Cueva de la arena

La Cueva de la Arena is situated on the eastern side, 25 minutes by boat from the port of La Restinga, outside the Marine Reserve of Mar de las Calmas. It lies in a small bay formed by cliffs on the mountain and among volcanic chimneys.

The main feature is the cave visited at the end of the dive, which offers the attraction of observing giant spiny lobsters. The cave has a large entrance that narrows down as you go deeper inside. Before reaching the cave, you will drop down the slope of boulders to a deep rocky structure on a sandy slope. As you ascend back up the slope, you will get the chance to explore, among some others, a fascinating two-level cavern. The shallow area of this site is a visual delight, as the sun's rays directly illuminate the terrain and the white rocks reflect it up and all around.

Marine life on this dive is varied and surprising. In the deepest part of the dive, you might see groupers, island groupers, jacks, breams, amberjacks, barracudas, various types of rays, garden eels, and even black coral between 20 and 30 meters deep. The shallower area, including the cavern and the cave, is home to a wide variety of species such as the spiny pufferfish, moray eels, saddled bream, damselfish, pompanos, scorpionfish, soldierfish, shrimps, crayfish, sponges, anemones, and, of course, the crown jewels: Canarian lobsters and Herrenian lobsters, the latter being true giants.

Because it is located on the eastern side of El Hierro, outside the Marine Reserve of Mar de las Calmas, these dives can only be reached if wind and surge conditions allow, as this part of the island is not protected against the trade winds. With good weather conditions, access is very easy from the boat once anchored near shore, and underwater visibility usually ranges from 10 to 30 meters.

No advanced license is required to dive here; anyone with a beginner's license can dive due to its easy access and execution. Advanced certifications can reach depths of up to 30 meters to visit the base of the rock and the black coral.