El Lajial

El Lajial is located to the west, ten minutes sailing through the Sea of Calms from the port of La Restinga, on an incredible lava flow that submerges from the mainland and is easily accessible.

The main thing here is the two “Lajiales”, basaltic lavas that, when cooled, create wavy or smooth surfaces that look like pillars or columns. In this particular zone, we can see and enjoy the underwater side. These lava formations descend far into the depths, making it impossible to see any end or seabed. These two structures fall to the bottom in parallel and create a central area that serves as a refuge for medium and small sized marine life. We will explore both the western and eastern walls crafted by these basaltic formations and venture into the blue just to try and spot large animals passing through.

Because of the steep drop-off in this section of the coast, most marine life is transient, although the central area, closer to the coast, offers good chances of seeing groupers, dusky groupers, jacks, seabreams, and rays among others. When you venture into the darkness of the ocean, the chances of seeing mantas, barracudas, greater amberjacks (or who knows if something bigger) increase exponentially because El Hierro is a transit area for pelagics throughout the year.

Conditions at El Lajial are usually ideal for the practice of scuba diving. Where visibility ranges from 10 to 30 meters and access is very easy by boat thanks to the proximity to shore which gives protection. Occasionally, there may be currents or ground swell, but this dive can be enjoyed practically all year round.

All diving levels are accepted at this dive site, although more advanced divers will have the opportunity to explore the deeper balconies where the “Lajiales” disappear in their search for the ocean floor. The maximum depth we reach is 30 meters, as marine life and light begin to fade very fast.