El Salto

El Salto is located within the marine reserve of the Mar de las Calmas towards the West, less than a 20-minute boat ride from the port of La Restinga. It is one of the dives found around the natural pools of Tacorón, taking advantage of its formation to create a spectacular diving spot surrounded and protected by the surrounding volcanoes.

Its main feature is the topography, making it one of the most fun and pleasant dives on the entire island. We start by crossing the channel of an empty lava flow with canyons on both sides, gaining depth as the terrain slopes down into very deep waters. From there, we will dive left towards the East while ascending among black rocky peaks until we reach the tip of the lava tongue that gives us access to the most exciting part of this dive. This lava tongue and the topography formed by past eruptions create volcanic tubes, windows, caverns, and caves that we will explore at a depth not exceeding 10 meters, the wonderful sunlight breaking through everywhere, creating a visual show like no other. A flat platform will lead us to enter a volcanic tube that will cross us back to the beginning of the lava channel and guide our way back to the boat.

This dive spot is not known for its marine life but for its marvelous landscape, although that does not mean that it is a place where we can’t find life under every rock. All the usual suspects of the Macaronesian zone such as moray eels, trumpetfish, parrotfish, ornate wrasses, wrasse, palometas, groupers, sea breams, barracudas, leerfish, and some rays can often be found here. Within the caverns, volcanic tubes, lava rivers, and the walls that form them, we find spiny spider crabs, lobsters, scorpionfish, shrimps, anemones, and even nudibranchs and sponges attached on every wall.

The conditions of this dive are perfect for most of the year because it’s protected with the natural pools of Tacorón, sometimes reaching a visibility of more than 30 meters. A few days a year, we may encounter a swell in this area, but it is rare and typically not lasting.

This wonderful dive does not require a special certification; anyone, from beginner to advanced level, can enjoy it. For advanced certifications, there is the possibility of exploring its sandy bottom at 30 meters, although it is not strictly necessary as the beauty here lies mostly in the shallows.