMAR serves as a direct communication channel between citizens, public administration, and the scientific community, as well as a way to bring the sea closer to the population, promoting its respect and care.